Snowy Owl Festival 2027 Tickets

Paint n’ Sip: Snowy Owl Friday, February 5 • 1:00 - 3:00 PM Come and take part in the Snowy Owl Festival’s Paint n’ Sip! Transform your canvas into the majestic snowy owl with paint and simple techniques! Artist Karen Mazzoline will provide the materials and instruction, so bring a friend and come paint with us! Bring your own beverage of choice to sip as you enjoy a relaxing afternoon of painting. Class Fee: $40.00 per person, all materials included.

Friday, February 5 • 1:00 - 5:00 PM Early Bird Snowy Owl & Winter Birding Tour (Carpool) Kick off the Snowy Owl Festival with a winter birdwatching adventure! Join us for an afternoon carpool tour through prime winter habitat as we search for snowy owls and other seasonal birds. This guided outing offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy quiet winter landscapes, learn from experienced birders, and spot these majestic Arctic visitors before the festival's keynote presentation and evening celebration. To reduce traffic on winter roads and minimize disturbance to wildlife, space is limited by vehicle count. Carpooling is highly encouraged, and advance registration is required to secure your spot. Dress warmly, bring binoculars or a spotting scope if you have them, and get ready for an unforgettable start to the festival weekend! $50 per person.

Snowy Owl Youth Crafts Friday, February 5 | 4:00–6:00 PM Kick off the Snowy Owl Festival with an afternoon of creative fun! Kids will make two owl-inspired art projects: a fluffy pinecone snowy owl with cotton-ball feathers and a colorful winter owl painting. A light snack will be provided to keep young artists fueled as they create. Conveniently timed right after school and just before the live owl presentation at 6:00 p.m., this class is a fun way to begin the festival’s opening-day festivities. Come create, enjoy a snack, and make an evening of celebrating these fascinating birds! Class Fee: $20 This class is designed for children 6-12 years old.

Friday, February 5 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Join us for an engaging program exploring the incredible adaptations that make these raptors such remarkable survivors and important members of our ecosystems. We’ll begin by uncovering what makes a raptor a raptor, exploring their unique adaptations, learning about common species, and discovering ways we can help protect these powerful birds. Then, we’ll turn our attention to one of the Arctic’s most captivating residents: the snowy owl! Discover what makes snowy owls unique, how they differ from other owl species, where they can be found, and how they survive in some of the harshest environments on Earth. We’ll also explore the mysteries surrounding their migrations and why scientists are still learning about these incredible journeys. Come meet one of Michigan's most fascinating visitors up close and learn how we can help protect these birds in the wild. Class Fee: $10.00

Saturday, February 6 • 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Snowy Owl & Winter Birding Tour by Bus Join us for a guided birding adventure through the stunning winter landscapes of Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula! This special tour by bus offers a rare opportunity to search for the iconic Snowy Owl along with a variety of other winter-loving species that call this region home. Led by avid birder Elliot Nelson, participants will travel by bus to several prime birding hotspots. Elliot will share expert insights into winter bird behavior, habitat, and identification—while helping you spot these majestic Arctic visitors and their feathered neighbors. With a small group size of only 24 participants, this immersive experience ensures personal attention, fantastic viewing opportunities, and a relaxed, supportive atmosphere for both beginners and seasoned birders. Tour Fee: $50 per person Includes: Transportation by school bus, guided instruction, and unforgettable winter wildlife experiences. Bundle up, bring your binoculars and camera, and get ready for a magical winter birding outing you won’t soon forget!

Saturday, February 6 • 10AM-12PM RAPTORS REVEALED: Meet the Remarkable Snowy Owl (SATURDAY) NOTE: This is a repeat of the Friday session. Join us for an engaging program exploring the incredible adaptations that make these raptors such remarkable survivors and important members of our ecosystems. We’ll begin by uncovering what makes a raptor a raptor, exploring their unique adaptations, learning about common species, and discovering ways we can help protect these powerful birds. Then, we’ll turn our attention to one of the Arctic’s most captivating residents: the snowy owl! Discover what makes snowy owls unique, how they differ from other owl species, where they can be found, and how they survive in some of the harshest environments on Earth. We’ll also explore the mysteries surrounding their migrations and why scientists are still learning about these incredible journeys. Come meet one of Michigan's most fascinating visitors up close and learn how we can help protect these birds in the wild. Class Fee: $10.00

Saturday, February 6 • 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Snowy Owl & Winter Birding Tour by Bug Join us for a guided birding adventure through the stunning winter landscapes of Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula! This special tour by bus offers a rare opportunity to search for the iconic Snowy Owl along with a variety of other winter-loving species that call this region home. Led by avid birder Elliot Nelson, participants will travel by bus to several prime birding hotspots. Elliot will share expert insights into winter bird behavior, habitat, and identification—while helping you spot these majestic Arctic visitors and their feathered neighbors. With a small group size of only 24 participants, this immersive experience ensures personal attention, fantastic viewing opportunities, and a relaxed, supportive atmosphere for both beginners and seasoned birders. Tour Fee: $50 per person Includes: Transportation by school bus, guided instruction, and unforgettable winter wildlife experiences. Bundle up, bring your binoculars and camera, and get ready for a magical winter birding outing you won’t soon forget!

Saturday, February 6 • 2:00 - 4:00 PM Insights on Owl Research presented by Friends of Whitefish Point Join Chris Neri and Nova Mackentley, renowned wildlife photographers and field biologists, for an engaging presentation on local owl research. With nearly 20 years of experience banding migrating owls, they will share captivating stories and valuable insights into the trends of snowy owls in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. You won't want to miss this presentation! $10.00 per person.

Winter in Michigan provides unique and exhilarating photographic adventures with the chance to observe birds that are seldom seen in the rest of the country. Join Joe Kwasniewski as we explore exciting opportunities and overcome the challenges of photographing birds in the most extreme of our seasons. We will delve into practical tips for success, discussing exposure, composition, camera settings and bird behavior, as well as preparing for the elements to capture stunning images of some of our state’s most iconic and beautiful species. ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Joe Kwasniewski is a lifelong student of the natural world who works professionally as an art director, graphic designer and visual artist with a passion for bird photography. He has over 17 years experience in photography and photo retouching, with an extensive background in post-processing methods and has spent over a decade fine-tuning field techniques for capturing the essence and beauty of wild birds. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI and has lead field trips around the Midwest in search of elusive bird species. He is a resident of West Bloomfield, MI, where he lives with his wife and two daughters, and enjoys gardening with native plants and watercolor painting.

Sunday, February 7 • 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Snowy Owl & Winter Birding Carpooling Tour with Birdwatcher and Wildlife Photographer Joe Kwasniewski Wrap up the Snowy Owl Festival with an unforgettable field experience. This final tour of the weekend offers a last chance to seek out the majestic Snowy Owl and capture breathtaking winter wildlife images across the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Your guide, Joe Kwasniewski will lead you by vehicle, caravan-style, through prime winter birding areas, scenic vantage points and known raptor locations. This small-group outing ensures ample time in the field, opportunities to ask questions, and the flexibility to stop for perfect photographic moments as they arise. Carpooling is required to keep the group small, limit road impact, and maintain a quiet, low-disturbance presence in sensitive winter environments. Whether you're a seasoned birding expert or just starting out, this tour promises a meaningful and memorable finale to the festival.

PRE-ORDER: Snowy Owl Festival long sleeve t-shirt by Next Level Apparel. 4.3 oz., 60/40 combed ring-spun cotton/polyester blend in a classic fit. Tear away label and 1x1 ribbed cuff. Color: Military Green Available in sizes Small to 3 XL. All sales from the Snowy Owl Festival apparel supports the Hessel School House nature programming. PRE-ORDER DEADLINE: We will be accepting pre-order until January 16, 2027. After that date a limited supply of shirts/sizes will be available for purchase. Pre-order is strongly recommended to secure the size and color you prefer.

PRE-ORDER ONLY: Elevate your festival experience with the Gildan Softstyle Unisex Hoodie in a captivating cardinal red shade, featuring the exclusive Snowy Owl Festival logo on the back and a smaller logo on the front chest pocket area. Crafted from premium, soft-spun cotton, this hoodie promises unparalleled comfort, making it the perfect companion for chilly festival evenings or cozy days at home. With a versatile fit available in sizes small to 5XL, this hoodie is designed for everyone to enjoy both style and comfort. All sales from the Snowy Owl Festival apparel supports the Hessel School House nature programming. PRE-ORDER DEADLINE: We will be accepting pre-order until January 16, 2027. After that date a limited supply of shirts/sizes will be available for purchase. Pre-order is strongly recommended to secure the size and color you prefer.