The Shenango River Watchers will host Eagle Fest 2026 this Saturday, Jan. 10, at Shenango River Lake. The event offers the public a chance to view bald eagles and learn about the local watershed.

The free festival runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chestnut Run Swim Beach on Saranac Drive. The watershed group organized the event in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Mercer County Conservation District.

The day’s activities begin at 9 a.m. with a welcome address and a presentation by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The Tamarack Wildlife Center will follow with its "Wings of Wonder" program from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This popular segment typically features live birds of prey. Organizers plan to announce the winners of the Eagle Fest Art Competition during the morning presentations, and the event will conclude at 1 p.m.

Attendees can use spotting scopes to look for eagles on the lake throughout the morning. The winter months often provide good viewing opportunities because ice on the water forces birds to congregate near open areas to fish. As of four years ago, there were at least four eagle nests around the lake.

The Shenango River Watchers is a nonprofit group based in Hermitage. Its members work to restore and protect the environmental, scenic, and recreational attributes of the Shenango River watershed. The group operates under the motto, "We All Live Downstream."

Visitors should dress for the weather, as the activities take place outdoors.