The second annual Newton Monarch Festival will be held on Saturday, September 17, 9AM – 11AM in Wellington Park in West Newton (map; entrances on Kilburn Road and Princess Road). Monarchs were recently classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The festival is free and will feature:
- Butterfly-oriented games, activities, and crafts for kids
- Native milkweed seed and plant exchange
- Setting up a monarch waystation
- Pollinator garden tours at Wellington Park (9:15AM and 10:15AM)
- Live Monarchs at various stages from caterpillar to butterfly
- How to raise monarchs
- Monarch tagging demonstration
- Butterfly release (9:55AM and 10:55AM)
- Free drawing for butterfly-related prizes
Monarchs rely on milkweed for their survival (for laying eggs and as food for their caterpillar stage.) If you have milkweed plants, seeds, or seed pods to share, please bring them to the Exchange table. Please label seeds (in small bags or envelopes) and plants according to the type of milkweed. Pick up planting instructions and guidelines at the Exchange table. Tour the local gardens with native milkweed and other pollinator plants. Meet and learn from local monarch experts – those who maintain official Monarch Waystations and who raise monarchs free from predators for release using very simple supplies.
The festival is sponsored by Newton Conservators, Friends of Wellington Park, and the Newton Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department. Parking is available on nearby streets.
