Kleb Woods Hummingbird Festival Returns Sept. 12 With Bird Banding, Raptors and Family Nature Activities
For families who have ever paused at a feeder to watch a hummingbird hover for a few seconds before disappearing, September brings a chance to see those tiny travelers in a much closer — and more educational — way.
The 18th Annual Hummingbird Festival at Kleb Woods will return Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kleb Woods Nature Preserve & Center, located at 20303 Draper Road in Tomball. Hosted through Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones, the free event celebrates hummingbird migration while giving children and adults a full day of nature-focused experiences.
Visitors can watch licensed hummingbird banders at work, see live raptors, learn about hummingbird biology, explore the preserve and hear the story behind the land itself. For northwest Harris County residents, the festival is both a family outing and an opportunity to better understand the wildlife moving through their own backyards and neighborhoods.
Hummingbird Banding Offers a Rare Up-Close Look
One of the festival’s signature attractions will be hummingbird banding from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., conducted by a team of licensed banders including Sumita Prasad, Jim Renfro and Elise Nishikawa.
Bird banding allows trained researchers to safely collect information about individual birds by placing small identification bands on them. For festival visitors, the process offers an unusually close look at hummingbirds during their seasonal migration through the Houston region.
The event also includes Hummingbird Biology Nature Talks at noon and 2:30 p.m., presented by Kleb Woods staff. Those sessions will give visitors an opportunity to learn more about hummingbird behavior, migration and the natural resources the birds depend on along their journey.
Live Raptors, Nature Walks and Activities for Kids
Hummingbirds may be the stars of the day, but they will not be the only birds drawing attention.
Wild Bird Adventures will present live raptor programs at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., giving families a chance to learn more about birds of prey and their role in local ecosystems.
The festival will also include guided nature walks with Heartwood Master Naturalists, along with games, children’s activities and other hands-on opportunities designed to make the outdoors approachable for younger visitors.
For parents looking for free family activities near Tomball, Hockley and northwest Houston, the Hummingbird Festival provides a mix of wildlife education and outdoor recreation without requiring a full-day trip outside the area.
The Story Behind Kleb Woods
Part of what makes the festival distinctive is its setting.
Kleb Woods Nature Preserve covers 133.5 acres and includes the former homestead of Elmer Kleb, offering visitors a look at both the environmental and cultural history of northwest Harris County.
Festival attendees can learn more during “The Story of Elmer Kleb & His Woods” at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., presented by Kleb Woods staff. Visitors will also have opportunities to tour the historic 1896 Kleb house with a Precinct 4 naturalist.
Beyond festival day, the preserve includes a wetlands area, picnic space, a pavilion, Scout camping and 3.86 miles of nature trails.
The Kleb Woods Nature Center and farmhouses are normally open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the site regularly hosts educational programming including school-age nature and history classes, birding bus trips, history discussion groups and weekly bird walks. Farm tours, volunteer opportunities and troop service projects are also available.
Parking and Shuttle Information
Because the annual Hummingbird Festival can draw visitors from across the region, Harris County Precinct 4 is providing parking and shuttle options.
Parking and shuttle service will be available from New Kentucky Park, 21710 FM 2920 in Hockley, as well as from the north end Kleb Woods parking lot at 20605 FM 2920 in Hockley.
Visitors planning to attend may want to allow extra time for parking, shuttle transportation and walking between festival activities.
A Wildlife-Friendly Preserve
Residents bringing the family should also be aware of an important Kleb Woods policy: dogs are not permitted in the nature preserve, including dogs on leashes.
Kleb Woods asks visitors to leave pets at home because the preserve’s mission focuses on protecting wildlife habitat. According to the preserve, research has shown that the presence of dogs can cause wildlife to leave an area even when the animals are leashed.
That policy is intended to help keep the preserve a place where birds and other wildlife can thrive while visitors continue to observe and learn about them.
What to Know Before Going
The Kleb Woods 18th Annual Hummingbird Festival takes place Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kleb Woods Nature Preserve & Center, 20303 Draper Road, Tomball, TX 77377.
The event is free, and registration is available through Harris County Precinct 4. Questions may be directed to klebwoods@hcp4.net or 281-357-5324.
For families, birders and anyone curious about the wildlife moving through northwest Harris County each fall, the festival offers something increasingly valuable: a chance to slow down, look closely and learn more about the natural world just beyond the neighborhood.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more northwest Harris County community events, family activities, park programs and local happenings.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.Do you own a business?
