Festival Details

Festival Headquarters

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

2430 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614

Click Here for Google Maps

Registration Fee

There is a $30 registration fee for all festival participants to cover the administrative costs of the festival. Additional fees apply to most activities: field trips, workshops, and evening programs. No registration or fee is required by the festival to attend the vendor marketplace, however you will need to pay the museum’s admission fee in lieu of being a festival registrant.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations received on or before September 2nd, 2024 will be refunded less a 10% processing fee. No refunds will be issued after September 2nd. Festival organizers reserve the right to cancel or revise any event for any reason. If it becomes necessary to cancel a paid event (field trip or dinner) for which you have a reservation, we will notify you and issue a full refund. No refunds will be issued for no-shows

Scholarships Available

The festival organizing committee is committed to connecting people to birds regardless of income. Anyone with a financial need is encouraged to apply. Scholarships are given based on availability of funds. Click here for the financial assistance form.

Proceeds from this event support the missions of the organizations helping to organize the festival. Thanks for being part of our effort!

Questions?

For festival questions, please email info@theurbanbirdingfestival.org

When is check-in?

Festival check-in will begin on Friday, September 13th, from 10:00 am–4:00 pm at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Stop by the registration area to pick up your name tag and registration packet so that you’re prepared for field trips on Saturday morning. The registration area will be open throughout the festival during museum hours. We recommend you check in before any of your scheduled events when possible.

How do I get around?

An advantage of urban birding is that there are a variety of means of transportation that serve most locations. We have several trips that are close to the Notebaert Museums, and others that are near public transportation. Keep transportation in mind as you plan your day and enjoy Chicago!

Bus: The CTA bus routes 76 (Diversey), 151 (Sheridan), and 156 (LaSalle) all stop nearby. The museum is just a short walk from these bus stops.

Train: Take the CTA Brown or Purple Line to the Diversey station. From there, it’s a 15-minute walk east through the scenic Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Bike - The lakefront trail connects Montrose and Jarvis Bird Sanctuary with the PNNM, (and with Jackson Park if you want a long ride). LaBagh, River Park and North Park Village Nature Center are all within a 1 hour bike ride. A bike map is here and information about renting a Divvy bike is here. 

Drive yourself - all our sites can be searched by name on most map apps and Google Maps links are included in the full trip details on our website. Remember that traffic can vary with time of day. Mind the parking requirements and leave a little extra time to find a parking spot.

Walk - the Jarvis Bird Sanctuary is a half hour from the PNNM and the Lincoln Park Zoo is even closer. (The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool often has migrants.)

Rideshare - you can easily get around the city using rideshare apps such as Lyft, Uber, and Curb. 

Parking

There is a fair amount of free street parking available around the museum on Cannon and Stockton Drives. There is metered parking along other nearby streets. You can also purchase parking for the Lincoln Park Zoo lot through the festival registration at a rate of $25 for the day (normally $40). The Lincoln Park Zoo parking lot is located directly south of the Nature Museum off of Fullerton Ave.

Where do I eat?

There is an optional taco lunch (from Taqueria Mi Barrio Tepito) available at PNNM on Saturday that can be purchased at the time of registration, which we highly recommend. There will be vegetarian options available. Drinks are also included.

There are many restaurants within walking distance (about a half mile) of PNNM on Clark St.

What if it rains?

All trips are rain or shine. Please dress accordingly, and be prepared for wet weather. Trips will be canceled only under the circumstances that weather events have made conditions unsafe.

Where to stay?

There is no official festival hotel. Here is a list of convenient choices located near the festival hub

The Willows Hotel - 555 West Surf, Lakeview, Chicago, IL 60657

https://www.willowshotelchicago.com

Distance to the museum: 0.9 miles

  • 8 minute ride to the museum on the #76 CTA Bus line

The Neighborhood Hotel Lincoln Park, 2616 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

https://www.theneighborhoodhotel.com

Distance to the museum: 0.7 miles

Chicago Getaway Hostel, 616 W Arlington Pl, Chicago, IL 60614

https://www.getawayhostel.com 

Distance to the museum: 0.6 miles

Hotel Versey Days Inn by Wyndham Chicago, 644 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614

https://www.hotelversey.com 

Distance to the museum: 0.9 miles