Witness thousands of cranes, ducks, and geese flying sky-high in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Every March, these magnificent birds migrate to the San Luis Valley just in time for the 43rd Monte Vista Crane Festival.
The festival is held from Friday to Sunday, March 6th to 8th, 2026, in the San Luis Valley. Festival-goers enjoy a range of activities, including photography workshops, sandhill crane tours, guest speakers, and guided visits to local parks and canyons. Events at the Monte Vista Crane Festival take place at a number of locations around the valley.
43rd Crane Fest Highlights
The bulk of the wildlife viewings is held at the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, just south of Monte Vista. Enjoy a weekend of birding in Southern Colorado, experiencing the wildlife, art, education, and community gatherings. The San Luis Valley offers some of the best crane viewing in the world when tens of thousands of sandhill cranes migrate to the region.
For 2026, the festival expands its weekend of events to Crane Week, which showcases additional local activities happening in the lead-up to the official festival weekend. Guests are invited to stay in the area longer, soaking up more of the unique small town charm and wildlife festivities. This family-friendly event welcomes kids under 15 to attend programming with their families.
“The Crane Fest is truly one of the best events in our region—and one of the best birding events in the whole country,” commented Jenny Nehring, board member at large with the Friends of the San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuges, which organizes the annual festival. “What makes it especially special is experiencing world-class crane viewing in a welcoming small town like Monte Vista. Our talks, tours, and programming are simply top notch and go a long way in terms of connecting people from across the country with sandhill cranes and other wildlife, reinforcing how important conservation and stewardship is to our shared future.”
A single Festival Pass for 2026 includes access to:
- 14 talks
- Keynote address from Rosemary Mosco
- Special film programming
This year’s keynote speaker will be Rosemary Mosco, acclaimed author, illustrator, and science communicator. The presentation is typically held at Vali 3 Theatre in Monte Vista.
Other highlights include wildlife tours and birdwalks with SLV GO!. There are expanded, hands-on art workshops with The Church Project.
There’s also a Craft & Nature Fair, hosted by the Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce, held over three days in the town’s Ski Hi Building.
The Monte Vista Crane Festival is a community-led event, thanks to the efforts of many organizations making it possible: City of Monte Vista, Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce, federal wildlife agencies, local nonprofits, artists, and volunteers.
Experience this unique event in the San Luis Valley, featuring sunrise crane flights and creative workshops.
Need a place to stay? Check out the best hotels in Monte Vista.
Details
Address: MV National Wildlife Refuge | 6120 CO-15, Monte Vista, CO 81144
Date: Friday-Sunday, March 6-8, 2026
Website: mvcranefest.org