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Monarch Festival 2024

– October 12th –

10 AM – 4:30 PM

Welcome to the Monarch Festival, a special event day at Burpee dedicated to celebrating the fascinating world of insects! This family-friendly event will feature a wide variety of activities, exhibits, and hands-on learning centered around monarch butterflies and other incredible bugs.

Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect:

Activities and Attractions

Educational Booths

  • Insect Life Cycles: Learn about the life cycles of different insects, including butterflies, beetles, bees, and ants!
  • Pollinators and their Importance: Discover the crucial role that pollinators like bees, butterflies, and moths play in our ecosystem.
  • Insect Conservation: Understand the challenges faced by various insect species and what we can do to help protect them.

Insect Habitats and Gardens

  • Butterfly Gardens: Explore the areas around our museum specifically designed to attract and support butterflies and other pollinators.  See if you can spot any!
  • Insect Hotels: See examples of insect hotels that provide shelter for beneficial insects and learn how to create one at home.

Arts, Crafts, and Interactive Exhibits

  • Bug Crafts: Create your own insect-themed art, including wings, masks, and antennae.
  • Insect Creativity: Color and create your own unique butterfly, moth, beetle or other insect!
  • Insect Petting Zoo: Get up close and personal with live insects, including beetles, butterflies, and cockroaches.
  • Microscope Exploration: Examine insects under microscopes to see their incredible structures up close.

Cultural and Community Involvement

A key aspect of the Monarch Festival is promoting awareness and action towards insect conservation.The event will highlight the importance of insects and involve the local community through:

  • Community Art Projects: Discover the new art created by Susan Burton and Kids Kamp attendees throughout Burpee celebrating creatures like butterflies and cicadas!
  • Local Partnerships: With the help of the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County, the Nature Nook is a place to play and to learn containing native plants to support an ecosystem that supports wildlife in the heart of Rockford’s Downtown!

Join us for a day of fun, education, and celebration at the Monarch Festival, where we honor the incredible diversity and importance of the insect world!

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