BugFest, one of North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ most popular festivals, is returning September 13th to 18th, 2021, with a combination of online and in-person events.
The theme of BugFest Plan Bee is…the bee!
The two in-person events both take place at Prairie Ridge Ecostation, 1671 Gold Star Drive, Raleigh.
Pollination Celebration
Pollination Celebration
Saturday, September 18th, 2021
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Prairie Ridge
Visitors of all ages can enjoy the “Grub Zone” at the Nature PlaySpace, then take a walk around the prairie as you work to complete the story walk and engage with experts at Caterpillarology, beekeepers, and more.
Exhibits
Meet the Bugs!
Museum of Life and Science
Join the Museum of Life and Science for a live bug encounter. They will discuss pollinators and the wonderful relationship we have with them.
Caterpillarology
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Check out a variety of native North Carolina caterpillars from small spine-covered stingers to large silk moth caterpillars. Learn what plants these hungry larvae love to eat, what they’ll turn into when they transform into adults, and much more!
North Carolina’s Pollinators
The North Carolina Pollinator Conservation Alliance
Stop by this table to learn all about North Carolina’s native pollinators, as well as the statewide partnership dedicated to pollinator outreach and conservation.
Four Season Gardening for Bees
Master Gardener Volunteers of Wake County
Native bees and honey bees need food and water sources to thrive. Your garden can provide year-round plants that bees depend on for nectar and pollen necessary for survival and reproduction. Discover what you can do to make your garden a bee magnet!
Honey Bees!
5 County Beekeepers Association
The 5 County Beekeepers Association (5CBA) is a chapter of the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association. Our mission is to educate and support current and future beekeepers, and to help preserve and protect honey bees.
Moth Party
Moth Party
Saturday, September 18th, 2021
8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Prairie Ridge
Free
This family-friendly event will close out the week of BugFest activities. Hang out at the lights, where sheets will be hung up and you can check out who comes to visit! Experts will be on hand for identification and to answer any questions you have about our nocturnal arthropod friends. Bring a flashlight and join staff for night hikes through the prairie. There will even be some fun educational tables.
Virtual BugFest Programs
Full information on all the virtual programs can be found here.
Monday, September 13th
- 10 a.m.: How do bees deal with disease? Dealing with live in a very close family
- 2:30 p.m.: BugFest Video Premiere: Bumble Bee Watch
Tuesday, September 14th
- 11 a.m.: Floral Pharmacies for Native Bees
- 12 p.m.: Diaphanous Days: A Look at Some Bees, Wasps, and Their Look-alikes in a Piedmont Urban Setting
- 1 p.m.: Getting to know the bees in your backyard
- 3 p.m.: Bugs on Film! Behind the scenes look at the insect videos from the ant lab
- 6 p.m.: Virtual Trivia Tuesday: BugFest Edition
Wednesday, September 15th
- 10 a.m.: Bee Foes: predators and parasites of bees
- 12 p.m.: Lunchtime Discovery: The good of the hive
- 2 p.m.: The full context of the bee crisis
Thursday, September 16th
- 12 p.m.: Get to know your carpenter bees
- 3 p.m.: Illustration expedition
- 5 pm.: How fruit flies (and other “bugs”) keep people and pets healthy
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Triangle on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and it's also possible that we can make a mistake. In addition, we can not guarantee that all events adhere to the safety measures that are necessary at this time, so we encourage you to ask any questions of the organizer, to make your best decision, and to stay safe.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
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Upcoming Events in the Triangle -- both virtual and in-person
Check out our full events calendar, where you can enter any date, or look at the events for the next few days here:Sunday, October 17, 2021
Monday, October 18, 2021
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Prairie Ridge Ecostation (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences), Raleigh
1671 Gold Star Drive
Raleigh, NC
Virtual
