Three decades of creepy, crawly, fluttering fun come together when the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences hosts BugFest on Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. This year’s theme, “Hoppers,” spotlights treehoppers, leafhoppers and planthoppers, including the invasive and already infamous spotted lanternfly. The museum is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Attendees can explore more than 100 exhibits, crafts, games and activities celebrating the world of arthropods. Ask entomologists and other scientists about all things buggy. Satisfy their curiosity and appetite with buggy culinary creations at Café Insecta. Take in a range of science presentations and live performances throughout the day. Enjoy games like Stag Beetle Battles and The Roachingham 500 or listen to live music from local bands.
You can also explore the fascinating connections between arthropods and robotics with members of Apex’s FIRST Tech Challenge team or learn how to attract moths to your yard and see what makes our nighttime pollinators so special. Ever hear of the popular YouTube channel Ant Lab? Meet its producer Adrian Smith, head of the Museum’s Insect Research Lab, and try out a new video game inspired by his springtail research.
Then at 5 p.m., join us for “6 Legs, 16mm Films, 30 Years,” a fascinating look back at the world of insects as seen through old-school educational films from the 1920s through the 1980s. Drawn from the A/V Geeks 16mm Archive, these vintage films explore the lives, habits and mysteries of bugs through decades of classroom science, nature photography, animation and educational filmmaking.
BugFest is sponsored by BASF with additional support from VEG ER for Pets, Economy Exterminators, Labcorp, Clark’s Termite and Pest Control, Syngenta and Carter Bank.
About the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh (11 and 121 W. Jones St.) is an active research institution that engages visitors of every age and stage of learning in the wonders of science and the natural world. Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. General admission is free. For more information, visit www.naturalsciences.org. The Museum also supports Prairie Ridge Ecostation, a 45-acre outdoor education and research facility in west Raleigh, as well as a satellite facility in Whiteville.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.