2023 Schedule
Feb. 27- Mar. 3: Medallion Hunt
Friday, March 3, 2023 (programs at the International Owl Center)
11:00: Grassland Owls Program at International Owl Center* (program could be standing room only)
12:30: Local Owls Program at International Owl Center* (program could be standing room only)
2:00: Northern Owls Program at International Owl Center* (program could be standing room only)
6:00: Family Owl Prowl bus trip (pre-registration required, meet at the Houston Nature Center)
6:00: Adult-Only Owl Prowl bus trip (pre-registration required, meet at the Houston Nature Center) SOLD OUT
*Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for ages 4-17
Saturday, March 4, 2023 (events at Houston High School unless otherwise noted) --this is the busiest day
8:00 - 11:00: Owl Face Pancake Breakfast (Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, $10 ages 13 & up, $5 for ages 4-12)
9:00 - 4:30: Vendors & Face-painting & international children's owl art show +
9:30 - 10:30: Live Owl Program - Big Owls (Snowy, Great Horned & Barred) by Illinois Raptor Center +
10:00 - 4:00: Visit the International Owl Center & gift shop, live owls on display (International Owl Center) +
10:30 - 2:30: Owl Nest Box Building and Owl Pellet Dissection ($55/box, $5/pellet) +
10:30 - 2:30: Kids' Crafts +
11:00 - 11:20: Short Meet an Owl program (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
11:00 - 11:45: Sneak Peek into Planning for the Owl Center's New Facility +
1:00 - 2:00: Hooting Masterclass and Kids Owl Calling Contest +
2:00-2:20: Short Meet an Owl program (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
3:00 - 4:00: Live Owl Program - Little Owls (Barn, possible Short-eared, 3 colors of Eastern Screech) by Illinois Raptor Center +
7:00 PM: An overseas adventure - meeting owls and owl people in North America by Roar Solheim from Norway and owl woodcarving exhibition by Robin Warburton (Houston Elementary School, pre-registration required)
+ Festival wristband required: $10/adult, $7 ages 4-17, members and ages 3 & under free
Sunday, March 5, 2023 (events at Houston High School unless otherwise noted) --much less crowded than Saturday
8:00 - 12:00: Birding, Natural History & Geology bus trip (Meet at Houston Nature Center, pre-registration required) SOLD OUT
9:00 - 1:00: Vendors & Face-painting & international children's owl art show +
9:30 - 10:30: Live Owl Program -Big Owls (Snowy, Great Horned, Barred) by Illinois Raptor Center +
10:30 - 1:00: Kids' Crafts +
10:30 - 1:00: Owl Nest Box Building and Owl Pellet Dissection ($55/box, $5/pellet) +
10:00 - 4:00: Visit the International Owl Center & gift shop, live owls on display (International Owl Center) +
11:00 - 11:20: Short Meet an Owl program (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
11:00 - 12:00: PROGRAM CHANGED: The Story of Hedwig, a Real Snowy Owl by Roar Solheim from Norway +
12:00 Alice the Great Horned Owl's hatch-day cake (free, until it's gone, high school cafeteria)
1:00 - 2:00: Live Owl Program - Little Owls (Barn, possibly Short-eared, 3 colors of Eastern Screech) by Illinois Raptor Center +
2:00 - 2:20: Short Meet an Owl program (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
+ Festival wristband required: $10/adult, $7 ages 4-17, members and ages 3 & under free
Other fun things to do in Houston
-Parade of Owls art tour of 11 public owl sculptures around town
-Street banners featuring kids owl art from around the world (can you find the three from Ukraine?)
-Historic Forsyth House open house Saturday & Sunday from 1:00 - 5:00 (coffee, tea & cookies) - 301 E Maple Street
Feb. 27- Mar. 3: Medallion Hunt
Friday, March 3, 2023 (programs at the International Owl Center)
11:00: Grassland Owls Program at International Owl Center* (program could be standing room only)
12:30: Local Owls Program at International Owl Center* (program could be standing room only)
2:00: Northern Owls Program at International Owl Center* (program could be standing room only)
6:00: Family Owl Prowl bus trip (pre-registration required, meet at the Houston Nature Center)
6:00: Adult-Only Owl Prowl bus trip (pre-registration required, meet at the Houston Nature Center) SOLD OUT
*Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for ages 4-17
Saturday, March 4, 2023 (events at Houston High School unless otherwise noted) --this is the busiest day
8:00 - 11:00: Owl Face Pancake Breakfast (Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, $10 ages 13 & up, $5 for ages 4-12)
9:00 - 4:30: Vendors & Face-painting & international children's owl art show +
9:30 - 10:30: Live Owl Program - Big Owls (Snowy, Great Horned & Barred) by Illinois Raptor Center +
10:00 - 4:00: Visit the International Owl Center & gift shop, live owls on display (International Owl Center) +
10:30 - 2:30: Owl Nest Box Building and Owl Pellet Dissection ($55/box, $5/pellet) +
10:30 - 2:30: Kids' Crafts +
11:00 - 11:20: Short Meet an Owl program (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
11:00 - 11:45: Sneak Peek into Planning for the Owl Center's New Facility +
1:00 - 2:00: Hooting Masterclass and Kids Owl Calling Contest +
2:00-2:20: Short Meet an Owl program (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
3:00 - 4:00: Live Owl Program - Little Owls (Barn, possible Short-eared, 3 colors of Eastern Screech) by Illinois Raptor Center +
7:00 PM: An overseas adventure - meeting owls and owl people in North America by Roar Solheim from Norway and owl woodcarving exhibition by Robin Warburton (Houston Elementary School, pre-registration required)
+ Festival wristband required: $10/adult, $7 ages 4-17, members and ages 3 & under free
Sunday, March 5, 2023 (events at Houston High School unless otherwise noted) --much less crowded than Saturday
8:00 - 12:00: Birding, Natural History & Geology bus trip (Meet at Houston Nature Center, pre-registration required) SOLD OUT
9:00 - 1:00: Vendors & Face-painting & international children's owl art show +
9:30 - 10:30: Live Owl Program -Big Owls (Snowy, Great Horned, Barred) by Illinois Raptor Center +
10:30 - 1:00: Kids' Crafts +
10:30 - 1:00: Owl Nest Box Building and Owl Pellet Dissection ($55/box, $5/pellet) +
10:00 - 4:00: Visit the International Owl Center & gift shop, live owls on display (International Owl Center) +
11:00 - 11:20: Short Meet an Owl program (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
11:00 - 12:00: PROGRAM CHANGED: The Story of Hedwig, a Real Snowy Owl by Roar Solheim from Norway +
12:00 Alice the Great Horned Owl's hatch-day cake (free, until it's gone, high school cafeteria)
1:00 - 2:00: Live Owl Program - Little Owls (Barn, possibly Short-eared, 3 colors of Eastern Screech) by Illinois Raptor Center +
2:00 - 2:20: Short Meet an Owl program (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
+ Festival wristband required: $10/adult, $7 ages 4-17, members and ages 3 & under free
Other fun things to do in Houston
-Parade of Owls art tour of 11 public owl sculptures around town
-Street banners featuring kids owl art from around the world (can you find the three from Ukraine?)
-Historic Forsyth House open house Saturday & Sunday from 1:00 - 5:00 (coffee, tea & cookies) - 301 E Maple Street

For screen readers: Festival event locations are as follows. Owl Center, 126 East Cedar Street. High School, 306 West Elm Street. Elementary School, 310 South Sherman Street. Trailhead Park 215 West Plum Street. Lutheran Church, 210 South Chase Street. Restaurants in Houston: Barista's Coffee, 110 North Grant Street. River Valley Convenience, 103 East Cedar Street. BP and Houston Food Mart, Highway 16 East. SubZero Pizza, 210 East Cedar Street. JT's Bar and Grill, 125 East Cedar Street.
Header: Fluff Ball Brothers (c) Preston Hone
The International Festival of Owls is a fundraiser for the International Owl Center and the Center’s biggest event of the year.
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