Welcome
Register now for the first annual Great Midwest Crane Fest – Celebrating Community and Conservation in Baraboo, Wisconsin, from November 10 to 12, 2022, as thousands of Sandhill Cranes gather near the Wisconsin River before flying south for the winter.
Witness the marvel of Wisconsin’s largest crane congregation and participate in guided crane-viewing tours, photography seminars, conservation-related lectures and extraordinary events. Explore the beautiful landscapes and rich histories connecting the festival hosts, the International Crane Foundation and Aldo Leopold Foundation.
Photo: Sandhill Cranes on the Wisconsin River by Jackson Newman
Registration & Admission
Registration for the Great Midwest Crane Fest is now open!
Early-bird registration through September 30, 2022:
$45 Friday and Saturday
$20 Single day Friday
$25 Single day Saturday
$6 Youth (ages 6-17) Registration is valid throughout the festival and not for a single day.
Ages 5 and under are free.
Festival registration includes entrance to the Aldo Leopold Foundation and International Crane Foundation and events at each site, including lectures and tours of the Cranes of the World and Leopold Shack. Please note that capacity may be limited for select events.
You may also register for one or more seminars or add-on tours for additional fees. View the full schedule to register for these add-on events.
Please email us or call 608-356-9462, ext. 807 with registration questions. View our event FAQ.
Please remember that the festival is rain or shine and registration is non-refundable.
Directions
The festival is located at the edge of the Driftless Area in southern Wisconsin, approximately a three-hour drive from either Minneapolis or Chicago:
International Crane Foundation
E11376 Shady Lane Road
Baraboo, WI
Aldo Leopold Foundation
E13701 Levee Road
Baraboo, WI
Complimentary parking is available at the International Crane Foundation and Aldo Leopold Foundation.
If needed, overflow parking will also be provided at Ho-Chunk Gaming, with a free shuttle to the International Crane Foundation.
A shuttle is also available for transportation between the main festival venues.
Festival Schedule At a Glance
Thursday | November 10
The festival begins with an Evening Crane Congregation Tour at the Aldo Leopold Foundation from 2 to 5:30 p.m.
Friday | November 11
The events on Friday kick off with a Guided Sunrise Crane Viewing Tour from 6 to 8 a.m.
The International Crane Foundation and Aldo Leopold Foundation will be open from noon to 5 p.m., with various lectures, tours and seminars.
End the day with a showing of the documentary Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County.
Saturday | November 12
A full day on Saturday begins with the Guided Sunrise Crane Viewing Tour from 6 to 8 a.m.
The Aldo Leopold Foundation and International Crane Foundation will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an exciting array of tours, seminars and lectures.
Close out the festival with the Crane Song documentary at the UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
October From the Field Webinar
The International Crane Foundation’s President and CEO Rich Beilfuss and the Aldo Leopold Foundation’s Executive Director Buddy Huffaker are teaming up for a live webinar on October 20th at 11 a.m. Central Time. Click here to register.
Rich and Buddy will share stories about the partnership between the organizations, the inaugural Great Midwest Crane Fest and the fall Sandhill Crane Migration through southern Wisconsin.
Sponsored by Forrest Hartmann.
If you can’t listen to the live webinar, we will share the recording following the event. In addition, Rich and Buddy will team up again on Wisconsin Public Radio’s The Larry Meiller Show on Wednesday, October 26th.
Register
Early-bird registration is now open through September 30, 2022!
Festival registration includes entrance to the Aldo Leopold Foundation and International Crane Foundation and events at each site, including lectures and tours of the Cranes of the World and Leopold Shack. Please note that capacity may be limited for select events.
You may also register for one or more seminars or add-on tours for additional fees . View the full schedule to register for these add-on events.
Please email us or call 608-356-9462 ext. 807 with registration questions. View our event FAQ.
Please remember that the festival is rain or shine, and registration is non-refundable.
Note your personal information may be shared between the International Crane Foundation and Aldo Leopold Foundation pursuant to both organizations’ privacy policies.