The 35th annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival will be held Jan. 17–18, at Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, Cherokee Removal Memorial Park, and Birchwood Community Center. Known for the thousands of sandhill cranes that visit the refuge, the festival offers free admission from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. A new parking plan is available; details and a map are on the festival website.
Free shuttle service is available from the Birchwood Community Center to the parks. According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), the festival highlights the area’s Native American heritage and thriving crane population. On-site volunteers will help guests use spotting scopes to view birds, including endangered whooping cranes, bald eagles, and other species.
Nashville artists Second Nature will perform Saturday, and the Mount LeConte Jug Band will perform Sunday. The American Eagle Foundation will host two live shows daily at the Birchwood Community Center. Authors of the children’s book Fam, about sandhill cranes and a Canada Goose, will read on stage. Vendors, educators, and a cafeteria opening at 7 a.m. are also part of the festival.
The Hiwassee Refuge, spanning approximately 6,000 acres, has served as a critical wintering habitat for sandhill cranes since the 1990s, when their populations began to rebound (TWRA). The agency’s 60-year stewardship has supported not only cranes but a variety of wildlife, making it an important site for migratory birds.
The Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival offers a chance to explore the state’s wildlife and culture. TWRA works to balance conservation with public enjoyment. More information can be found on the festival website.
