The International Festival of Owls began in 2003 as a small “hatch-day” celebration for Alice, a permanently injured Great Horned Owl who became an ambassador animal through the Houston Nature Center and later the International Owl Center.

What started as a birthday-style event grew into an annual festival focused on owl education, community engagement, and wildlife conservation. Today, the festival brings people together to learn about owls, enjoy family-friendly activities, support conservation efforts, and celebrate wildlife during the late winter season , a time when opportunities to connect with nature can feel scarce.