This is our 27th annual Othello Sandhill Crane Festival!! Founded in 1998, the Othello Sandhill Crane Festival highlights the spring return of Sandhill Cranes to the greater Othello area and the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. Lectures will be delivered on Friday night and all-day Saturday. Tours will be offered on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Our festival will remain at both of our venues this year to continue improving room size, audience capacity, and space.
Schedule of Events
FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2025
11:00 AM- 01:30 PM - Potholes Reservoir Boat Birding Tour - $90.00 - Nathan LaFrance (Mar Don)
02:00 PM-05:45 PM - Biking for Cranes Tour - $25.00 - Pete Perez (Starts at the Church)
02:00 PM-04:30 PM - Potholes Reservoir Boat Birding Tour - $90.00 - Nathan LaFrance (Mar Don)
02:00 PM-07:45 PM - Workshop: Photography - $120.00 - Diana McPherson (Church)
03:00 PM-04:00 PM - Othello Community Museum Tour - Eric Morgan (Museum)
03:30 PM-Dark - Tonnemaker Hill Farm Tour - $25.00 - Luke Tonnemaker (Farm)
04:00 PM-07:00PM - Rowley & Hawkins Fruit Farm Tour - $35.00 - Mark Rowley (Church)
04:00 PM-Dark - HIKE: Basalt Columns & Wildlife Hike - $25.00 - Randy Hill (Refuge Headquarters)
05:30 PM-Dark - Crane Viewing Tour - $25.00 - Load from the front of Church
06:00 PM-Dark - Fly in Bus Tour - $25.00 - Load from the front of Church
07:00 PM-Done - Lecture: The Grand Coulee - Bruce Bjornstad (Red Room)
05:00 PM-08:00 PM - DINNER: Spaghetti Dinner / Eagles Lodge 127 E Larch St. Othello / Pay at the door $20.00
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
On Saturday, the Children Committee will have a variety of activities for kids, such as faux binoculars to use for "birding" in the gym by finding pictures of various birds, origami crane mobiles, mask making, and many other activities.
LOCATION: School Gym /McFarland Middle School
FEE: Children under twelve are free with a paid adult. General admission ticket $10.00 gets you into the Festival on Saturday and covers all lectures and events.
SCHEDULE
9:00-3:00-Art Projects / Craft Projects offered:
Binocular build/ Utilize to locate various birds within the gym
Quail Magnet
Origami Crane
Crane Stick puppet
Leaf Caterpillar
9:00-3:00-Face Painting
10:00-2:00-Personalized plaster crane inspired masks
Other Activities:
Othello Community Museum Tour / Tours are scheduled on Friday and Saturday.
Art Walk / Self Guided. Maps available at The Old Hotel.
The Old Hotel Art Gallery (33 E. Larch St). The gallery displays folk art and handicrafts produced by Northwestern artists.
Date: March 21-23, 2025
