Monarch Butterfly Festival

Bemidji’s fourth annual Monarch Butterfly Festival will be held over the month of September! Many events will be virtual or on-your-own, exploring local parks and natural spaces. New this year, Watermark Art Center will feature both national and local photography exhibits featuring birds, bees, butterflies, and native plantings. For details on the Monarch Butterfly Festival visit the Monarch Butterfly Festival 2020 Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/events/1226727254343362 ), or contact the Bemidji Parks and Recreation Department at 218.333.1857 or parks.recreation@ci.bemidji.mn.us, or visit www.ci.bemidji.mn.us .

Here’s a list of events celebrating the Monarch Butterfly!
* Virtual Kick-off event: Join Mayor Rita Albrecht and Birds, Bees Committee Members to learn about the Festival and fun facts about the Monarch Butterfly
* Opening of the Watermark Art Center (WAC) “Patient Nature” Exhibit – featuring local artists and the 2019-2020 Traveling Audubon Photography Awards Exhibit.
* WAC Pollinator Art To-Go Kits
* WAC Kids Art Monarch Acrylic Painting Virtual Class – ages 6-12,
* Chalk Festival at North Country Park
* Pollinator Activity Boxes
* Pollinator Scavenger Hunt and Garden Tour
* Allison Barta, Local Butterfly Season Report – Virtual Event
* Resilient Yard- Fall Planting Webinar – Hosted by Blue Thumb

​You can also take a Self-guided tour of Bemidji Native Plant Gardens from home, or download the map (https://www.spearheadmhas.org/uploads/1/2/7/4/127447349/garden_tour_flyer.pdf), click on the QR code and get detailed information and pictures as you visit each site.