Welcome
There’s still time to register for the 2023 festival!
You are invited to the Great Midwest Crane Fest – Celebrating Community and Conservation in Baraboo, Wisconsin, from Nov. 10 to 11, 2023, as thousands of Sandhill Cranes gather near the Wisconsin River before flying south for the winter.
What should I expect during the festival?
- Wisconsin’s largest crane congregation
- Guided crane-viewing tours
- Presentations and workshops
- And more!
You’ll also 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 Ted Thousand
Admission
Registration
$60 Friday and Saturday
$40 Friday or Saturday
$8 Youth (ages 6-17)
Ages 5 and under are free.
Add-on Events
The crane tours and photography workshop are sold out, but you may join the waitlist for these events on the registration form.
$55 Sunrise or Sunset Flyover Crane Viewing Tours
$75 or $106 Evening Crane Congregation Tours
$25 Workshop with Photographer Michael Forsberg
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.
Special thanks to our event Hospitality sponsor! View our festival sponsors here.
What Is Included in My Registration?
Festival registration includes entrance to the Aldo Leopold Foundation and International Crane Foundation and events at each site, including presentations and tours of the Cranes of the World and Leopold Shack.
Additional registration is required for add-on events, including crane viewing tours and workshops. View the entire schedule here.
Aldo Leopold Foundation
Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 10 and 11
The following events are included in your registration. Please note that capacity may be limited for select events.
- Presentations
- Shack Tours
- Guided Nature Hikes
- Guided Green Building Tours
- Self-Led Duhr Riverview West Sandbar Trail
- Crane observation from Legacy Center | 3:30 to 5 p.m.
International Crane Foundation
Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 10 and 11
The following events are included in your registration. Please note that capacity may be limited for select events.
- Presentations
- Meet the Artists Exhibition
- Film Showings
- Guided Prairie Walks
- Guided and Self-Led Cranes of the World Tours
- George Archibald Welcome Center Exhibits 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 being alert, walking away, or flying away, you are too close to the cranes.
- 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.