Registration is open for the annual Whooping Crane Festival scheduled for February 23-26, 2017 in Port Aransas, Texas. The festival is open to birders, photographers, families, and anyone who loves the outdoors and nature-related activities.

As the festival has grown over the years, so has the variety of events. World renowned crane expert, Dr. George Archibald, will be one of the featured speakers. Festival attendees will have the opportunity to take guided boat tours to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to view the world’s last naturally-occurring population of Whooping Cranes on their wintering grounds. Additional festival activities include birding and nature boat and bus tours, interactive workshops and seminars, a painting and wine tasting class, a free nature-related trade show, and a family birding field trip.

For more information and online registration, visit http://www.whoopingcranefestival.org. Several trips are expected to fill up fast due to the popularity of the festival, so participants are encouraged to register early. Online registration closes at 5:00 p.m. CST on February 14. Onsite registration will open on February 23 at 1:30 p.m. at the Port Aransas Civic Center and run daily through the festival.

For listings of accommodations, restaurants, shopping, and a myriad of “island-style” activities, visit http://www.portaransas.org or call 800-45-COAST.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & VISITORS BUREAU

403 W. Cotter

Port Aransas, Texas 78373

800-45-COAST or 361-749-5919