Enjoy up-close, active, hands-on adventures and learning at the International Owl Center’s annual Festival of Owls_the only full-weekend, all-owl festival in North America.

2025 SCHEDULE

March 3-7: Medallion Hunt

Friday, March 7, 2025
Friday programs are held 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  
Saturday events take place at Houston High School unless otherwise noted. This is the busiest day.

Story Stroll: “The Barn Owls” by Tony Johnston
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 – 11:15: “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 – by Illinois Raptor Center +
7:00 PM:  World Owl Hall of Fame award presentation; video by Rudolf Schaaf from Germany; Keynote presentation 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
Sunday events take place at Houston High School unless otherwise noted. This is 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 – 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 – by Illinois Raptor Center +
2:00 – 3:00: Presentation 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, Minnesota
• 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 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)