For the eco conscious people looking for a holiday celebration of a more natural type, Galveston’s Holiday with the Cranes is an event you probably won’t want to miss. Typically held the second weekend in December, this year’s event dates have still yet to be determined.

For three days, participants will have the opportunity to observe some of the most gracious birds in Galveston, the Sandhill cranes. Watch them in their natural environment as you celebrate their continued existence at a variety of events. The opening night event costs about $50 and is a cocktail celebration of nature artists whose renderings of our special cranes will take your breath away. Other events include Coffee and Cranes: a presentation exploring the life of the Sandhill Cranes with coffee, held on both Saturday and Sunday morning. Both shows are identical; if you miss the Saturday show, catch the Sunday one in its place!

Wild Winter Birds involves a caravan tour to the East End Lagoon Park and includes an easy nature walk with plenty of amazing Galveston bird watching opportunities on Saturday afternoon. Saturday evening adventures are an exploration of Sandhills at Sunset. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served in celebration of the Sandhill crane, with prizes, specialty drinks, and a million-dollar view of the sun as it sets over the bay and birds of Galveston. Limited tickets are available for this event, so be sure to keep checking back for dates and more information at www.galveston.org.

The weekend’s celebrations end with a Dawn Patrol event on Sunday morning in which participants get the opportunity to experience these miraculous Galveston birds in flight. Finally, Every Crane Counts signifies the end of the Holiday with the Cranes with a cleanup of overgrown vegetation and repairs at the Sweetwater Preserve. Our staff at Sterling Realtors will be there this December—how about you?