Bug Day
Members: $9
Youth 4-12: $9
Non-Members: $13
Kids 3 & Under: FREE
September 16, 2023
10a - 4p
(last entry at 3p)
Tickets are available now!
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. Live music adds a lively soundtrack to the Bug Day experience, creating a joyful atmosphere as you explore the bug-filled wonders around them. Food trucks offer a delectable selection of bites and beverages, with something to satisfy every craving and keep everyone energized throughout the day. The VW bug car show is a unique display that combines classic cars with bug-themed excitement.
Bug-themed fun awaits you!
Our 22nd 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.
There will also be live music from 12-2p, food trucks, and The VW Bug car show - a unique display that combines classic cars with bug-themed excitement - and you can vote for your favorite creation!
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.
Bug Day Exhibits
Learn more about the Bug Day exhibitors below!
We welcome you to interact with Bitsy, a 20-foot-long dancing praying mantis! See if you can find Bitsy meandering the Garden.
Bats are pollinators and bug-eaters too - these flying friends are vital to healthy ecosystems! Come learn all about the bats of Idaho.
See a soil health demonstration and discover who is living in the soil using a microscope!
View a reference collection of dragonflies from the Boise area and then play a “build a dragonfly” game!
Bug-building challenges abound at this station. Are you up to the challenge?
Learn about Because International’s mission and their highlight on crickets and Entomophagy – eating insects, and discover for yourself that crickets are a high source of protein!
Investigate river and pond macroinvertebrates to learn what scientists can discover about water quality!
Observe preserved insect specimens and view insect-related items for sale from the museum store!
Learn more about the Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History
Explore digital drawing by learning to draw on an iPad and include photographs!
Get up close to a wide variety of live bugs from around the world including some of the world’s largest cockroach species, a giant millipede, tarantulas, and much more!
Practice drawing different insects and use block stamps to make your own critter creation!
Come see a variety of carnivorous plants with an appetite! Locally propagated carnivorous plants will also be available for purchase.
Come view honeybees in an observation hive and see if you can find the Queen bee. Bee sure to bring your bee-related questions!
Learn from entomological experts and get help identifying caught specimens from the Garden!
Discover some of the fascinating forms and functions of different pollinators!
Ever wonder which insects call the forest home? Come see preserved insect displays to learn the names of forest insects so you can spot them on your next hike!
Learn more about the US Forest Service - Forest Health Protection
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!
Forgot your costume? No worries, you can pay to have a fantastical face paint creation to show off your love of bugs!
Fiddle Express: Live at Bug Day
Get ready for a toe-tapping treat at Bug Day – Fiddle Express is coming to town! Straight from the Beck family of Idaho, these bluegrass virtuosos are set to make Bug Day an unforgettable experience. Fiddle Express has been wowing audiences for a decade with their enchanting mix of Monroe classics, Twin Fiddling, and irresistible energy. Their musical journey is spreading far and wide from stages in Idaho to neighboring states. Don't miss their performance from 12-2p.
