Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival

11/01/2026

Gangling birds known for their elaborate mating dances take center stage at the 2026 Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival on Nov. 6-8
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10/31/2026

The Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival is just one week away!

Be sure to stop by the Community Art Show, featuring fine art and photography of Sandhill Cranes and other California wildlife, along with a special showcase of the talented young artists of Vista Oaks Charter School!

Vista Oaks elementary and high school students have been busy exploring the incredible world of birds and learning the creative technique of paper collage to bring these feathered friends to life in a unique way.

Where:
Cottage Pisano Room at Hutchins Street Square

Art Show Schedule:
Friday, November 6: 6–8 p.m.
Saturday, November 7: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Sunday, November 8: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

We hope to see you there!

10/27/2026

Can you ID these feathered friends?

We’re sharing a few birds you might spot on our Birds & Biomes tour during the Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival! How many can you identify? Drop your guesses in the comments!

Join us for an expert-guided adventure through the diverse habitats of the Cosumnes River Preserve, where wetlands, oak forests, savanna, and riparian habitats support an incredible variety of birdlife.

📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026

⏰ 7:30–10:00 AM

📍 Cosumnes River Preserve Galt, CA

🎟️ $25 per person

Use the link in the comments to sign up now!

10/24/2026

We’re looking for volunteers to help make our Festival a success on Saturday and Sunday, November 7–8!

We need friendly faces to help at our Festival merchandise table, art show, and to welcome festivalgoers as greeters.

Volunteer Details:

Shifts are 3–4 hours long.
Every volunteer receives a FREE Festival T-shirt!

Use the link in the comments or email us at [email protected] to sign up!

10/22/2026

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We’re looking for volunteers to help make our Festival a success on Saturday and Sunday, November 7–8!

We need friendly faces to help at our Festival merchandise table and welcome festivalgoers as greeters.

Volunteer Details:

Shifts are 3–4 hours long.
Every volunteer receives a FREE Festival T-shirt!

Use the link in the comments to sign up now!

Volunteer - Lodi Sandhill Crane Association

10/19/2026

Celebrate the Sandhill Cranes, during the upcoming Lodi Festival, by learning to paint a Crane at the Sumi Ink Painting Workshop – Nov 7.
Join award-winning artist Lauris Phillips for an exclusive, relaxing workshop on the art of Sumi-e (ink painting).

You will learn to paint a crane on "rice" paper using a bamboo-handled brush and Japanese Master Hokusai’s traditional single-stroke technique. No prior experience is necessary, and all materials are provided.

Workshop Details:
* Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
* Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
* Location: Upstairs Art Classroom, Hutchins Street Square – Lodi, CA
* Fee: $55 per person (Includes all materials)
* Eligibility: Ages 14 and above, all experience levels welcome

About the Instructor:
Lauris Phillips has been painting birds and landscapes with sumi ink for 20 years. Her deeply grounded work earned her the People’s Choice and 2nd place in Fine Art at the 2025 Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival Art Show.

Secure Your Spot:
Spaces are strictly limited to 12 participants to ensure personalized instruction.

Click the link in the comments to secure your spot today!

10/15/2026

Join us for the Lodi Sandhill Crane Homecoming Banquet!

The Wintering Sandhill Crane Season in Lodi is just around the corner, and we would love for you to join us in celebrating!

We are hosting the Lodi Sandhill Crane Homecoming Banquet on Friday, November 6, 2026, as Hutchins Street Square (Crete Hall). It promises to be a wonderful evening of good food, great company, and appreciation for these magnificent birds.

We're starting at 6:00 PM with drinks and a silent auction, followed by an awesome farm-to-table dinner and program at 6:30.

Here is what we have lined up:

- Farm-to-table Dinner: Enjoy a delicious local meal featuring seasonal flavors.

- Guest Speaker: Robert Steelquist, naturalist, author, educator, and photographer will share information about the lesser-known Coastal Sandhill Cranes. Behind the scenes, his photographs and partnerships with experts in the Sacramento Valley and Delta are helping document critical conservation priorities needed to help provide the wintering, foraging, and roosting habitat needed for the Sandhill Cranes to thrive.

- Art Show: View an incredible display of fine art and photography, including featured works by Festival Artist Michael Forsberg.

- Silent Auction: Bid on unique items from our festival exhibitors from 6-8 PM. All proceed go directly toward supporting our 3-day festival!

This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with old friends, meet fellow supporters, and kick off the season together. Seats are limited, so please reserve yours today at the link in the comments.

10/12/2026

Four biomes, one Walk. Claim your spot for November 7!

Want to experience four distinct ecosystems in just a single walk? Join us at the Cosumnes River Preserve on Saturday, November 7, from 7:30 AM to 10:00 A.M.

We will trek through Seasonal Wetlands, Oak Forests, Savanna, and Riparian biomes to see how these unique habitats intertw**e to support an incredible diversity of local bird species.

Spaces are limited to keep the trail experience personal. Secure your spot for November 7 at the link in the comments!

Quick prep: Lace up some sensible walking shoes, pack a water bottle, and get ready to explore.

See you on the trail!

10/08/2026

Learn to carve with a master at the Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival!

Join master carver, Jim Burcio, for a hands-on Beginner’s Bird Carving Workshop. You will learn how to carve a beautiful mini-Green Heron, and all materials are completely provided.

Here are the details:

When: Sunday, November 8, 2026 | 1 – 5 PM
Where: Hutchins Street Square (Lodi, CA)
Price: $40.00 per person (Open to ages 15+)

Why learn from Jim Burcio?

Jim is from the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association and has been carving wildfowl for over 50 years. He has competed nationally, judged the Ward World Competition, and his work has been displayed at the Sacramento International Airport. This is a rare opportunity to learn from one of the best in the craft!

Space is strictly limited to just 8 participants to ensure personalized instruction.

Secure your spot now: https://lodisandhillcrane.org/event/paid-workshop-beginners-bird-carving-workshop-november-8-2026/

We hope to see you there!

10/05/2026

Look Up! Join the Beginning Birding Adventure at the Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival on Sunday, November 8, 2026 from 1 to 3 pm.

Ever wondered about the incredible birds flying right through our backyard? You don’t need to be an expert or even own a pair of binoculars to find out!

As part of this year's Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival, we are hosting a Beginning Birding Adventure specifically designed for families and absolute beginners. Some of the birds you may see include Sandhill Cranes, Northern Pintail Ducks, Tundra Swans, Snow Geese, Mallards, Red-tailed Hawks, Snowy Egrets and more. It’s the perfect, relaxed way to experience the magic of nature together.

Here is what makes this adventure perfect for you and your family:
• No gear required: We have loaner binoculars ready for you to use!
• Made for beginners: Learn the basics of bird ID in a fun, zero-pressure environment.
• Fully accessible and requires minimal physical effort.

Whether you want to spot your very first Sandhill Crane or just enjoy an afternoon outdoors with the family, we would love to have you join us.

Spaces fill up quickly, so secure your family's spot today at the link in the comments!

Photo by Mallory Lynch