More than 14,000 Sandhill Cranes along with several pairs of Whooping Cranes spend the winter each year at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge 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 offering a variety of indoor and outdoor activities appealing to people of all ages. The 2025 Festival of the Cranes will be held January 10-12 with activities at WNWR, Princess Theatre and Alabama Center for the Arts in downtown Decatur.

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. A bird walk with Christopher Joe will take place at 3 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10, 2025.

The Princess Theatre and Alabama Center for the Arts, both located in downtown Decatur, are also offering special presentations, speakers and workshops in conjunction with Festival of the Cranes. A Muscle Shoals meets the 80s concert featuring the Fiddleworms along with special guests including Kelvin Holly, Jay Burgess, Gary Baker, Jimmy Nutt, Dave Anderson, Mike Dillon, Marty Lewis, James LeBlanc, G Mane, Gary Nichols, Rob Aldridge, Bay Simpson, Daniel Crisler, Angela Hacker, Carla Russell, Microwave Dave, the Decatur High School Marching Band, among other noted artists, will take place at the Princess Theatre at 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. Tickets may be purchased from princesstheatre.org/. For a complete schedule of events for all three locations, visit friendsofwheelernwr.org/foc-2025.

For more information on the Festival of the Cranes, visit friendsofwheelernwr.org/foc-2025 or follow Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association – WWRA on Facebook for the latest updates.