The Friends' Pollinator Festival is postponed due to inclement weather; stay tuned for a new date!
The Friends of Patuxent Research Refuge annual Pollinator Festival on Saturday, Sept 23, 2023 is POSTPONED due to severe weather conditions predicted from Tropical Storm 16.
The Friends of Patuxent take this action with the safety of all participants, exhibitors, and staff in mind. We deeply regret that we won't be seeing you and your children and grandchildren this Saturday to release monarch butterflies, see the insect zoo, create cool insect art, and learn about pollinators. We're bummed, too.
We hope to hold the Pollinator Festival at a future date. Please check back on our website or the Friends' Facebook page for more information. And even though we can't get together this weekend, mark your calendars for a day at the refuge for the Walk for Wild on Saturday, Oct 7, Urban Wildlife Conservation Day, Saturday, Oct 14, and the Friends annual Holiday Bazaar, Saturday, Nov 4, 2023.
Friends of Patuxent's Pollinator Festival returns!
September 23, 2023 • 10am-2pm
National Wildlife Visitor Center
10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop, Laurel, MD 20708
(Please note, this is a NEW location for the Pollinator Festival. It will not be held at North Tract this year.)
This very popular family-friendly event has something for all ages--information on how to attract pollinators to your yard or garden, kids' activities including the release of live monarch butterflies to continue on their incredible migration, live insects, pollinator hikes, free native plant giveaways and more.
Wildlife Images Bookstore & Nature Shop in the Visitor Center will be open, along with 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. In the event of inclement weather, we will move indoors. The Pollinator Festival will occur rain or shine.
Bring a friend, bring your family, or come by yourself for this fun and educational event.
