Great River Eagle Days

January 13, 2022

January is a great time for outdoor adventures in the Looking for Lincoln National Heritage Area, including opportunities for eagle watching along the Illinois River near Quincy, Illinois. Quincy is a wonderful Looking for Lincoln community!

To celebrate the return of our national bird, the Standing Bear Council will host their Winter Gathering and their annual Great River Eagle Days with a variety of activities throughout the weekend. Great River Eagle Days will be held on Saturday and Sunday, January 22-23, from 10am-5pm Saturday and 10-4pm Sunday. The events will be held at the Oakley Lindsay Civic Center located at 3rd & York in Quincy. Admission into the event is $5.00 for ages twelve and older and $3 for adults over sixty. The events are open to the public.

The event honors Native American traditions with a variety of sacred ceremonies and entertainment features. Entertainment will be Omeyocan Dancers Saturday 3pm and Sunday 2pm.

The traditional blessing of the eagle ceremony to be held Sunday at 10:30am. Native American vendors and food booths will be on site both days, offering authentic “Fry Bread” and fare. Again this year, will be the expanded area for children’s educational and fun activities. The Native American dancers and drum will perform throughout the event. New this year will be the Grey Cloud Singers. Dancers dressed in Native regalia are invited to dance with prizes to be awarded.

Participants are encouraged to take advantage of eagle-watching on Saturday and Sunday at Quincy’s Lock & Dam 21 from 9am-2pm. U.S. Army Corp of Engineers rangers will be available with complimentary scopes at the site. Lock & Dam 21 is on Lock & Dam Road, off Gardner Expressway. The best viewing spot is from the adjoining boat ramp.

Learn more at https://seequincy.com/events/great-river-eagle-days-9/

Learn more about Quincy Lincoln sites at: https://seequincy.com/things-to-do/historical/abe/

For more information about Great River Eagle Days , please call Leslie Haslem at 217.577.1930 or See Quincy at 1-800-978-4748. For Eagle-watching information along the river, contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lock and Dam 21 at 217.228.0890.

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