Thank You to everyone who attended the 2011 Mpls Monarch Festival on September 10!

View the 2011 photos on our Facebook Page

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the Nokomis East Neighborhood Association and Community Celebration of Place were glad that you could join us to learn about our state’s official butterfly – the Monarch.

Early estimates of around 8,000 guests and volunteers helped 400 live Monarch butterflies start their amazing 2,300 mile migration from Minnesota to the mountains of Michoacán Mexico. We highlighted this Minnesota - Mexico connection with with cross-cultural food, music, dance, habitat awareness and art.  

We hope you enjoyed some of the great food from local vendors of Hispanic and American food. This year, a new Grow Monarch Habitat tent featured native plant and Monarch specialists from the U of M's Monarch Labs and Monarchs in the Classroom, and master gardeners and other specialists. Native plant vendors, Naturally Wild and Landscape Alternatives were be onhand to explain and sell Monarch-friendly garden plants. Local historian and gardener Julia Vanatta gave prairie-garden tours.. Kids created monarch-inspired art and played games. Returning by popular demand, the steamroller operated by ArtOrg and Grupo Soap del Corazon, rolled over special print blocks created by kids.

Kids wore butterfly wings, antenna, or caterpillar costumes to watch or take part in the informal kids' Butterfly Fun Runs.

The 2011 stage lineup featured performances by Mariachi Mi Tierra, the Javier Trejo Trio (Mexican/Americana), Larry Long (American Folk), Batak (Fusion Jazz) and the Tropical Zone Orchestra (Salsa). KetzalCoatlicue Aztec Dance Group, Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca (Traditional dance), Larrie Yazzie (Native American Fancy Dance) also delighted the crowds.

About 400 live Monarchs were tagged and released throughout the day by small-groups of 3-6 people. The butterflies were reared by conservationists and researchers from the U of M's Monarchs in the Classroom and the Minnesota Zoo. Participants learned about the monarchs’ migratory path as part of the University of Kansas' conservation and research organization, Monarch Watch.

The Festival is situated alongside the Nokomis Naturescape, comprised of a variety of native grass and wildflower gardens which have been certified as a Monarch Waystation. Such gardens contain annual and perennial plants that provide habitat and food sources that are essential to the survival of monarch butterflies.

For more information, contact:
MaryLynn Pulscher at 612-313-7784 mpulscher@minneapolisparks.org or,
Rita Ulrich, 612-724-5652 rulrich@nokomiseast.org

2010 media coverage:  9/13 Daily Planet    9/11 KSTP TV video   9/11 KARE 11 video    9/9 City Pages   9/9 Star-Tribune (video)