Festival of the Cranes 2025 is Cancelled – Bosque del Apache is now Open!
Sadly, due to the historically long federal government shutdown, Friends of Bosque del Apache was forced in early November to make the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Festival of the Cranes. This decision was not made lightly; in fact, we are still heartbroken! However, at that time we had to acknowledge that it was in the best interest of both the refuge and the public to cancel this year’s event. (Please click HERE to read more regarding the shutdown and cancellation of Festival.)
But all is not lost! Friends of Bosque del Apache will keep the magic alive with a few select events in lieu of Festival of the Cranes! More info below…
A virtual presentation of Why We Love Cranes, by longtime Festival instructor and sandhill crane expert, Paul Tebbel!
Thursday, December 4, 2025 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Register here.Bird Trivia at the Capitol Bar and Brewery.
Think you know your birds? Want to test your bird nerdiness? Join Friends of Bosque del Apache along with Socorro’s local bird nerd, Amy “Birds” Erickson for a night of Bird Trivia!
Friday, December 5, 2025 | 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Show up early as we will limit participation to 12 teams of 6 players each! There is no registration required for this FREE event.
Live stream Fly-in and Fly-out at Bosque del Apache! Are you missing the beauty and tranquility of Bosque del Apache but can’t make it out for a visit? Tune in virtually as we live stream the majestic spectacle of a morning fly-out and an evening fly-in.
Saturday, December 6, 2025 | 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Sunday, December 7, 2025 | 6:00am – 7:00am
Just join us on Facebook! Click HERE.
Painting by Joe Stanley, 2025 Festival of the Cranes Art Contest Winner
Photo by Doug Coombs
Still planning a trip to Bosque del Apache this winter?
There’s still plenty to do in Socorro County! Many of our community partners host events to coincide with the Festival of the Cranes. Those events are still happening! If you’re looking for activities, make sure you check out our Area Events and Attractions page. It’s filled with lots of fun and FREE activities in the area like the Fiber Arts Guild of Socorro County’s quilt show, the Socorro County Arts’ Arts and Crafts Fair, as well as the annual Socorro Fireman’s Matanza, Electric Light Parade and luminaria walk.
To ensure you have a great trip to the area, make sure you check out our Virtual Welcome Packet. This packet has information on what to bring with you, as well as lodging and dining options in the area. There are maps of both the City of Socorro and Bosque del Apache.
Please note: Bosque del Apache is open 1 hour before sunrise until 1 hour past sunset every day of the year!
Our generous sponsors play a crucial role in making this year’s event a success. Sponsorship contributions help us to cover essential costs and provide a memorable experience for attendees, all while supporting the vital work of conserving our wetlands.
Friends of Bosque del Apache Board
The Friends are a model organization within the wildlife conservation community. We raise sufficient funds and support for Bosque del Apache to be able to maintain the level of conservation and leadership required to ensure that the wetlands and wildlife that they support are sustained.
City of Socorro
Socorro is home to a wide array of art, music, theater, golfing, biking, hiking, rock hounding and rock climbing opportunities, as well as, a rodeo and sports complex, wildlife refuges, radio telescopes, a mineral museum, university, historical mission church and an incredible performing arts series. The Friends of Bosque del Apache thanks the City of Socorro for their generous support through the Lodger’s Tax Fund.
OM SYSTEM
OM SYSTEM, formerly known as Olympus, specializes in durable, lightweight cameras designed for outdoor photography. With high-speed autofocus, excellent image stabilization, and pro-level lenses, OM SYSTEM is favored by bird, wildlife, and landscape photographers who need reliable gear in challenging conditions.
ZEISS
Enjoy the beauty of nature through the wonderful world of ZEISS optics! Creating some of the world’s finest binoculars and spotting scopes, ZEISS products deliver an unparalleled viewing experience for those who love birding and nature observation. Visit the our booth to meet the ZEISS team and learn more!
OPTICRON & FRONT RANGE BIRDING
Founded in 1970, Opticron has been supplying high-quality optics at reasonable prices to birders and nature enthusiasts in North America for the last 14 years. The company maxim “smaller, lighter, brighter, sharper” hold true in their Binoculars, Monoculars, Spotting Scopes, and Digiscoping accessories. Front Range Birding & Optics was one of our earliest retailers.
Golas Kitchen
Golas Kitchen is a boutique catering and hospitality company ran by a husband and wife team Michal Gola and Osiris Navarro. Services include, but are not limited to catering, event coordination, consultation. Together the two incorporate their cultures, travels, love for both the Northwest and Southwest, into creating perfectly curated events, with restaurant quality food with flavors from all over the world.
Hunt’s Photo & Video
Hunt’s maintains a well-stocked inventory of photo, video and digital imaging equipment from every major manufacturer so you’ll have plenty of options from which to choose. With eight retail locations in four New England states, Hunt’s offers an unbeatable combination of competitive pricing, sales know-how, and unparalleled customer service. Visit one of their eighth retail locations or order online!
SCOPE Health Council
Socorro County Options, Prevention, and Education (SCOPE) promotes healthy living, mental health, and substance misuse prevention education in Socorro County. We offer youth leadership, wellness activities, community supports, and inclusive events like Rainbow Café and Wellness Wednesday Movies—building resilience, connection, and wellness for all in Socorro County.