ST. MARKS, Florida — North Florida residents and visitors will experience the magic of the monarch butterfly migration at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge’s 26th annual Monarch Butterfly Festival on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The festival is timed for the arrival of migrating monarch butterflies, making their 2,000-mile trip from the northern American boundary to the mountains of central Mexico. The amazing phenomenon passes through the Gulf coast of Florida, beginning about the third week in October, and may be observed along the coast at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

Unlike other animal migrations, each monarch butterfly is on its own. There is no parent to follow. Its annual journey is a complex, inherited behavior pattern, not a learned process. Migrating monarchs are usually those who hatch out in late summer. Monarchs have a four-inch wingspan and weigh one gram (one-fifth the weight of a penny). They travel with cold fronts, often at speeds of 10 to 30 miles per hour, covering 80 miles a day. They may fly at 3,000 feet and higher and will “fall out” on the goldenrod and saltbush, blooming down at the St. Marks lighthouse, and feed hungrily for their long trip.

Volunteers have been tagging the St. Marks monarchs for many years, hoping a few would complete the trip to Mexico. Visitors will be able to watch the tagging process at the Monarch Butterfly Festival. The event is filled with the smiles of folks of all ages charting their own “migration,” making butterfly crafts, talking with monarch butterfly researchers and other exhibitors. In addition, visitors will learn about landscaping to help all pollinators, enjoy munching on Bradley’s sausage dogs, watch tagged monarchs take flight, view wildlife on wagon tours, listen to great music and more. 

Everything is open to the public as space allows. There is no cost for any of the tours or programs. However, the regular entrance fee of $5 per car into the refuge will be charged. Leave your pets at home. Dress in your butterfly costumes if you dare.

For more information about the monarch festival, call (850) 925-6121.