Celebrate local pollinators at the Monarch and Friends Festival

By Reader Staff

Sandpoint will be all aflutter Saturday, Aug. 29, in honor of the Monarch and Friends Festival, celebrating the vital local pollinators that fill our world with color. 

Hosted by Idaho Conservation League, the festival will run from noon-4 p.m. in the Granary Arts District, between Evans Brothers Coffee (524 Church St.) and Matchwood Brewing (513 Oak St.). 

The festival will include hands-on activities for all ages, featuring more than 18 interactive, educational booths with information about monarch butterflies, local pollinators and Idaho conservation efforts, as well as trivia questions, raffles, a scavenger hunt, crafts and games. Kids who participate in each free activity will earn the honorary title of Junior Ambassador, as well as a free prize.

Local indie-folk rock band Harold’s IGA will perform, showing off original music that ranges from introspective to downright hilarious. While enjoying the tunes, everyone will have a chance to walk around the pop-up monarch butterfly flight house, organized by the Coeur d’Alene-based WingsRising. Later that evening, volunteers will release all the event’s butterflies, introducing them to their wild habitat and boosting local pollinator numbers.

Special coffee, ice cream and drinks for purchase will keep everyone energized and help raise funds for an organic, native pollinator garden outside of Matchwood Brewing. 

For more information, visit Idahoconservation.org/events.