Festival Calendar for week of Feb. 1

Best Bets

Eagle Day Festival

Feb. 7

Lewistown

Dickson Mounds Museum hosts this daylong event where you can hear talks on backyard bird feeding and see hawks, eagles and owls. From 8 a.m. to noon, volunteers will be at Havana Riverfront Park to help visitors spot eagles.

(309) 547-3721.

Soulard Mardi Gras

Feb. 6-24

St. Louis

Loads of fun is on tap in the historic Soulard neighborhood area, including a Southern Comfort Taste of Soulard on Feb. 14-15, a pet parade and wiener dog derby on Feb. 15, Lumiere Place Grand Parade on Feb. 21 and the Fat Tuesday Parade on Feb. 24.

(314) 771-5110 or www.stlmardigras.org

Abraham Lincoln observances

Feb. 7, 12

Springfield

In celebration of Lincoln's 200th birthday, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum hosts free children's crafts, including making a birthday card, making a Lincoln picture book and patriotic pinwheel. On Feb. 12, Michael Krebs performs at Lincoln, there will be musical performances, and re-enactments of African-American life in Springfield during the Civil War.

Visit www.alplm.org.

Closer to home

Feb. 8 and 22, March 8

The Mackinaw Canoe Club hosts winter kayak sessions at Five Points Washington, 300 N. Wilmor Road, Washington, for people of all abilities to develop their paddling skills in a heated swimming pool. Times are from 5 to 6:45 p.m. Cost is $5. Children 10 and younger are admitted free. The club will provide a limited number of kayaks. Contact Roy Johnson in advance to borrow one at (309) 347-7494 or e-mail him at roy@rivers-end.org.

Feb. 8, 14, 21

Zoo C.A.F.E. begins at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at Bloomington's Miller Park Zoo. Children will make treats for the zoo animals and watch as they're given to the animals. On Feb. 14, celebrate Valentine's Day at Candy the Bear's Birthday Party from 1 to 3 p.m. On Feb. 21, watch zookeepers feed the gibbons at 3:30 p.m. (309) 434-2250 or visit www.millerparkzoo.org.

Feb. 9

First Christian Church in Clinton hosts a Wild Game Potluck at 6:30 p.m. Bring a wild game dish, dessert or salad to share. Guest speaker for the evening is The Pantagraph's outdoor editor Scott Richardson. For more information, call Kelly Riggs at (217) 871-9173.

Feb. 21-22

An NRA basic pistol class will be conducted at Darnall Gun Works & Ranges, rural Bloomington. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 21 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 22. Cost is $90, including 12 hours of class, range time and lunch both days. A limited number of .22-caliber pistols are available; no magnums. Eye and ear protection are required. Students must be at least 16 years old. (309) 825-7716 or visit www.darnalls. com.