2024 Schedule
Feb. 26 - Mar. 1: Medallion Hunt
Friday, March 1, 2024 (programs at the International Owl Center)
11:00: Program: "Identifying Open Country Owls" at International Owl Center* (program could be standing room only)
12:30: Program: "Identifying Local Owls" at the International Owl Center* (program could be standing room only)
2:00: Program: "Identifying Northern Owls" 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)
*Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for ages 4-17
Saturday, March 2, 2024 (events at Houston High School unless otherwise noted) --this is the busiest day
Story Stroll: "Whoo-Ku Haiku" by Maria Gianferrari (City Park)
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 - 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 - 11:30: "Night Owl Night" reading and presentation by children's book author Susan Richmond (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
11:00 - 11:45: Final concepts 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 - by Illinois Raptor Center +
7:00 PM: "Little Owl on the brink of extinction: from research to applied conservation" by Dr. Martin Šálek from the Czech Republic; World Owl Hall of Fame award presentation; 10 min video of Nepal Owl Festival by Krishna Mani Baral; owl woodcarving exhibition by Robin Warburton; owl-themed refreshments (Houston Elementary School, pre-registration required, also available to watch via a Zoom livestream)
+ Festival wristband required: $12/adult, $8 ages 4-17, members and ages 3 & under free
Sunday, March 3, 2024 (events at Houston High School unless otherwise noted) --much less crowded than Saturday
Story Stroll: "Whoo-Ku Haiku" by Maria Gianferrari (City Park)
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 - 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 - 11:20: 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 - by Illinois Raptor Center +
2:00 - 3:00: "When dead owls hoot: what museum specimens can teach you" by Dr. Roar Solheim (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 (can you find the three from Ukraine?)
-Historic Forsyth House open house Saturday March 2 from 12:00 - 4:00 (301 E Maple Street)
-Houston Area Museum open Sunday March 3 from 1:00 - 4:00 (109 W Maple Street)
Feb. 26 - Mar. 1: Medallion Hunt
Friday, March 1, 2024 (programs at the International Owl Center)
11:00: Program: "Identifying Open Country Owls" at International Owl Center* (program could be standing room only)
12:30: Program: "Identifying Local Owls" at the International Owl Center* (program could be standing room only)
2:00: Program: "Identifying Northern Owls" 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)
*Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for ages 4-17
Saturday, March 2, 2024 (events at Houston High School unless otherwise noted) --this is the busiest day
Story Stroll: "Whoo-Ku Haiku" by Maria Gianferrari (City Park)
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 - 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 - 11:30: "Night Owl Night" reading and presentation by children's book author Susan Richmond (International Owl Center, might be standing room only) +
11:00 - 11:45: Final concepts 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 - by Illinois Raptor Center +
7:00 PM: "Little Owl on the brink of extinction: from research to applied conservation" by Dr. Martin Šálek from the Czech Republic; World Owl Hall of Fame award presentation; 10 min video of Nepal Owl Festival by Krishna Mani Baral; owl woodcarving exhibition by Robin Warburton; owl-themed refreshments (Houston Elementary School, pre-registration required, also available to watch via a Zoom livestream)
+ Festival wristband required: $12/adult, $8 ages 4-17, members and ages 3 & under free
Sunday, March 3, 2024 (events at Houston High School unless otherwise noted) --much less crowded than Saturday
Story Stroll: "Whoo-Ku Haiku" by Maria Gianferrari (City Park)
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 - 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 - 11:20: 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 - by Illinois Raptor Center +
2:00 - 3:00: "When dead owls hoot: what museum specimens can teach you" by Dr. Roar Solheim (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 (can you find the three from Ukraine?)
-Historic Forsyth House open house Saturday March 2 from 12:00 - 4:00 (301 E Maple Street)
-Houston Area Museum open Sunday March 3 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.
Header: Fluff Ball Brothers (c) Preston Hone
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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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