Festival of the Cranes Event Locations and Schedule
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
Visitor Center, 3121 Visitors Center Road, Decatur, off Alabama 67, will be open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 10-12.
Princess Theatre
122 Second Ave. N.E., Decatur
Jan. 10
“Muscle Shoals Meets the 80s” concert, 7 p.m. Featuring the Fiddleworms, special guests include Jay Burgess, Jimmy Nutt, Dave Anderson, James LeBlanc, Gary Nichols, Angela Hacker, Microwave Dave, the Decatur High School Marching Band and more.
Jan. 11
Wings to Soar Raptor Show, 9 a.m.
Brian “Fox” Ellis as John James Audubon, 10:30 a.m.
International Crane Foundation Outreach Coordinator Stephanie Schmidt, noon
Falconer Lauren McGough, 1:30 p.m.
Wings to Soar Raptor Show, 3 p.m.
“Thank You, Rachel,” play, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 12
Wings to Soar Raptor Show, 10 a.m.
Robyn Bailey with Nestwatch, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 11:30 a.m.
Brian “Fox” Ellis as John James Audubon, 1 p.m.
Wings to Soar Raptor Show, 3 p.m.
“Thank You, Rachel” play, 4:30 p.m.
Alabama Center for the Arts Performing Arts Building
133 Second Ave. N.E.
Jan. 10
“Thank You, Rachel” play, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 11
Vicky Smith, The Bat Lady, 9:30 a.m.
Matthew Niemiller on cave life at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, 11:30 a.m.
Jon Armbruster on Auburn’s dinosaur egg, 1 p.m.
James McClintock on drug discovery in the Antarctic Seas, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 11
Vicky Smith, The Bat Lady, 10:30 a.m.
Herpetologist Jimmy Stiles, noon
Falconer Lauren McGough, 1:30 p.m.
Herpetologist Jimmy Stiles, 3 p.m.
Alabama Center for the Arts Visual Arts Building
133 Second Ave. N.E., Decatur
Jan. 11
International Crane Foundation Vice President of North America Programs Andy Coven, 9 a.m.
Children’s Activity, 10 a.m.-noon
Christopher Joe on ecotourism, 11 a.m.
Robyn Bailey with Nestwatch, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 1 p.m.
Timothy Joe art demonstration, 2:30 p.m.
Southern Exposure Films, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 12
Matthew Niemiller on cave life at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, 10 a.m.
Jon Armbruster on how fish came to live in Alabama’s caves, 11:30 a.m.
James McClintock on diving under Antarctic ice, 1 p.m.
Painting class with Tracy Roberts McCann, 2 p.m.
International Crane Foundation Outreach Coordinator Stephanie Schmidt, 2:30 p.m.
Decatur Public Library
504 Cherry St. N.E., Decatur
Jan. 11
Bird Walk for Kids at Delano Park, 9 a.m.
Children’s Activities at the library, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Jessie Douglas Taylor on the similarities between the habitats of cranes and quail, 11 a.m.
Adventure with John James Audubon, 1:30 p.m.
Meet and Greet with Hope, the International Crane Foundation mascot, 2 p.m.
Quail Story Tiem with Jessie Douglas Taylor, 3 p.m.
Jan. 12
Children’s Activities, noon-4 p.m.
Merriweather Lewis’ Scientific Discoveries, 3 p.m.
Jan. 13
Walt Whitman: A Song of Myself present by Brian “Fox” Ellis, 6 p.m.
Read More: Nature Keeper: Retired Wheeler ranger witnessed the arrival of sandhill cranes at the refuge