Join us for the International Festival of Owls!!

Activities

-Live owl programs
-Owl crafts
-Vendors
-Medallion hunt
-Kids owl art contest
-Owl-themed food
-Kids' owl calling contest
-World Owl Hall of Fame speakers from Colorado (in-person), German (live video), and possibly Nepal
-Birding and Natural History bus trip
-Owl nest box building
-Owl pellet dissection
-Owl prowls

Schedule of Events:

Friday, March 7, 2025

(programs at the International Owl Center)

11:00 am: Program: "So You Want to be an Owl" at International Owl Center'  
02:00 pm: Program: "Identifying Northern Owls" at International Owl Center'
06:00 pm: Family Owl Prowl bus trip (pre-registration required, meet at the Houston Nature Center)
06:00 pm: Adult-Only Owl Prowl bus trip (pre-registration required, meet at the Houston Nature Center) 'Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for ages 4-17

Saturday, March 8, 2025  

(events at Houston High School unless otherwise noted) -this is the busiest dayStory Stroll: "The Barn Owls" by Tony Johnston

08:00 am - 11:00 am: Owl Face Pancake Breakfast (Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, $10 ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 4-12)
09:00 am - 04:30 pm:  Vendors and Face-painting and international children's owl art show and
09:30 am - 10:30 am: Live Owl Program - by Illinois Raptor Center and
10:00 am - 03:00 pm: Lunch-Concessions in cafeteria and
10:00 am - 04:00 pm: Visit the International Owl Center and gift shop, live owls on display (International Owl Center) and
10:30 am - 02:30 pm: Owl Nest Box Building and Owl Pellet Dissection ($55-box, $5-pellet) and
10:30 am - 02:30 pm: Kids' Crafts and
11:00 am - 11:15 am: "Owl Music" reading by children's book author Kat Beaulieu (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) and
11:15 am - 11:35 am: Short Meet an Owl program (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) and
01:00 am - 01:45 pm: Kids Owl Calling Contest and
02:00 am - 03:00 pm: Frequently Asked Owl Questions program (International Owl Center) and
03:00 am - 04:00 pm: Live Owl Program - by Illinois Raptor Center and
07:00 pm:  World Owl Hall of Fame award presentation; video by Rudolf Schaaf from Germany; Keynote presentation by Scott Rashid from Colorado; owl woodcarving exhibition by Robin Warburton; owl-themed refreshments (Houston Elementary School, pre-registration required and Festival wristband required: $12-adult, $8 ages 4-17, members and ages 3 and under free

Sunday, March 9, 2025

(events at Houston High School unless otherwise noted) -much less crowded than Saturday

Story Stroll: "The Barn Owls" by Tony Johnston

08:00 am - 12:00 pm:  Birding, Natural History and Geology bus trip (Meet at Houston Nature Center, pre-registration required)
09:00 am - 01:00 pm: Vendors and Face-painting and international children's owl art show and
09:30 am - 10:30 pm: Live Owl Program - by Illinois Raptor Center and
10:00 am - 01:00 pm: Lunch-Concessions in cafeteria and
10:30 am - 01:00 pm: Kids' Crafts and
10:30 am - 01:00 pm: Owl Nest Box Building and Owl Pellet Dissection ($55-box, $5-pellet) and
10:00 am - 04:00 pm:  Visit the International Owl Center and gift shop, live owls on display (International Owl Center) and
11:00 am - 11:15 am: "Owl Music" reading by children's book author Kat Beaulieu (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) and
11:15 am - 11:35 am: Short Meet an Owl program (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) and
12:00 pm:  Alice the Great Horned Owl's hatch-day cake (free, until it's gone, high school cafeteria)
01:00 pm - 02:00 pm: Live Owl Program - by Illinois Raptor Center and
02:00 pm - 03:00 pm: Presentation by Raju Acharya from Nepal (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) and Festival wristband required: $12-adult, $8 ages 4-17, members and ages 3 and under free

Date: March 7-9, 2025

Location: Various Venues in Houston, MN 55943

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