GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Museum of Natural History invites visitors to celebrate wings, wildlife and biodiversity during its 14th annual ButterflyFest on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ButterflyFest includes a variety of free, fun-for-all-ages activities, including live animals, native butterfly releases, a pollinator parade, workshops and a children’s area. This year, Danscompany of Gainesville will also present three butterfly-themed dances in the front classroom at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Due to their popularity, the museum has also added a third native butterfly release.

“I hope people have lots of fun, learn something they never knew about butterflies and buy lots of plants to attract pollinators to their own personal homes,” said Catherine Carey, Florida Museum public programs coordinator.

In addition to festival activities, the museum will hold a large three-day plant sale Oct. 11-13 featuring more than 150 different species of rare and butterfly-friendly plants. Plant sale hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Parking restrictions are lifted on Friday for the first day of the sale and not enforced on weekends.

This year’s theme is “Pollinator Power,” with the goal of educating people on the importance of pollinators in our day-to-day lives.

“Every time you eat, thank a pollinator,” Carey said. “One out of every three bites of food is due to pollinators. They are also necessary for the reproduction of nearly 75% of the world’s flowering plants.”

Jaret Daniels, director of the museum’s McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, will present workshops on the migration of monarch butterflies and landscaping for pollinators, and the children’s area includes “Pollination Stations” where people can participate in four activities that simulate the pollination process of bats, birds, bees and butterflies. The pollinator parade will begin in the children’s area at 12:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to wear pollinator-themed costumes and join in the parade to pledge to ensure the future of animals like bees, butterflies, bats and birds.

The festival includes a variety of local food and merchandise vendors selling honey, jewelry, handmade soaps, accessories and art prints.

Participating educational groups at this year’s ButterflyFest include the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department, Alachua County Master Gardeners, Lubee Bat Conservancy, the University of Florida Honey Bee Research & Extension Lab and St. John’s River Water Management District. Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses will attend for the second time to promote the Florida State Parks junior ranger program. The Southern Lepidopterists’ Society and the UF department of entomology and nematology will display live insects.

The festival and activities are free, but regular admission fees apply to enter the “Butterfly Rainforest” exhibit: $14 for adults ($12 Florida residents and seniors) and $7 for ages 3-17; and “Crocs” exhibit: $8 for adults ($7 Florida residents and seniors) and $5.50 for ages 3-17. Admission is free for museum members and UF students with a valid Gator 1 card.

Free parking is available in the UF Cultural Plaza parking lot and garage. Visitors may purchase admission, plants and other items from the museum gift shops with cash or debit/credit cards, but are encouraged to bring cash. The museum does not have an ATM on-site, and some vendors may not accept credit or debit cards.

For more information, including a list of food and merchandise vendors, visit www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/event/butterflyfest or call 352-273-2064.

To volunteer and receive a discount on plants, visit www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4baaac2aa0f49-butterflyfest5 or email volunteers@flmnh.ufl.edu.

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Writer: Nikhil Srinivasan, 352-273-2034, nsrinivasan@flmnh.ufl.edu
Source: Catherine Carey, 352-273-2064, ccarey@flmnh.ufl.edu
Media contact: Paul Ramey, APR, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu