24th Annual Burrowing Owl Festival
Saturday, February 28, 2026
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Join Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife (CCFW) for a fun-filled day as we celebrate the 24th Annual Burrowing Owl Festival Wildlife and Environmental Expo, a community event dedicated to Cape Coral’s iconic bird—the burrowing owl! This exciting festival promises to be an unforgettable experience for wildlife lovers, families, and everyone who cares about preserving our natural world.
The festival takes place on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Rotary Park in Cape Coral and offers a full day of wildlife education, hands-on experiences, and fun for all ages.
Event Highlights Include:
- Live Animals & Wildlife Encounters – Get up close with fascinating animals presented by Adam’s Animal Adventures, bringing engaging wildlife education to the festival.
- Local Wildlife Bus Tours – Ride along to see burrowing owls and other wildlife living right here in Cape Coral.
- Guided Birding Tour – Capture incredible wildlife photos with expert guidance. Tickets are available by advance purchase only. Secure your spot today!
- Tom Allen Butterfly House Tours – Explore the park’s beautiful butterfly sanctuary.
- Wildlife & Conservation Expo – Meet representatives from 30+ local environmental and conservation organizations.
- Guest Speakers – Enjoy a series of presentations by wildlife and conservation experts covering topics relevant to Southwest Florida.
A $5 donation at the door is appreciated for guests ages 12 and up.
Fun for the Whole Family:
- Arts & Crafts Vendors featuring unique, handmade items
- Silent Auction with one-of-a-kind items supporting wildlife conservation
- CCFW Merchandise including t-shirts, jewelry, hats, and more
- Food & Beverages from local vendors
- Kids’ Activities including face painting and hands-on fun
Rotary Park Environmental Center
5505 Rose Garden Rd.
Cape Coral, FL 33914
239-549-4606
Explore hundreds of exciting items donated by generous businesses and organizations across the U.S. in CCFW’s Online Auction. The auction is live now and runs through March 1. Every bid helps protect Cape Coral’s wildlife and natural habitats.
Click below to start bidding and make a difference today.
Get Involved Today!
2026 Official Flyer
2026 Donation Form
2026 Sponsorship Form
Wildlife Speakers
All lectures will take place in the Rotary Park Environment Center during the Burrowing Owl Festival.
Graham Dixon-MacCallum
Conservation Program Manager, Wilder Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Graham’s presentation will include background on the western subspecies of burrowing owls, which are found throughout western North America, and the conservation issues those owls face. Graham will also talk about the work he does at the Wilder Institute, where biologists are working to boost the burrowing owl population in Alberta. Juvenile owls are taken into human care for their first winter and released as adults the following spring.
10:45AM
Emma Engel
Biologist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Assistance Program
Emma will invite attendees to learn more about the natural history and daily lives of coyotes, and to appreciate that these often‑misunderstood animals aren’t nearly as fearsome as they’re sometimes portrayed.
12:00PM
Beverly Saltonstall
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife founding member and author of “Cape Coral Burrowing Owls Don’t Hoot”
Beverly will share her extensive knowledge of the behavior and habits of our local burrowing owls, along with some of her favorite stories about Cape Coral’s beloved little residents.
1:30PM
Sponsors:
Carl Veaux
Charlotte Taft and Shelley Oram
Ed and Pascha Donaldson
Gary and Judy Mitchell
Hagaman Charitable Trust
Michele Mold
Michiale and Dan Carney
Patty Guard and William Barrett
Grants:
Donors:
30 Fathoms
3M Open
Adventure Science Center
All Native Nursery
Alligator Farm St. Augustine
Artis—Naples
Babcock Ranch Eco Tours
Banana Bay Boat Tours
Barkbox
Beverly Saltonstall
Big Cat Habitat
Blue Dog Restaurant
Brevard Zoo
Brew Bus
Cantina Laredo
Captiva Cruises
Carl Hiaasen
Carol Miller
Cason Photography
Catty Shack Ranch
Wildlife Sanctuary
Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens
Chill
(plunge studio)
Chloe Dalton
Christine Kurjan
Clearwater Aquarium
Clyde Butcher Studio
Connie Bennett
Conrad Peloquin
Conservancy of SW Florida
Cornell Labs Bird Academy
Costco
Cotton Carrier
Count Whelan
Crayola Experience
CROW
Dan Carney
Danny Yates Landscaping
Denise Kassab
Downtown House of Pizza
Ed Saternus
Estero River Outfitters
Fairchild Botanical Gardens
Florida Everblades
Florida Panthers
Fogo de Chao
Frog Survival Gear
Front Porch Social
Frost Science Center
Game Time
Garden of Wildlife for The National Wildlife Federation
Gator Mikes
Gemstones of Florida
Georgia Aquarium
Give A Sh!t
Gorjano
Hard Rock Heals Foundation
High Tide Social House
Hill Town Tours
Historical Arcade Theatre
Honey and Harry Phillips
Honey Sweet Apiary
Hotworx
Iguanaland
IMAG
Intrepid Museum
Island H2O Water Park
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimps
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational
Janet Windisch
Jayne Baker
Jupiter Kayak Fishing LLC
K1 Speed
Karen Melo Ticas, CFP
Kate Dolamore Art
Kennedy Space Center
Kevin Monroe
Key West Express
Kokoro Essentials for Art
Lee County Sports
Lee Ledoyan
Leer County
Linda Saha
Lion Country Safari
Luminary Hotel
LYNQ
Maddie’s Artisanal Bakery
Manatee Coffee
Marlene Paulding
Massage Envy
Cape Coral
Mel’s Diner
Merlin Entertainments
Mertailor’s Mermaid Aquarium Encounter
Miami Zoo
Michele Mold
Mindful Movement LLC
Minnesota Twins
Mutts
Museum of Science and Discovery
Nascar Museum
Naples Zoo
Nathan Hyman
Nature Brackets Inc.
Nice Guys Pizza
Nikki’s Crochet Dreamzz
Noela Chocolate
North Florida Wildlife Center
Oak and Stone
Opera Naples
Orlando Family Stage
Palace Pub and Wine Bar
Palmetto Pines Country Club
Papa John’s
Pat Ricci
Peace River Botanical Gardens
Pelsbarn.org
Pepper Street Studios
Pete Rumney Art
Photography by Michiale
Pineapple Picasso
Portillo’s
Praha Spa & Salt
Prawnbroker
ProFiles
PRP Wines
Raptors Are the Solution
Rhonda Collins
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
Columbia SC
Ryan Greenheck
Safina Center
Sage on 47th
Salty Sams Marina
Side Car Treats
Snowy Owl Coffee
Studio Maison
Susan Kamrad
Susan Levine
Susan Oliver
Target
The Butterfly World
The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art
The Melting Pot Restaurant
The Veranda
The Wonder Gardens
Toadfish
Total Look Hair Design
Total Wine & More
Trader Joe’s
Two Owl Media Publication
United Parks and Resorts
University Grill
Vince McGrath
Westin Cape Coral
Wigert’s Bonsai Nursery
Wine and Canvas
Wines for Humanity
Winn Dixie
Wonderworks
Xtreme Action Park
Fort Lauderdale
Your Name Here Specialties
Zak’s Jewelers
ZooTampa
