A festival celebrating the annual migration of sandhill and whooping cranes to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, events take place at a variety of locations including the refuge's Visitor Center and various partner venues in downtown Decatur, Alabama including: The Decatur Public Library, The Princess Theatre, The Alabama Center for the Arts, The Carnegie Visual Arts Center, The Cook Museum of Natural Science, and the Historic Depot and Railroad Museum.
WEATHER UPDATE (1/8/2024)
***Due to the threat of winter weather in Decatur and across north Alabama, this weekend’s 2025 Festival of the Cranes is rescheduled as a one-day celebration now set for Saturday, Jan. 18 – with all events hosted at the Alabama Center of the Arts in downtown Decatur. The safety of attendees, volunteers, speakers, and facility staff are our top priority, and we appreciate your understanding as we reimagine this year’s event. An updated schedule of events will be released soon on the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association website and social media platforms that spotlight our local natural resources and the positive impact of conservation***
Event date and time
Event location name
Wheeler Visitor Center
Event category
Festival
Age range
Elementary (Grades K-5), Middle/Junior High (Grades 6-8), High School (Grades 9-12), Young adult, Adult, Senior (7 and up)
Recreational activities