Activities & Events
ButterflyFest will be packed with engaging presentations, hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations for all ages!
Indoor Presentations
Pollinator Photography Contest Award Ceremony
Saturday, Oct. 24 | 10:15 - 10:45 a.m.
Front Classroom
Join us as we reveal the winners of our first Pollinator Photography Contest.
Butterfly Bingo
Saturday, Oct. 24 | 10:30 - 11 a.m. & 2:30 - 3 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25 | 10:30 - 11 a.m. & 2:30 - 3 p.m.
Back Classroom
Enjoy a new take on Bingo as you learn how to identify common southeastern butterflies by their special colors and wing features.
The Marvelous Monarch and its Migrations
Saturday, Oct. 24 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Front Classroom
Speaker: Court Whelan
Join Court Whalen and enjoy the story of the incredible Monarch Butterfly: its life history, its ability to navigate thousands of miles south to Mexico in the fall months and back again in the spring, and how it survives to accomplish all this (and hibernation, too!) in a nine-month life span.
Pollen and Pollination
Saturday, Oct. 24 | 12:30 - 1:15 p.m.
Front Classroom
Speaker: Dr. David Jarzen
Through his travels around the world, Dr. David Jarzen has seen and photographed the beauty and mystery of the flowering plants, and the mechanisms by which pollen is transported by animal and wind vectors. Join him as he helps unravel the many facets of pollen and its present and past role in flowering plant reproduction.
Florida Butterflies and their Caterpillars
Saturday, Oct. 24 | 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Front Classroom
Speaker: Thomas J. Allen
Learn new caterpillar detection techniques! Thomas Allen will lead a riveting discussion on popular butterflies, moths, and their larval forms, and give tips and tricks on how to locate these appealing insects.
Native Bees: An Essential Natural Resource
Saturday, Oct. 24 | 3:15 - 4 p.m.
Front Classroom
Speaker: Dr. H. Glenn Hall
Discover the secret lives of Florida's bees with Dr. H. Glenn Hall, professor of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida. Native bees are a fascinating resource unknown to many people. Learn about the wide diversity of their appearance, nesting activity, distribution, and social behavior.
The Astounding Migrations of the Monarch Butterfly
Sunday, Oct. 25 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Front Classroom
Speaker: Dr. Thomas Emmel
Join Dr. Tom Emmel, Director of McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, and discover the complete scientific story of the amazing annual migratory journey of the Monarch Butterfly. Learn how its routes take the adults as much as 2,500 miles from southern Canada to central Mexico in the fall and then back north again in the spring return trip. See the fascinating adaptations that evolved to equip these butterflies to survive in cold and warm climates, to navigate by celestial and magnetic and chemical means, and to survive predator attacks and other hazards in this remarkable yearly saga.
Raising Butterflies for Fun and Profit
Sunday, Oct. 25 | 12:30 - 1:15 p.m.
Front Classroom
Speaker: Edith Smith
Butterflies, from egg through adult are raised for purposes of exhibit, education, research, conservation, release and more. Join Edith Smith as she presents the inside view of a working butterfly farm; a delightful occupation peppered with natures’ serious challenges.
Developing Gardens for Butterflies, Moths and Other Pollinators
Sunday, Oct. 25 | 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Front Classroom
Speaker: Thomas Allen
Join nature enthusiast and wildlife expert Thomas Allen for an insider's look at native pollinator gardening. Allen will highlight the main reasons for going native, and give an insider's look at the art of beekeeping. He will also discuss some of the problems facing native bees including the incursion of the African Honey Bee.
Florida Butterflies and Wildflowers
Sunday, Oct. 25 | 3:15 - 3:45 p.m.
Front Classroom
Speaker: Dr. Jaret Daniels
Butterflies and native plants are intrinsically linked. Come learn about some of the best butterfly attracting wildflowers with Jaret Daniels, Assistant Professor of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida and help transform your landscape into a haven for wildlife.
Outdoor Activities
Butterfly Life Cycle Obstacle Course
Saturday, Oct. 24 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25 | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Near Parking Garage
Find out what it takes to earn your wings in this kid-friendly outdoor obstacle course designed to release the butterfly within!
Butterfly Releases
Saturday, Oct. 24 | 1:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25 | 2 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.
Entertainment Tent
Witness a live release of native Florida butterflies and tagged Monarchs as you discover what makes these little creatures so important.
Build a Container Garden
Saturday, Oct. 24 | 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25 | 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Near Plant Sale
Master gardeners eager to lend you a hand in plant selection and planting techniques will be your guides through this fun, family-friendly experience. With the purchase of a 15-inch fiber pot ($6 each) you will receive the fiber pot, bamboo stakes, composted potting soil, perlite and fertilizer – everything you need but the plants. To help with plant selection sample container gardens will be on display along with many great suggestions by local master gardeners. Once you have made your selections, the plants for your personalized container garden can be purchased through the ButterflyFest plant sale ($3 and up).
Wildflower Walks
Saturday, Oct. 24 & Sunday, Oct. 25
Florida Wildflower and Butterfly Garden
All wildflower walks have been cancelled.
Greathouse Butterfly Farm Metamorphosis Tent
Saturday, Oct. 24 | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25 | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Greathouse Butterfly Tent
Visit the Greathouse Butterfly tent to experience the magic of metamorphosis up close. View butterflies in each stage of their lives and watch in awe as the science behind the mystery is revealed.
Butterfly Exhibits
McGuire Center Lepidoptera Exhibits
Saturday & Sunday | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
A variety of exhibit experiences inside bring to life the science of Lepidoptera, starting with "What is a Butterfly?" and ending with conservation issues worldwide. The exhibit centerpiece is the "Wall of Wings," which showcases thousands of butterfly and moth specimens and photographs, as well as film footage from around the world. Other exhibits explore stories from around the globe and interpret science occurring in the impressive collections facility and research laboratories.
Butterfly Rainforest
Saturday & Sunday | 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The Butterfly Rainforest is a living exhibit that supports hundreds of butterflies from around the world. This 6,400-square-foot screened enclosure features subtropical and tropical trees with soothing waterfalls, a walking path and benches. Exhibit stations inside the Rainforest help visitors understand various butterfly behaviors they will witness during their visit. Museum staff and volunteers are on hand to assist with any questions. There is an admission fee to enter the Butterfly Rainforest.