Martin Sexton to Headline The Wild Center’s 20th Birthday Celebration

The Wild Center is proud to announce that acclaimed singer-songwriter Martin Sexton will headline its 20th Birthday Party on Saturday, July 11, 2026, marking two decades of inspiring curiosity, connection, and care for the natural world. The concert will take place on The Wild Center campus, and tickets to the show are included with regular Wild Center admission.

A longtime favorite of North Country audiences, Sexton’s return to The Wild Center is a fitting centerpiece for the anniversary celebration. Known for his soulful voice, genre-spanning sound, and deeply human storytelling, Sexton—who also performed at The Wild Center’s opening celebration in 2006—brings a remarkable vocal range and style, often described as truly soulful and reminiscent of artists such as Van Morrison, Al Green, Aaron Neville, and Otis Redding.

“This isn’t just a concert—it’s a thank-you,” said Nick Gunn, Director of Marketing & Visitor Experience at The Wild Center. “Martin Sexton helped us celebrate major milestones in our history, and having him headline our 20th birthday feels like bringing the story full circle.”

A Celebration 20 Years in the Making

The concert is part of a full-day birthday party celebrating 20 years of The Wild Center, featuring:

Highlights from two decades of impact and innovation
Drop-in activities for all ages
Special programs and experiences across campus
Opportunities to reflect on how curiosity, science, and nature have shaped generations of visitors
TROLLS: Save the Humans by Thomas Dambo on view

Since opening in 2006, The Wild Center has welcomed millions of visitors, launched groundbreaking experiences like Wild Walk, Raquette River Roll, Climate Solutions and Wild Lights, hosted the Adirondack Youth Climate Summit, and become a nationally recognized leader in immersive, place-based science education.
The July 11 celebration is designed as both a joyful look back and an invitation forward—honoring the people, partnerships, and moments that built The Wild Center, while looking ahead to its next chapter.

More details, including the full schedule of birthday activities and performance timing, will be announced closer to the event. Support for the Wild Center’s 20th birthday celebration is being provided through a Market New York grant awarded by Empire State Development and I LOVE NY, New York State’s Division of Tourism.

For updates, visit wildcenter.org or follow The Wild Center on social media

The Wild Center invites visitors to discover the story of the Adirondacks, and to explore new ways that people and nature can thrive in the same place. Located in Tupper Lake, NY the center uses science-based experiences, exhibits and program to open new ways to look into the relationship that people have with nature and to promote environmental best practices. A 54,000-square-foot facility, The Wild Center features indoor and outdoor space, live animals, hands-on experiences, and its popular Wild Walk, an elevated trail across the Adirondack treetops. The Center is open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit wildcenter.org to learn more.