The Othello Sandhill Crane Festival began in 1998, sponsored by the Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce and the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service).  Since the beginning the Festival has been financially supported by the City of Othello through tourism development funds (hotel/motel taxes) and logistically supported by the Othello School District and Othello Community Schools, reimbursed by Festival registration fees.

The Sandhill Crane Festival Committee plans, organizes and conducts the festival.  The Committee includes Grant Conservation District staff, Othello citizens plus residents from the neighboring Columbia Basin communities of Ephrata, Moses Lake and Royal City.

The Festival has many tours for crane viewing along with specialty tours.  Specialty tours have included Columbia National Wildlife Refuge/Potholes area wildlife tour, Missoula Floods and the Channeled Scablands geology tour,  Lower Grand Coulee birding tour and Wahluke Slope/Shrub Steppe birding tour.  Pre-registration is suggested to reserve your seat as some fill up quickly.

With admission price into the Festival on Saturday, you may attend free lectures which are repeated throughout the day.  Lectures given in the past have included falconry, Missoula Floods and the Channeled Scablands, Woodland Park Zoo, Grouse of Washington, Othello History within the Drumhellar Channeled Scablands, Shrub-Steppe Flora and Fauna, Owls of Eastern Washington and Spring Migration in the Columbia Basin.

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For more information please call 509-488-2802 or email us by using our contact form.