INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF OWLS THIS WEEKEND IN HOUSTON, MN
Written by Ballzer on April 27, 2022
The International Festival of Owls is back this weekend! Between COVID and bird flu precautions, things will be different this year but there’s still a ton of family fun this weekend and LIVE OWLS! We checked in with Karla Bloem, Executive Director of the International Owl Center in Houston, to hear all the activities on the schedule!
Don’t miss Karla doing an owl call at the 4:30 mark, joined by an owl friend!
This year’s festival will not include birds from the Illinois Raptor Center due to the significant risk of avian influenza. They will still have their birds including Ruby the great horned owl, J.R., the Eastern Screech Owl and Piper, the American Barn Owl, who is currently sitting on five eggs!
Pellet dissection
(photo by Alan Stankevitz)Nest Box Building
(photo by Alan Stankevitz)
The new owl-shaped pizza at Sub-Zero Pizza 
2022 T-shirt design
The Center has raised over $200,000 for Ukraine by selling the art submitted by Ukrainian children over the years for their art contest. Debuting at the festival will be their new 20 pack of greeting cards with designs from Ukranian kids. Learn more about the “Ukraine Art for Ukraine Kids” program HERE.
Check out the full schedule of the International Festival of Owls HERE and below:
Saturday, April 30, 2022 (# indicates regular admission for the day: $7 adults, $4 ages 4-17, members free)
All day, on your own: story stroll – “Whoo-Ku Haiku: A Great Horned Owl Story” by Maria Gianferrari (510 E Cedar St)
9:00 – 5:00: Vendors & Face-painting (Houston Community Center)
9:00 – 5:00: International children’s owl art & festival shirts featuring Alice the Owl for sale (Fest Building)
9:00 until gone: Take & make owl hatch-day craft (limit 1 per child or 2 per household – Fest Building)
10:00 – 4:00: Visit the International Owl Center & gift shop, live owls on display#
10:30 – 3:30: Nest box building ($45/box, Fest Building)
10:30 – 3:30: Pellet dissection ($5/pellet, Fest Building)
7:00 PM: Program by World Owl Hall of Fame Special Achievement Award Winner Dr. Prachi Mehta from India (Community Center, pre-registration required)
Sunday, May 1, 2022 (# indicates regular admission for the day: $7 adults, $4 ages 4-17, members free)
All day, on your own: story stroll – “Whoo-Ku Haiku: A Great Horned Owl Story” by Maria Gianferrari (510 E Cedar St)
7:00 – 11:00: Birding, Natural History & Geology car caravan trip (Meet in Trailhead Park, pre-registration required – tentative)
10:00 – 4:00: Visit the International Owl Center & gift shop, live owls on display #
Other fun things to do in Houston
–Parade of Owls art tour of 12 public owl sculptures around town
–Street banners featuring kids owl art from around the world (can you find the three from Ukraine?)
-Natural Playground and Houston Nature Center in Trailhead Park
-Mission 66 Playground in City Park
-City-wide rummage sale Saturday morning
Feature image of Ruby by Pat Peckham
