Big Bear Lake – September 23, 2026 -- Big Bear Valley will host a two-day community event, Wings Over Big Bear, on Oct. 3-4 to honor Jackie, the wild bald eagle who became a global icon through a live nest camera before her death in August.
Jackie made her home in Big Bear Valley and was followed by millions worldwide via the Friends of Big Bear Valley nest camera, where viewers watched her and her mate, Shadow, nest and raise their young above Big Bear Lake for years. In July, she was found weak and unable to fly near Big Bear Lake and was rescued. After more than three weeks of intensive care, treatment and testing, she died Aug. 10 at age 14.
Saturday's ceremony opens with the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation
The free public commemoration takes place Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Bear Mountain Resort, 43101 Goldmine Drive, Big Bear Lake. Advance RSVP is encouraged. Local group Mountaintop Strings performs as the venue opens, with food and beverage service from Bear Mountain Resort also starting at 10 a.m.
The formal ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m., opened by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, followed by remarks from representatives of Friends of Big Bear Valley, the U.S. Forest Service, Southern California Mountains Foundation, Visit California, San Bernardino County and the California State Legislature. The ceremony concludes around 12:10 p.m., after which attendees can visit wildlife and conservation booths from organizations including Big Bear Alpine Zoo, Big Bear Discovery Center, Care for Big Bear, the Sierra Club Big Bear Group and the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District, running until 1:30 p.m.
Sunday's Wildlife Education Day spreads activities across the Valley
Rather than a single program, Oct. 4 offers activities at multiple locations, including guided birdwatching, a Grey's Peak hike focused on eagle habitat and trail stewardship, native seed collecting for forest restoration, and raptor viewing at Butler Peak. Additional offerings include a Youth Eagle Ambassador Program, an educational look at Big Bear's eagle history, a "Postcards for Jackie" remembrance activity and Jackie-inspired children's art.
Some Sunday activities require advance registration or have limited capacity, while others are self-guided. Organizers say full schedule and registration details are still being finalized and will be posted on the official Wings Over Big Bear event page.
"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.