Powell Gardens Festival of Butterflies

About the Event

Festival of Butterflies invites nature enthusiasts of all ages to celebrate the Midwest's most whimsical pollinator at Powell Gardens. Spend a day outdoors exploring tropical and native butterflies alongside stunning botanic displays. This festival is a Kansas City family-favorite!

Start your journey in the Conservatory with an up-close encounter with butterflies. Before you leave the Visitor Center, venture into the Moth Cave in the basement. Next, travel to the Garden Galleries to learn about the journey of Monarch butterflies. Follow the Butterfly Meadow through some of Missouri's native pollinating plants. Near the path's entrance, you'll find the Native Butterfly Habitat full of butterflies native to the Midwest.

Continue exploring off the beaten path. The Lotus Pond (located on the 1-mile Family Discovery Loop) features a mass planting of American Lotus and three decks to enjoy pond-side.

Round out your visit by adding butterfly excursions to your itinerary. Favorites include botanical sundaes, indoor education opportunities, a visit to Fortopia, climbing around the Pollinator Playground, crafting at the Cooling Station, and more!

Schedule of Events

9 a.m.-5 p.m. : Conservatory at Visitor Center Conservatory
Powell Gardens' signature glass-domed conservatory is home to favorite and unique pollinators each year. This summer, morphos, moths, and tropical butterflies steal the show! Start your journey in the Conservatory for an up-close encounter with these butterflies and moths. Look in the emergence chamber for the newest moth or butterfly drying their wings before flight. The conservatory will be filled with hundreds of nectar plants and several of Powell Gardens' beautiful Lantana trees.

9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Moth Cave at Visitor Center Basement
Venture into the Moth Cave to experience the forest at night. Learn about Missouri's native moths. The Moth Cave celebrates moths' unique pollinator status and provides a great place to cool off during summer days.

9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Native Butterfly Habitat at Heartland Harvest Garden
Visit Native Butterfly Habitat (located in the Heartland Harvest Garden, near the Apple Court) filled with Missouri's favorite native butterflies. Learn about which flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators. Look closely at the host plants inside—can you see butterfly eggs or hungry caterpillars?

9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Garden Galleries: Monarch Journey
Visit Garden Galleries to learn about the overwintering site of the Monarch butterfly. The greenhouse will be transformed with paper and plants to mimic the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Michoacán, Mexico. Learn about Monarch conservation and what you can do to help the species thrive.

9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Butterfly Meadow Walk
As you travel through the Butterfly Meadow, watch for prairie favorites like Rattlesnake Master, Gray Headed Coneflower, Compass Plant, Butterfly Milkweed, and Prairie Blazing Star. Look for signs and plant tags marking these pollinator-friendly plants.

9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Lotus Pond (Horticulture Highlight) at Family Discovery Loop
Continue exploring off the beaten path. The Lotus Pond (located on the 1-mile Family Discovery Loop) features a mass planting of American Lotus and three decks to enjoy pond-side, making this the perfect space for relaxation and reflection.

9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.: Fortopia Outdoor Games - Sidewalk chalk at Fortopia (East Lawn)
Festival of Butterflies unlocks new ways to play at Fortopia! Fortopia is located on the East Lawn, just beyond the Fountain Garden splashpad.

Stay Cool

Festival of Butterflies has indoors and outdoor activities for the whole family! See below for summer of our favorite ways to stay cool during your visit to Festival of Butterflies.

9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Science Exploratorium at Visitor Center Lab
The Science Exploratorium provides new ways for families to learn about Missouri's butterflies, insects, and moths. Microscopes, lab coats, beetles, and slides are ready for young lepidopterologists! (Need another reason to visit? The indoor Science Exploratorium is a great place to cool off!)

9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Flutter Zone at Conifer Room
The Flutter Zone is the hub of pollinator pop-ups. During the festival, visit to participate in story times, make pollinator crafts, draw with chalk, and enjoy other educational and fun moments.

9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Cooling Station at Children's Garden (Education Building)
The Cooling Station (in the Children's Garden) is the perfect place for young explorers to tap into their creative side with two free crafts! On hot days, this is the perfect space for families to cool off. Participate in special craft making from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.. Paid crafts include painting a pot, wooden Macaranas, and a garden ornament, or making a necklace. Shaded picnic tables are available outside the Education Building.

Other Classes and Events

11 a.m.: Jackson County Missouri Beekeepers Association at Flutter Zone (Conifer Room)
Learn about Missouri's official state insect, the incredible Honeybee. Slip on a bee suit, look into a beehive, discover how the bees make incredible sweet honey, and crank the honey extractor. Most important, find the royal Queen Bee and get your bee stamp! Presented by the Johnson County Missouri Beekeepers Association.

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