Marking its 15th year, Cape Coral’s Annual Burrowing Owl Festival will take place Saturday.

Hosted by the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, the event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rotary Park Environmental Center, at 5505 Rose Garden Road.

Admission is a $5 suggested donation; children ages 16 and under are free.

Honey Phillips, vice president of the Friends of Wildlife, explained that the festival helps to raise awareness about the burrowing owl – the Cape’s official bird – especially during this time of year.

“It’s a kickoff for the nesting season for the burrowing owl,” she said.

“It’s a celebration,” Phillips added. “They are the city bird.”

She noted that the burrowing owl recently was upgraded from a species of special concern to a threatened species. The next level would be labeling it as an endangered species, before extinction.

“Their numbers are declining,” Phillips said.

The festival also serves as a fundraiser for the Friends of Wildlife.

“We use the money to fund research projects for the burrowing owl,” she said, adding that it also supports scholarships for environmental studies students and for youth to attend local nature camps.

“It’s our largest fundraiser of the year,” Phillips added. “It’s really helping to protect the species.”

An estimated 2,000 and 3,000 people attended last year, with $15,780 raised.

“It was quite a bit,” she said.

The event will kick off with the announcement of the winners of the student wildlife contest. First, second and third places will be awarded in the categories of elementary, middle and high school.

“The kids receive their awards and prizes from us,” Phillips said.

For the first time this year, the Mote Marine Mobile Exhibit will be on site. It will feature an educational bus with touch tanks and aquariums that highlight sea life native to the area.

“It’s great that they’re bringing that,” she said.

Volunteers will also be on hand to answer any questions.

Local sanctuaries, environmental organizations and non-profits will have booths set up.

There will be wildlife lectures throughout the day, like “Florida Butterflies” with Carol Miller and Cheryl Anderson, “Florida Panthers” with Jayne Johnston from Florida Fish and Wildlife, “Burrowing Owls” with Dan Tudor, and “Raptors of Florida” from the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife.

There will be demonstrations like pottery making, and the Southwest Florida Astronomical Society will have solar telescopes. Homeowners can even learn how to set up a “starter burrow” on their property.

“They’ll show how to dig a hole – the proper hole – and put in a perch,” Phillips said.

She noted that one family that participated in the demonstration last year went home and set up their own starter burrow. Since then, a burrowing owl family has taken up residence in the new hole.

There will be live animals on display, including reptiles and some mammals.

“We’re going to have great horned owls, barred owls. I know someone’s bringing a burrowing owl,” Phillips said. “Red-shouldered hawk, red-tailed hawk – the Shell Factory brings a bunch of animals.”

The children’s corner will feature activities for youth ages 12 and under.

“Activities like owl pellet dissection and crafts,” she said.

For $5 per seat, visitors can enjoy a guided owl burrow bus tour.

“There’s several tour times,” Phillips said.

They will take place at 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.; sign up on site.

To raise additional funds, a silent auction will be held at the festival. The items range from artwork donated by artists, to gift certificates donated by local businesses. The auction will end at 1 p.m.

“It’s really a multitude of things,” she said.

Vendors will also be on site.

“Most of it is wildlife-related artwork or jewelry,” Phillips said. “Local craft or art vendors.”

Food and drinks will be available for sale.

She encouraged the public to come out and enjoy the event.

“If you love burrowing owls, this is a good way to spend $5,” Phillips said.

“We always have new vendors, things people haven’t seen before – new animals. We try to change the speakers up,” she added. “It’s always something different.”

For more information about the festival, visit the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife at: ccfriendsofwildlife.org/2016-burrowing-owl-festival/ or call 239-549-5606.