The 8th Annual “Little Wings on the Prairie” Butterfly Festival will be held tomorrow (July 16, 2022) from 9am-noon CDT at the Oahe Downstream Recreation Area north of Fort Pierre. The event will be held at the Oahe Downstream Prairie Butterfly Garden near the park’s Welcome Center.
The festival includes a number of activities and teaching stations where families can learn about South Dakota pollinators. Pierre area 2nd graders planted the pollinator garden this past spring with their classes. The garden can be seen with a large butterfly cutout sign to the right of the main park entrance building.
The Pollinator’s Parade starts at 10:30am. Kids can wear costumes (bees, butterflies, insects, birds) and join in the parade. Adults are also welcome to join the parade. Paper wings and antennae will be available at the Festival for decorating and wearing in the parade.
Other activities include:
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Garden Tours – Identify the native plants in the garden and the importance of the pollinators that call the garden their home.
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How-to demonstrations – Do-it-yourself instructions on how to create your own butterfly garden, pollinator seed ball or native bee house.
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Honey Tasting – Sample the sweet results of the bee’s hard work.
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Pollinator Plants: The Understory
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Kid’s Activities – Make your own antennae, run the migration maze, play other pollinator games, face painting, explore insects, garden journaling
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Give “Beasley” a Hug – Don’t be afraid of bees – this one is fuzzy and cuddly.
Participants are encouraged to bring comfortable clothing and shoes, insect repellant, sunscreen, binoculars, costumes and something to drink. There is no charge for the event, but a South Dakota State Park Entrance License is required for all motor vehicles entering the park. Parking attendants will be on-site.
Information will be presented by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, SDSU Extension, Discovery Center of Pierre, Pheasants Forever, Prairie Potters Master Gardeners, and Sam the Beekeeper. The Xerces Society will make a special appearance to talk about the Great Plains Bumble Bee Atlas project.
For more information, call 605-223-7722. The Oahe Downstream Recreation Area is located five miles north of Fort Pierre off SD Highway 1806.
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