• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Visit Bluff Country

A guide to Historic Bluff Country

  • Home
  • Historic Bluff Country
  • Plan Your Visit
  • Events
  • News
  • Minnesota
  • Iowa
  • Wisconsin
  • Directory
  • Visitor Guide

It’s a hoot!

March 2, 2023 by Visit Bluff Country

It’s a hoot!

By Charlene Corson Selbee

Prepare to have a hoot at the International Festival of Owls, March 3-5.

Second place winner, Yoonjeong (Gina) Yang (age 18) USA in the 2023 International Kids’ Owl Art Contest will be on exhibit during the International Owl Festival.
Photo submitted by the International Owl Center
The event originally started at a “hatch-day” party for Alice the Great Horned Owl in 2003. The celebration has grown from 300 attendees to over 2,000 visitors from all over the United States, Canada, Jamaica, England, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Nepal, Taiwan, Japan, Kenya, and South Africa.

“Expect to be immersed in owls,” explained Karla Bloem, International Owl Center executive director.

The entire town of Houston, Minn., is actively involved in the celebration. The Cross of Christ Lutheran Church will once again host the favorite owl-face pancake breakfast. Barista’s Coffee House specialty is owl-themed drinks, and SubZero Pizza & Ice Cream will feature owl shaped pizzas on Friday night.

Looking for owl-themed gifts? Visit the vendor show at Houston High School, 306 W. Elm, and the International Owl Center’s Gift Shop, located in the Owl Center, 126 E. Cedar, for a wide selection of owl-themed gifts.
Check out the self-guided Parade of Owls art tour. eleven public owl sculptures are located throughout the town. Watch for the street banners featuring kids’ owl art from around the world. Note that three of the banners feature artwork from Ukraine. Over 2,007 entries from 34 countries and 20 U.S. states were submitted this year.

First place winner, Alexander Xu (age 16) USA in the 2023 International Kids’ Owl Art Contest out of about 2,007 entries from 34 countries and 20 US states.
Photo submitted by the International Owl Center
Roar Solheim from Norway is the 2023 World Owl Hall of Fame keynote speaker on Saturday night. The presentation will focus on Solheim’s encounters with owls and owl people in North America. Owl-themed refreshments will be provided by the town’s Forget-Me-Not Garden club.

Other activities include live owl programs, owl crafts, medallion hunt, kids’ owl art contest, kids’ owl calling contest, birding and natural history bus trip, owl nest box building, owl pellet dissection, and owl prowls.
Some events require registration. The schedule and registration information are available online at festivalofowls.com.

Bloem emphasized, “Sunday programs are much less crowded than Saturday.”

The three-day celebration is the center’s largest event of the year and is a fundraiser for the center.

Upcoming Bluff County events:
• March 2-5, Oneota Film Festival, Decorah

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine is delivered to more than 1,000 locations in 35 counties in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. This magazine has a mission of promoting tourism in the Historic Bluff Country (Driftless) region.

For information on upcoming town festivals and events in Historic Bluff Country, vacation ideas for lodging, recreation, dining, and shopping.

Filed Under: News

Primary Sidebar

Bluff Country News & Stories

It was a dark and stormy night

March 2, 2023

It’s a hoot!

March 2, 2023

Green Mountain Grill winner claims prize

November 1, 2022

Grizzly Cooler 40 winner claims prize

October 6, 2022

Third kayak winner of the summer

August 17, 2022

Enjoy the last days of summer

August 17, 2022

Second kayak winner of the summer

July 13, 2022

First kayak winner of the summer 2022

June 16, 2022

It’s all about rhubarb

June 2, 2022

A pilgrimage to connect with your ancestors

May 10, 2022

The year to hike Scenic Bluff Country

May 10, 2022

Caves, underground streams, waterfalls, and sinkholes

May 10, 2022

View Bluff Country from the back of a horse

May 10, 2022

Real Bites

December 13, 2021

Green Mountain Grill winner in September

November 4, 2021

Grizzly Cooler winner in August

September 16, 2021

Real Bites – Four Daughters Vineyard & Winery

August 30, 2021

Third kayak winner of the summer 2021

August 11, 2021

Second kayak winner of the summer 2021

July 15, 2021

First kayak winner of the summer

June 21, 2021

Before Footer

Footer

Visit Bluff Country

Enter to Win

  • The Best Winners
  • The Best Contest Entry
  • Choose Your Adventure Entry

Receive News & Information

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Plan Your Visit

  • Historic Bluff Country
  • Plan Your Visit
  • Visitor Centers
  • State Parks
  • Scenic Byways
  • Trails
  • Waterways
  • Farmers Markets
  • Eat & Drink
  • Recreation
  • Attractions
  • Shopping
  • Lodging
  • Services

Information

  • Events
  • Directory
  • Bluff Country News & Stories
  • Minnesota
  • Iowa
  • Wisconsin
  • Visitor Guide
  • Submit Your Photos
  • Advertise
  • Visit Bluff Country Distribution
  • Home

Minnesota Towns

  • Caledonia
  • Canton
  • Chatfield
  • Fountain
  • Harmony
  • Hokah
  • Houston
  • Kellogg
  • La Crescent
  • Lake City
  • Lanesboro
  • LeRoy
  • Mabel
  • Millville
  • Nodine
  • Peterson
  • Plainview
  • Preston
  • Reads Landing
  • Rushford
  • Spring Grove
  • Spring Valley
  • Wabasha
  • Whalan
  • Winona
  • Wykoff

Iowa Towns

  • Bluffton
  • Burr Oak
  • Calmar
  • Charles City
  • Clermont
  • Cresco
  • Decorah
  • Dyersville
  • Elkader
  • Fort Atkinson
  • Hawkeye
  • Highlandville
  • Kendallville
  • Lansing
  • Lime Springs
  • New Hampton
  • Marquette-McGregor
  • Protivin
  • Riceville
  • Waukon

Wisconsin Towns

  • Alma
  • Galesville
  • La Crosse
  • Onalaska
  • Prairie du Chien
  • Warrens

Winery Brewery Distillery Tour Map in Bluff Country Minnesota Iowa and Wisconsin

© 2023 · Website Design and Hosting by SMG Web Design of Preston, MN.