The Friends of Patuxent's Pollinator Festival, The Return! (the first since the COVID closures)

The Pollinator Festival 2022 will take place on Patuxent Research Refuge's North Tract (230 Bald Eagle Drive; Laurel) at the Education Building and vicinity, on Saturday, September 24th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Festival is free and open to the public (donations also welcome). Come enjoy free native-plant and milkweed-seed giveaways, science and art activities, monarch butterfly-tagging and releases, guided nature walks, and more! Learn and explore with us!

Exhibitors and fun, educational activity stations for all ages will include:

• Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center
• University of Maryland's Entomology Zoo
• Maryland Native Plant Society
• US Fish & Wildlife Service monarch butterfly tagging program
• Master Gardeners of Anne Arundel County and Bowie Green
• Laurel for Patuxent
• US Geological Survey's Bee Lab
• Rachel Carson Council, Inc.
• Maryland Natural History Association
• BUMBA
• Friends of Patuxent (FOP)

The FOP Wildlife Images Bookstore & Nature Shop traveling pop-up shop will also be present, as will some appropriate, invited vendors who will share a percentage of profits with the Friends.

As always, the mission of the Friends of Patuxent is to support the missions of the Patuxent Research Refuge and the Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC). The profits from income received by the Friends will benefit the Refuge and the EESC.

This is an outdoor event, so please dress accordingly and bring a hat, water bottle, sunscreen and insect repellent. Bring a friend, bring your family, or come by yourself for this fun and educational event.