Oct. 3 ceremony at Bear Mountain Resort will celebrate Jackie’s legacy, followed by wildlife education, conservation and stewardship activities throughout Big Bear Valley on Oct. 4
BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif., Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Big Bear Valley will come together Oct. 3–4 for Wings Over Big Bear, a community weekend honoring Jackie the bald eagle and carrying forward the connection she inspired between people, wildlife and the natural environment.
Jackie was a beloved wild bald eagle who made her home in Big Bear Valley and became known around the world through the Friends of Big Bear Valley nest camera. Millions of people followed Jackie and her mate, Shadow, as they nested, weathered mountain storms and raised their young high above Big Bear Lake.
In July, Jackie was found weak and unable to fly and was rescued near Big Bear Lake. After more than three weeks of intensive care, treatment and testing, she died Aug. 10 at age 14.
For years, Jackie gave viewers a rare, real-time window into the life of a bald eagle in the wild. Her story reached audiences around the world and inspired a deeper appreciation for Big Bear’s wildlife and natural environment, making her both a beloved local icon and a worldwide ambassador of wildlife education, conservation and stewardship.
The weekend begins Saturday, Oct. 3, with a public commemoration at Bear Mountain Resort. On Sunday, Oct. 4, Wildlife Education Day will extend Jackie’s legacy through wildlife education, conservation and stewardship activities at locations throughout Big Bear Valley.
“Jackie gave millions of people a reason to look up, pay attention to the natural world, and care more deeply about wildlife and the places that sustain it,” said Travis Scott, CEO of Visit Big Bear. “Wings Over Big Bear is our community’s opportunity to come together, celebrate what Jackie gave us, and carry those values forward through education, conservation, and stewardship.”
Wings Over Big Bear brings together organizations dedicated to wildlife, conservation, education, cultural heritage, and stewardship throughout Big Bear Valley.
The Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation will open Saturday’s ceremony, bringing an important cultural perspective and recognition of the Nation’s enduring relationship with the Valley, its wildlife and its ancestral landscape.
Additional partners include Visit Big Bear, Care for Big Bear, Big Bear Alpine Zoo, Southern California Mountains Foundation, Big Bear Chamber of Commerce, County of San Bernardino, Big Bear Arts Council, San Bernardino National Forest, Big Bear Mountain Resort and other participating organizations.
Wings Over Big Bear Weekend at a Glance
Wings Over Big Bear will unfold across two days, beginning with a community commemoration for Jackie on Saturday and continuing with hands-on wildlife education, conservation and stewardship opportunities throughout Big Bear Valley on Sunday.
Saturday, Oct. 3: Community Commemoration for Jackie
Event information and RSVP: https://www.bigbear.com/wings-over-big-bear/
Location: Bear Mountain Resort, 43101 Goldmine Drive, Big Bear Lake
Admission: Free and open to the public
RSVP: Advance RSVP encouraged
Event hours: 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Schedule:
10 a.m. — Venue Opens
Guests may arrive and gather as local Mountaintop Strings performs. Food and beverage service from Bear Mountain Resort will also begin at 10 a.m.
10:30 a.m. — Jackie Commemoration Begins
The formal ceremony will open with the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation.
The program will include music and remarks from community, wildlife, conservation, government and tourism representatives, including Friends of Big Bear Valley, the U.S. Forest Service, Southern California Mountains Foundation, Visit California, San Bernardino County and the California State Legislature.
Approximately 12:10 p.m. — Formal Ceremony Concludes
Following the ceremony, guests are invited to visit participating wildlife, conservation, education and community organizations.
12:10–1:30 p.m. — Community and Wildlife Booths
Attendees can connect with organizations working across Big Bear Valley and Southern California in wildlife education, conservation, stewardship and community engagement.
Participating organizations include Friends of Big Bear Valley, Big Bear Alpine Zoo, Big Bear Discovery Center, Care for Big Bear, U.S. Forest Service, Southern California Mountains Foundation, Wildlands Conservancy’s Oak Glen Preserve, Sierra Club Big Bear Group, Environmental Education Collaborative, Inland Empire Resource Conservation District, Santa Ana Watershed, Big Bear Valley Education Trust and additional community partners.
Sunday, Oct. 4: Wildlife Education Day
Event information: https://www.bigbear.com/wings-over-big-bear/
On Sunday, Wings Over Big Bear expands from remembrance to participation with Wildlife Education Day, featuring activities at locations throughout Big Bear Valley.
Rather than a single centralized program, Sunday will offer a variety of opportunities to explore Big Bear’s wildlife, habitat and conservation efforts.
Planned activities include:
- Birdwatching: Guided opportunities to observe and learn about local birdlife
- Grey’s Peak guided hike: Explore trail stewardship, wildlife closures and eagle habitat
- Native seed collecting: Help support restoration efforts on National Forest lands
- Butler Peak wildlife and raptor viewing: Learn about local wildlife and birds of prey
- Big Bear eagle history: Educational programming exploring the Valley’s history with bald eagles
- Youth Eagle Ambassador Program: Wildlife education designed for younger participants
- Wildlife and lake education: Self-guided learning opportunities
- Eagles of Big Bear: Photo and educational displays
- Postcards for Jackie: A community remembrance activity
- Jackie-inspired children’s art: Creative activities for young visitors
- Additional programming: More wildlife, conservation and stewardship activities will be announced
Some Sunday activities will have limited capacity or require advance registration, while others will be self-guided or available throughout the day. Sunday activity times, locations, registration requirements and additional programming are still being finalized. Attendees should check the official Wings Over Big Bear page on BigBear.com before attending for the latest schedule and registration information.
Programming Continues to Evolve
Wings Over Big Bear was organized following Jackie’s unexpected passing, giving community partners a relatively short planning period. Additional Oct. 4 activity times, locations, registration details and participating organizations will be announced as they are finalized.
For more information, please visit BigBear.com.
About Visit Big Bear
Visit Big Bear welcomes nearly 7.5 million visitors annually who explore its 823,826 acres of national forests, 22-mile freshwater lake and unique alpine setting. Located two-hours from Los Angeles, the four-seasons destination sits at 6,752 ft., (2,058 meters) offering 300 average days of sunshine, a vibrant ski season with two resorts and 3,100+ unique lodgings from modest A frames to lakefront resorts. Located in San Bernardino County approximately 105 mi./ 169 km., northeast of the Los Angeles basin, Big Bear’s gateway airports include Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Ontario International Airport (ONT), Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) and John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana (SNA). Visit Big Bear is a non-profit destination marketing organization designed to enhance the economic vitality of the community by increasing tourism revenue. For more information, go to www.visitbigbear.com.
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SOURCE Visit Big Bear
