2025 Schedule
Mar. 3-7: Medallion Hunt
Friday, March 7, 2025 (programs at the International Owl Center)
11:00: Program: "So You Want to be an Owl" at International Owl Center*
2:00: Program: "Identifying Northern Owls" at International Owl Center*
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)
*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 day
Story Stroll: "The Barn Owls" by Tony Johnston
8:00 - 11:00: 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 with Barn, Great Horned and Eastern Screech-Owls - by Illinois Raptor Center +
10:00 - 3:00 Lunch/Concessions in cafeteria +
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 - 11:15: "Owl Music" reading by children's book author Kat Beaulieu (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
11:15 - 11:35: Short Meet an Owl program (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
1:00 - 1:45: Kids Owl Calling Contest +
2:00-3:00: Frequently Asked Owl Questions program (International Owl Center) +
3:00 - 4:00: Live Owl Program with Snowy, Barred and Eastern Screech-Owl - by Illinois Raptor Center +
7:00 PM: World Owl Hall of Fame award presentation; video by Rudolf Schaaf from Germany; Keynote presentation: Small Mountain Owls by Scott Rashid from Colorado; owl woodcarving exhibition by Robin Warburton; owl-themed refreshments (Houston Elementary School, pre-registration required
+ Festival wristband required: $12/adult, $8 ages 4-17, members and ages 3 & 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
8:00 - 12:00: Birding, Natural History & Geology bus trip (Meet at Houston Nature Center, pre-registration required)
9:00 - 1:00: Vendors & Face-painting & international children's owl art show +
9:30 - 10:30: Live Owl Program with Barn, Great Horned and Eastern Screech-Owls - by Illinois Raptor Center- by Illinois Raptor Center +
10:00 - 1:00 Lunch/Concessions in cafeteria +
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 - 11:15: "Owl Music" reading by children's book author Kat Beaulieu (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
11:15 - 11:35: Short Meet an Owl program (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
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 with Snowy, Barred and Eastern Screech-Owl - by Illinois Raptor Center +
2:00 - 3:00: "Hoot for Owls: Nepal's efforts" by Raju Acharya from Nepal (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
+ Festival wristband required: $12/adult, $8 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
-Historic Forsyth House open house Saturday March 8 from 10:00 - 4:00 (301 E Maple Street)
-Houston Area Museum open Saturday March 8 from 11:00 - 4:00 and Sunday March 9 from 1:00 - 4:00 (109 W Maple Street)
Mar. 3-7: Medallion Hunt
Friday, March 7, 2025 (programs at the International Owl Center)
11:00: Program: "So You Want to be an Owl" at International Owl Center*
2:00: Program: "Identifying Northern Owls" at International Owl Center*
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)
*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 day
Story Stroll: "The Barn Owls" by Tony Johnston
8:00 - 11:00: 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 with Barn, Great Horned and Eastern Screech-Owls - by Illinois Raptor Center +
10:00 - 3:00 Lunch/Concessions in cafeteria +
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 - 11:15: "Owl Music" reading by children's book author Kat Beaulieu (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
11:15 - 11:35: Short Meet an Owl program (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
1:00 - 1:45: Kids Owl Calling Contest +
2:00-3:00: Frequently Asked Owl Questions program (International Owl Center) +
3:00 - 4:00: Live Owl Program with Snowy, Barred and Eastern Screech-Owl - by Illinois Raptor Center +
7:00 PM: World Owl Hall of Fame award presentation; video by Rudolf Schaaf from Germany; Keynote presentation: Small Mountain Owls by Scott Rashid from Colorado; owl woodcarving exhibition by Robin Warburton; owl-themed refreshments (Houston Elementary School, pre-registration required
+ Festival wristband required: $12/adult, $8 ages 4-17, members and ages 3 & 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
8:00 - 12:00: Birding, Natural History & Geology bus trip (Meet at Houston Nature Center, pre-registration required)
9:00 - 1:00: Vendors & Face-painting & international children's owl art show +
9:30 - 10:30: Live Owl Program with Barn, Great Horned and Eastern Screech-Owls - by Illinois Raptor Center- by Illinois Raptor Center +
10:00 - 1:00 Lunch/Concessions in cafeteria +
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 - 11:15: "Owl Music" reading by children's book author Kat Beaulieu (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
11:15 - 11:35: Short Meet an Owl program (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
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 with Snowy, Barred and Eastern Screech-Owl - by Illinois Raptor Center +
2:00 - 3:00: "Hoot for Owls: Nepal's efforts" by Raju Acharya from Nepal (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
+ Festival wristband required: $12/adult, $8 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
-Historic Forsyth House open house Saturday March 8 from 10:00 - 4:00 (301 E Maple Street)
-Houston Area Museum open Saturday March 8 from 11:00 - 4:00 and Sunday March 9 from 1:00 - 4:00 (109 W 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.
Please note: The International Owl Center uses photos and video from the International Festival of Owls for promotional materials. By attending the festival, you consent to be photographed and/or recorded and allow your image to be used for the International Owl Center's promotional or educational purposes without financial compensation.
Header: Fluff Ball Brothers (c) Preston Hone
The 2025 international festival of owls is made possible by:
Major Sponsors
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Houston Public Schools
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Bob Kierlin and Mary Burrichter
● Elizabeth Callender King Foundation |
$1,000 Great Gray Owl Enthusiasts
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$500 Great Horned Owl Advocates
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$250 Barred Owl Contributors
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Houston Lions
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$100 Screech Owl Supporters
Bluff Country Financial Services ● Caledonia Veterinary Clinic ● Houston Dental Clinic ● Houston Hoedown Days ● JT's Bar & Grill ● Money Creek Haven ● Mound Prairie Mutual Insurance ● The Sawmill Inn ● The Wen Inn
Bluff Country Financial Services ● Caledonia Veterinary Clinic ● Houston Dental Clinic ● Houston Hoedown Days ● JT's Bar & Grill ● Money Creek Haven ● Mound Prairie Mutual Insurance ● The Sawmill Inn ● The Wen Inn
The International Festival of Owls would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors.
Please contact us for information on having your business or organization become a sponsor, and please patronize our sponsors.
Many thanks are due to our prize donors and the army of volunteers that make this event possible.
Please contact us for information on having your business or organization become a sponsor, and please patronize our sponsors.
Many thanks are due to our prize donors and the army of volunteers that make this event possible.