Welcome!
Save the date for the 2026 Great Midwest Crane Fest-Celebrating Community and Conservation in Baraboo, Wisconsin, on Nov. 14 and 15! Join us in celebrating the natural wonders of the fall Sandhill Crane migration with a weekend filled with presentations, workshops, guided tours, and other special events. Ticket sales are coming in August!
What should I expect during the festival?
- Access to events at the International Crane Foundation and Aldo Leopold Foundation
- Presentations, workshops, and guided tours
- Nature walks
- Ticketed crane-viewing tours of Wisconsin’s largest crane congregation
- And more!
Through this festival, we invite you to explore the beautiful landscapes and the rich history that connects the festival hosts, the International Crane Foundation and the Aldo Leopold Foundation.
Please note that tickets must be purchased in advance to attend crane viewing tours on the Wisconsin River, as these events tend to sell out quickly. The 2026 festival ticket sales will go live in August!
Photo: Sandhill Cranes in flight over the Wisconsin River by Ted Thousand
What Is Included in My Registration?
Festival registration includes entrance to the Aldo Leopold Foundation and International Crane Foundation, as well as events at each site, including presentations and tours of the Crane Discovery Center and Leopold Shack.
Additional registration is required for add-on events, including crane viewing tours and workshops.
Aldo Leopold Foundation
The following events are examples of what is included in general admission registration. Please note that capacity may be limited for select events.
- Lectures
- Art displays
- Guided Nature Hikes
- Guided Leopold Shack Tours
- Guided Green Building Tours
- Access to the Aldo Leopold Foundation Center Exhibits and Gift Shop
International Crane Foundation
The following events are examples of what is included in your general admission registration. Please note that capacity may be limited for select events.
- Lectures
- Art displays
- Guided tours
- Guided Prairie Walks
- Access to on-site nature trails
- Access to the newly renovated Migration Center Exhibit
- Access to Crane Discovery Center exhibits and George Archibald Welcome Center and Gift Shop
When Viewing Cranes in the Wild
- Give cranes space and appreciate them from afar. Remain in your vehicle and get no closer than 100 yards.
- Please remain concealed and do not speak loudly enough that the birds can hear you. If the cranes you are viewing change their behavior, such as going from feeding and relaxing to alert, walking away, or flying away, you are too close to them.
- Finally, do not trespass on private, state or federal property in an attempt to view or photograph cranes – thank you!
Look for these signs between the International Crane Foundation and Aldo Leopold Foundation to identify private property.