Don’t be a fly on the wall. Get hands-on experience at Insect Fest 

Celebrate one of the most commonly misunderstood creatures with the Cincinnati Zoo this weekend, July 10-12. Many think of these small creatures as creepy crawlies, and while they do creep and crawl, the Cincinnati Zoo is ready to show another side to insects at its third annual Insect Fest. This event is designed for younger insect enthusiasts, but all are welcome. 

Visitors can discover the world of insects and how they contribute to their ecosystems, and also learn about pollinators such as butterflies in the butterfly aviary and decomposers such as leaf-cutter ants. Informational booths will be run by bug experts, some of whom even allow bug lovers to get hands-on experience with some of these tiny creatures. 

Insect Fest offers plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained for the entire day, including some scheduled events. Pencil in a visit with some animal ambassadors that eat insects or meet Tanzi from the bird show. Also available are craft stations like bug button making and antenna making.  

Bioblitz with iNaturalist is hosting a challenge for bug lovers. The person who can capture the most native species on camera will win a behind-the-scenes look at the World of the Insect at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. 

For more about Insect Fest, visit the Cincinnati Zoo website.