Bavarian Bulletin - May 12th,  2026 Edition

The annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest promotes conservation through educational and recreational activities about birds, wildlife, and their environments. 

Celebrate the return of migratory birds in the midst of peak wildflower season. Enjoy the excitement of birding field trips and workshops, and take part in speaker events, music, visual arts, picnics, and activities for all ages and abilities. 

The Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce's Annual Report & Economic Profile is now available.  Begun in 2021, the report this year includes expanded information about the Chamber's operations, funding, and events. Contents include:

FEMA will operate a temporary Disaster Assistance Center at the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce (940 Highway 2, suite B) with FEMA personnel at that location: 

Weekdays, 12:30 – 6pm, May 11 – 22. 

See news release. For information on the types of FEMA assistance available go here.

FEMA’s assistance is available for individual homeowners and renters in Chelan County. FEMA/SBA deadline for homeowner/renter physical property damage applications is June 10, 2026. FEMA partners with SBA to provide long-term relief for small businesses. SBA deadline for small business applications is January 7, 2027.

Top 10 Media Highlights | April 2026

1. Travel + Leisure — Cascade Loop Scenic Byway

One of the month’s strongest earned placements, featuring Leavenworth in a premium national travel publication. This reaches affluent, experience-driven travelers and positions Leavenworth as part of one of America’s most beautiful road trips.

Read the story: Travel + Leisure Feature

2. WFLA-TV — Away with Angela

A high-impact television segment showcasing Leavenworth to a large broadcast audience with potential syndication to additional NBC markets. Visual storytelling like this inspires future travel and extends well beyond a single market.

Watch the segment: WFLA Feature

3. KCPQ-TV — Things to Do in Leavenworth in May

A timely feature in Seattle, our largest drive market, highlighting spring experiences and upcoming events. Coverage like this directly supports seasonal visitation and event attendance.

Watch the segment: FOX 13 Feature

4. KATU-TV — Maifest + Alphorns

Two Portland television placements in one day helped showcase Leavenworth’s authentic Bavarian traditions to one of our highest-yield visitor markets. This kind of event-focused coverage drives immediate travel consideration.

Watch Maifest: KATU Maifest Segment
Watch Alphorns: KATU Alphorns Segment

5. USA Today — Distinctive Drives

National coverage through USA Today positioned Leavenworth as part of one of the West’s most scenic road trips. The story was syndicated across dozens of markets, dramatically expanding reach.

Read the story: USA Today Feature

6. AFAR — Places in the U.S. That Feel Like Europe

AFAR introduced Leavenworth to a highly engaged audience seeking unique, immersive travel experiences. The story reinforces one of our strongest brand differentiators—European charm close to home.

Read the story: AFAR Feature

7. Seattle Times — Trending Destinations

Coverage in the Seattle Times puts Leavenworth in front of travelers in our most important feeder market through one of the region’s most trusted news sources. This helps keep Leavenworth top-of-mind for regional trip planning.

Read the story: Seattle Times Feature

8. Seattle Magazine — Washington’s Spring Festivals

This feature highlighted Maifest as one of Washington’s must-see spring events. Lifestyle coverage like this reaches audiences actively looking for weekend getaways and seasonal experiences.

Read the story: Seattle Magazine Feature

9. KUOW — Regional News Feature

Coverage from Seattle’s public radio station brought credible, earned media attention in a key drive market. Public radio audiences are highly engaged travelers who value authentic storytelling.

Listen/Read: KUOW Feature

10. WorldAtlas — Multiple Features

Leavenworth appeared in multiple WorldAtlas articles throughout the month, from “prettiest towns” to “best downtowns.” Repeated placements like these strengthen search visibility and help keep Leavenworth consistently discoverable online.

Sample story: WorldAtlas Feature

_{*Remember, these are footfalls counted by five cameras locations on Front Street. The numbers are NOT individual people counts, those numbers would be lower.}  

The Leavenworth Recycling Center is entering a new chapter. 

With Waste Loop transitioning from facility operations, the City has an opportunity to pause, evaluate, and plan how they handle glass, cardboard and single-stream recycling in Leavenworth. As they explore new operational strategies, your voice as a local business and/or commercial property owner is an important piece in how we proceed. Please take 4 minutes to share your thoughts in the survey at the link below. Your feedback will directly inform the City’s next steps regarding the Recycle Center. Take the survey here:

Websites
Leavenworthchamber.org
Leavenworth.org

Our mailing address is:
Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce

PO Box 327
940 Highway 2 Suite B
Leavenworth, WA 98826-0327

If you have questions, please call us at (509)548-5807

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