The Garden is OPEN Wednesday - Sunday, 9am-5pm | Last admission is 4pm | CLOSED on Tuesday's.

Bug Day

Bug Day returns Saturday, September 20 from 12–5 PM! This Garden-wide celebration is packed with family fun, tasty eats, and hands-on bug themed activites and adventures. Keep scrolling for all the details on activities, food, vendors, and more.

Discover a whole world 
right below your feet

or buzzing in the air!
Bug Day offers a variety of bug-themed booths and activities that 
will captivate young minds and ignite their curiosity. From 
interactive exhibits to hands-on learning, there's something 
for everyone to enjoy.  Food trucks offer a delectable selection of bites and beverages, with something to satisfy every craving and keep everyone energized throughout the day. Bug-themed fun awaits!

Bug-themed fun awaits you!

Our 24th annual Bug Day offers a variety of bug-themed booths and
STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) activities,
interactive exhibits, and hands-on learning available for learners of 
any age.

See if you can find Bitsy, the giant praying mantis puppet occupying the Garden during this event! Thank you to Colossal Collective for sharing their unique creations in the Bug Day extravangza.

The distance from the admission kiosk to the plaza and the Garden's
more cultivated, shaded portion is 212 yards long. This includes a 24
yards-long ramp that meets ADA slope requirements. Please let us
know of any accessibility concerns when you arrive at the kiosk.

Tickets

Adults: $15
Member Adult: $12
Youth (3-12): $12

Bug Day Exhibits

Learn more about the Bug Day exhibitors below!
Category: bugday

Learn about insects, answer questions to earn prizes, and continue the fun with take-home activity sheets!

Category: bugday

Let your creativity flow and join Jessie to create a print of your favorite bugs!

Category: bugday

Learn from entomological experts about the amazing critters that call Idaho home!

Category: bugday

Come view honeybees in observation hives and see if you can find the Queen bee. Bee sure to bring your bee-related questions!

Category: bugday

Get up close to a wide variety of bugs and see wings, antenna, and more with a microscope!

Category: bugday

Bug-building challenges abound at this station. Are you up to the challenge?

Category: bugday

Come see a variety of carnivorous plants with an appetite! Locally propagated carnivorous plants will also be available for purchase.

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Learn about fun citizen science opportunities from the Idaho Bee Atlas to the Annual Butterfly Count!

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Explore digital drawing by learning to draw on an iPad and include photographs!

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View a reference collection of dragonflies from the Boise area and then play a “build a dragonfly” game!

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We welcome you to interact with Bitsy, a20-foot-tall dancing praying mantid! See if you can find her meandering the Garden.

Category: bugday

Discover the many ways insects can stay hidden in their habitat!

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Discover what insects you may see on your next visit to Lucky Peak State Park!

Category: bugday

Investigate macroinvertebrates to learn what they tell us about water quality!

Category: bugday

Test your knowledge on common garden pests and guests through a fun interactive game!

Category: bugday

Walk through the Labyrinth and enjoy a story about how plants can’t sit still. See if you can spot the hidden pollinator on each page!

Category: bugday

Discover the world beneath our feet and who is living in the soil!

Getting Here

Bike, walk, carpool, or even jump on a broom stick. We love our
planet and we love it when our guests use alternative forms of transportation. But if driving is a must, here are some directions!
2355 Old Penitentiary Rd. Boise, Idaho 83712
Give me directions
Sponsors and Community Partners
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