2025 Monarch Butterfly Festival at Paul Smith’s College VIC

Attend the annual butterfly fest on Labor Day Weekend in the Adirondacks.

The beautiful monarch reigns supreme.

Attend the Annual Monarch Fest at Paul Smith’s Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC) celebrating the magnificent monarch butterfly and other beautiful Lepidopterans (butterflies and moths).

This free, family-friendly event is packed with activities highlighting these extraordinary creatures' importance.

Monarch Butterfly Fest activities.

From 11 am to 2 pm, festival goers are invited to immerse themselves in a variety of engaging activities. Children can unleash their creativity at the vibrant crafts station, where they can create their own masterpieces.

Throughout the day, spectators can marvel at the fascinating monarch tagging demonstrations and learning about the incredible life cycle of these beautiful butterflies.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore the lush pollinator gardens, which are filled with a diverse array of blooms that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Paul Smith’s VIC Butterfly House

With a plethora of exciting activities to choose from, there’s something for everyone to enjoy during this fascinating festival celebration.

Learn why monarch butterflies matter.

In 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature added the migratory monarch butterfly to its “Red List,” which includes endangered species. This butterfly is known for its annual migration to California and Mexico during the winter.

Native populations of the monarch butterfly have declined by at least 22% over the past decade due to several factors, including deforestation, pesticide use, and climate change. The pesticides and herbicides used in large-scale agriculture harm both butterflies and milkweed, which are essential for the butterflies' adult and larval stages.

Additionally, droughts, wildfires, and extreme weather conditions caused by climate change further threaten and kill many monarch butterflies.

Paul Smith’s VIC brings you Monarch Fest every Labor Day weekend to celebrate these beautiful and extraordinary creatures (“Adirondack” monarchs migrate about 3,000 miles to their wintering grounds).

The beautiful monarch butterfly.

Celebrate the Monarchs of the Adirondacks with Paul Smith’s VIC and support the conservation of pollinators.

Visit the event website for more information.

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