NASHVILLE --- The 2021 Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival has been cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. The festival committee has decided to host an online “Celebration of Cranes.” This virtual event is scheduled Jan. 11-16 and will include short, daily interviews with all festival partners, three virtual events hosted by the American Eagle Foundation and the International Crane Foundation along with a Facebook Live broadcast from Hiwassee Refuge on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 9 a.m. (EST).

The annual Sandhill Crane Festival is held in January in the north Hamilton County community of Birchwood and in neighboring Meigs County at the Hiwassee Refuge and Cherokee Removal Memorial Park. At this year’s event, sandhill cranes will continue to be front and center

Persons wishing to view cranes can still visit the Hiwassee Refuge. However, everyone is encouraged to visit ebird.org and find sandhill cranes and other birdwatching events. “Although we’ll miss being together, we’re happy to still celebrate the return of cranes to Tennessee,” said Míme Barnes, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Region III Outreach and Communications Coordinator.

The event itinerary, resources, information about TWRA partners and more can be viewed here.