Festival of the Cranes

Date: January 10, 2027

Time: TBD

Location: Festival of the Cranes

Area: Decatur, Morgan County

Category: Festivals & Fairs

Tags: Theater / Plays, Museums / History Tours, Family-Friendly Events, Volunteer Opportunities, Photography / Filmmaking

Over 14,000 Sandhill Cranes along with several pairs of Whooping Cranes spend the winter each year at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge (WNWR) in Decatur, Ala. In celebration of the winter migration of these long-legged and long-necked birds, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association hosts a three-day event, the second weekend in January, offering a variety of indoor and outdoor activities appealing to people of all ages. Festival of the Cranes has become a popular event regardless of the festivalgoer’s birding experience. There are activities for experienced birders, for those with little to no birding knowledge and for anyone who would like to learn more about birding and other wildlife that call the Refuge home. During the three-day event, guests are invited to visit the WNWR Observation Building, located at 3121 Visitor Center Road, Decatur, AL 35603, to view thousands of Sandhill cranes along with several Whooping cranes, ducks, geese, raptors and perhaps a bald eagle from the comfort of the heated building. There are bleachers and spotting scopes available along with volunteers and staff standing by to answer questions. Festivalgoers are encouraged to bring a camera and binoculars. The Princess Theatre, Decatur Public Library, Cook Museum of Natural Science and Alabama Center for the Arts, all located in downtown Decatur, are also offering special presentations, speakers, make and take art activities, photography workshops and much more in conjunction with Festival of the Cranes. For a complete schedule of events for all three locations, visit https://www.friendsofwheelernwr.org/foc-2026. For more information on the Festival of the Cranes, visit https://www.friendsofwheelernwr.org/foc-2026 or follow Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association – WWRA on Facebook for the latest updates.

Organizer: Not listed.