Powell Gardens is thrilled to announce the return of its beloved Festival of Butterflies, set to enchant visitors from July 18 to August 4, 2024 (Tuesday-Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.). This annual event, a highlight of the summer season, invites nature enthusiasts of all ages to experience the beauty and wonder of butterflies in the stunning setting of Kansas City’s botanical garden.
“Powell Gardens is dedicated to conservation and environmental education, and our Festival of Butterflies is an integral part of that mission,” said CEO Cody Jolliff. “The event offers a chance for the community to connect with nature, learn about the importance of biodiversity, and enjoy the simple joy of interacting with beautiful butterflies.”
Festival of Butterflies features interactive and educational activities designed to engage visitors with the beauty, life cycle, and habitats of these fascinating creatures. This year’s highlights include:
· Conservatory: Powell Gardens’ glass-domed conservatory will feature hundreds of tropical butterflies, moths, and morphos, amidst nectar plants and Lantana trees, with a chance to see new butterflies emerge.
· Moth Cave: Celebrate Missouri’s moths and their unique pollinator status while staying cool during summer days.
· Native Butterfly Habitat: Visit to see Missouri’s native butterflies, learn about pollinator-attracting flowers, and spot butterfly eggs or caterpillars on host plants.
· Science Exploratorium: Explore Missouri’s butterflies, insects, and moths indoors with microscopes, lab coats, beetles, and slides ready for young lepidopterologists.
· Ice Cream Parlor: Cool off with one of three signature sundaes: the Pollinator, Monarch, or Dirt n’ Worms.
Visit Garden Galleries to learn about the incredible journey of Monarch butterflies. Follow the Butterfly Meadow through some of Missouri’s native plants, a vibrant space teeming with pollinators each summer. In addition, visitors can explore Powell Gardens’ diverse gardens and landscapes at their leisure, including the one-mile Family Discovery Loop featuring a mass planting native lotus and three docks to enjoy pond-side.
Powell Gardens celebrates butterflies around the world with three unique events during the festival. Join us on Saturday evenings (6-8 p.m.) to explore butterflies in Latin American (July 20), Polynesian (July 27), and Celtic (August 3) cultures. Each cultural night will feature performances, as well as a themed dinner and cocktails.
For more information about Festival of Butterflies, visit powellgardens.org/festival-of-butterflies.