Alton, IL – December 20, 2023 – The Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, in collaboration with FLOCK Food Truck Park, the Audubon Center at Riverlands, and National Great Rivers Museum, is set to celebrate the official start of Eagle Season. The festivities will begin with the annual Eagle Ice Festival on Saturday, January 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., marking the return of the Great American Bald Eagles to their winter homes in southwest Illinois.
Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, expressed excitement about the festival, noting it as a popular event for visitors to enjoy a variety of free activities, including live bald eagle sightings, ice carving displays, and more.
The Eagle Meet & Greet event at FLOCK Food Truck Park, 210 Ridge St., Alton, will feature Liberty, the American Bald Eagle from World Bird Sanctuary, along with his handler. Visitors can learn about bald eagles, take photos, and enjoy ice sculptures by IceMan Tools. The event also includes free face painting for kids and s’mores kits for purchase.
Simultaneously, family-friendly activities will take place at the Audubon Center at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, National Great Rivers Museum, and the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower. These include outdoor learning activities, guided bird hikes, crafts, and sessions on local raptors with TreeHouse Wildlife Center.
The National Great Rivers Museum will offer children’s crafts, open tours of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam, and a ‘Nest Watch Station’ for eagle viewing. TreeHouse Wildlife Center will present birds of prey at the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower, followed by a tour of the Tower.
The Jacoby Arts Center will host the Alton Eagle Ice Fest Art Market, featuring local artists and artisans. It’s Raining Zen will give away free stone carved eagle figurines to the first 70 children under 12 who visit the store.
Eagle Watching Shuttle Tours will start on January 6 in Alton, with tours every Saturday in January and February. Tickets for the 45-minute shuttle tours, highlighting eagle watching hot spots, are $15 per person and must be purchased online in advance.
Visitors can also explore the “Eagle Watching Tour” along the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway, available on the Great Rivers & Routes website and mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
A full list of eagle watching events, including meet & greets, tours, and live bird demonstrations, is available online. For those looking to extend their visit, numerous eagle packages and specials are available at local hotels and bed & breakfast inns.
For more information and to purchase tickets for various events, visit Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau.
