Kansas Wetlands Education Center’s 12th annual Butterfly Festival

Each year, millions of monarch butterflies undertake their annual fall flight to Mexico. Nets and tags will be available during the event for those who want to capture and tag monarch butterflies.  Participants head out into the flower-filled fields and shelter belt around KWEC to capture monarchs, with tagging leaders stationed along the trail to help with the tagging process.  For the past several years, monarchs tagged at the event were recovered at three Mexico roost sites.

On the way to Mexico, data collected from tagged monarchs helps support the research of Monarch Watch.  Tagging helps answer questions about the origins of monarchs that reach Mexico, the timing and pace of migration, mortality during the migration, and changes in geographic distribution. 

Egg. Larva. Pupa. Butterfly. That's magic!  Steve Craig will have a butterfly magic show that makes learning this basic science fun using magic, puppets, and humor.  The Butterfly Magic show is designed for family audiences - enjoy the metamorphosis at shows at 9:30, 10:30, and 11:15am.  Make sure to claim free tickets on your arrival at the festival.

Larned-based Kellie Honey Farm will be present with a demonstration hive on display in the exhibit hall to educate about the importance of honeybees.