Celebrate 30 years of Butterfly Pavilion at Insectival: 30th Anniversary Bug Bash 

Get ready for the ultimate bug party! Butterfly Pavilion is turning 30, and we’re throwing a two-day festival to celebrate Insectival: 30th Anniversary Bug Bash. 

Our biggest and boldest summer event ever, this weekend-long festival honors the incredible world of invertebrates, animals without backbones, from butterflies and bees to spiders, scorpions, and millipedes. Taking place July 12–13, Insectival is the ultimate summer adventure for families, bug lovers, and curious minds of all ages to experience live music, immersive exhibits, educational workshops, a marketplace, firsthand animal encounters, and spine-tingling fun at one of Colorado’s summer event highlights! 

What to Expect 

Entertainment & Festival Fun 

• Live music and performers 

• Face painting, photo booths, games, and crafts 

• Local food trucks and a buzzing beer garden 

Up-Close Animal Encounters 

• Meet tarantulas, beetles, millipedes, and more 

• Cockroach races and butterfly releases 

• Animal feedings and behind-the-scenes garden tours 

Discover & Learn 

• Talks with invertebrate experts 

• Interactive science and conservation booths 

• Fun, hands-on learning for all ages 

This is more than a festival—it’s a chance to explore the wonders of nature, celebrate three decades of impact, and connect with the creatures that keep our world in balance. 

Buy Tickets

Bands:

Saturday July 12th  
Sinclair (12:00 – 1:30 p.m.): Sinclair is a genre-blurring singer-songwriter whose sound merges pop instincts with raw vulnerability and vivid storytelling. A multi-instrumentalist inspired by the likes of The Beatles and Nick Drake, she’s toured with Kacey Musgraves and Daughtry.
Amber Mackenzie (2:00 – 3:30 p.m.): A singer and songwriter based in Los Angeles, CA, Amber’s original music combines the upbeat and engaging melodies of artists like ABBA and Whitney Houston, with soulful and raw lyrics that connect to the universal human experience.
Los Mocochetes (5:00 – 6:30 p.m.): Los Mocochetes is a Xicano/Funk band that combines elements of cumbia, reggae, hip-hop, rock, funk, and more. Based in Denver, Colorado, they compose music to unite the gente and create revolutionary sounds you can dance to. 

Sunday July 13th
The Dollhouse Thieves (12:00 – 1:30 p.m.): The Dollhouse Thieves is a multi-instrumental Denver project started by husband and wife team Niki and Luke Tredinnick that blends elements of neo-rock with indie-folk, using jazz-influenced vocals and unconventional instruments such as accordion, clarinet, and trombone.  
Virgi Dart (5:00 – 6:30 p.m.): Virgi Dart, Colombian Recording Artist and singer known for her NuCumbia sound—a fusion of Latin American rhythms—has built a strong career in both Colombia and the U.S., performing with top artists and at major festivals.  

Food Trucks:

Saturday July 12th  
True Love Tacos:
Uptown & Humboldt

Sunday July 13th  
Yes Chef!
El Taco Bron

Vendors:

Sauce Daddy Hot Sauce
The Steampunk Butterfly
Denver Pops
Sunshine And Spices
Pinsects
The Little Caterpillar

Meet Kehiry Castillo – Insectival Emcee

Kehiry Castillo is the co-anchor of Noticiero Telemundo Colorado and a multimedia journalist with Telemundo Colorado / KDEN. Since joining the station in 2023, Kehiry has led impactful investigations and national news coverage, including ongoing reporting on Denver’s migrant crisis. Known for her passion for storytelling and deep connection to the community, Kehiry brings energy, insight, and heart to everything she does. Butterfly Pavilion is thrilled to welcome Kehiry as the official MC of Insectival: 30th Anniversary Bug Bash.

Schedule: 

Saturday, July 12

All day – I Spy Scavenger Hunt — An Invertebrate Adventure!
Be among the first to experience Butterfly Pavilion’s brand-new I Spy Scavenger Hunt: An Invertebrate Adventure at Insectival! This interactive quest transforms your visit into a fun, self-guided journey filled with clever riddles, fascinating creatures, and surprising discoveries.
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. – Sinclair Performs on Stage:
Enjoy a soulful, genre-blending live performance by singer-songwriter Sinclair, known for her captivating storytelling and pop-meets-indie sound.
1:00 – 1:30 p.m. – Charisma in Conservation Talk:
Explore why some animals get all the love, and how we can give spiders, bugs, and other overlooked creatures the spotlight they deserve.
1:30 p.m. – Leafcutter Ant Feeding:
Watch leafcutter ants in action as they farm fungus and carry leaves like tiny garden engineers.
1:30 p.m. – Ribbon Cutting by Westminster Mayor, Nancy McNally:
Celebrate Butterfly Pavilion’s 30th anniversary with opening remarks and a ceremonial ribbon cutting by the City of Westminster’s mayor.
2:00 – 3:30 p.m. – Amber Mackenzie Performs on Stage:
Enjoy a performance including a mix of songs that will keep the audience moving and make your day more memorable!
2:00 – 2:30 p.m. – Pollinator Protectors – Family Talk:
Learn how bees, beetles, and other insects help grow our food, and how to make your own backyard pollinator paradise.
2:30 p.m. – Assassin Bug Feeding:
Get up close with a real predator during this live insect feeding and learn about their impressive hunting techniques.
3:00 – 3:30 p.m. – Magnificent Mimics Talk:
See how bugs disguise themselves as flowers, sticks, or snakes, and why mimicry is one of nature’s most magical survival strategies.
3:30 p.m. – Butterfly Release:
Experience the awe as newly emerged butterflies take flight for the first time in a colorful rainforest setting.
4:00 p.m. – Cockroach Race:
Cheer on the fastest roaches in town in this hilarious and high-energy insect showdown.
4:30 – 5:00 p.m. – International Bees – Adult Talk:
Take a trip around the world to learn how bees support ecosystems, cultures, and agriculture, and how we can protect them.
4:45 p.m. – Garden Tour:
Join our horticulturists for a guided walk through Butterfly Pavilion’s gardens and learn how to create wildlife-friendly spaces at home.
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. – Los Mocochetes Performs on Stage:
Dance to high-energy Xicano/Funk with this Denver-based band blending cumbia, rock, reggae, and revolution.
5:30 p.m. – Leafcutter Ant Feeding:
Watch the tiny teamwork of leafcutter ants and learn how they cultivate fungus farms underground.
6:00 – 6:30 p.m. – Container Gardens for Pollinators Talk:
Discover how even a patio or balcony can become a thriving pollinator habitat with the right plants and design.
6:30 p.m. – Butterfly Release:
End your day with magic as butterflies spread their wings and soar into their new tropical home.

Sunday, July 13

All day – I Spy Scavenger Hunt — An Invertebrate Adventure!
Be among the first to experience Butterfly Pavilion’s brand-new I Spy Scavenger Hunt: An Invertebrate Adventure at Insectival! This interactive quest transforms your visit into a fun, self-guided journey filled with clever riddles, fascinating creatures, and surprising discoveries. 
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. – The Dollhouse Thieves Performs on Stage:
Don’t miss this creative, indie-folk fusion band featuring jazz vocals and unique instruments like accordion and trombone.
1:00 – 1:30 p.m. – Great Bug Beauty Pageant Talk:
Meet some of the most dazzling bugs on Earth and vote for your favorite in our live insect beauty contest.
1:30 p.m. – Leafcutter Ant Feeding:
See one of nature’s most fascinating insect societies in action as they farm, forage, and feed.
2:00 – 2:30 p.m. – Beyond Bees and Butterflies – Family Talk:
Explore the unsung heroes of pollination, from flies to beetles, and how we can support their survival.
2:30 p.m. – Coral Reef Feeding:
Get a glimpse into the underwater world of coral care and learn about efforts to save endangered reef systems.
3:00 – 3:30 p.m. – Nature’s Color Wheel Talk:
Discover a rainbow of invertebrates and how their brilliant colors help them survive, hide, and impress.
3:30 p.m. – Butterfly Release:
Witness the wonder of butterflies taking their first flight in our tropical conservatory.
4:00 p.m. – Cockroach Race:
Root for your favorite roach in a fast-paced race that’s more thrilling than you’d expect.
4:30 – 5:00 p.m. – Local Bees – Adult Talk:
Learn how Colorado’s native bees power our ecosystems, and what you can do to support them.
4:45 p.m. – Garden Tour:
Take a guided stroll through our pollinator gardens and get expert tips on creating your own at home.
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. – Virgi Dart Performs on Stage:
Enjoy vibrant NuCumbia rhythms with Colombian artist Virgi Dart, blending Latin beats and festival energy.
5:30 p.m. – Leafcutter Ant Feeding:
Catch a second look at these hardworking ants and discover the science behind their underground farming.
6:00 – 6:30 p.m. – Pest Management in Pollinator Habitats Talk:
Find out how to protect your plants and pollinators with smart, chemical-free pest solutions.
6:30 p.m. – Butterfly Release:
Close out Insectival with one last burst of butterfly beauty as these delicate pollinators take to the air.

Map:

Why it Matters  

By attending Insectival, you help foster environmental stewardship and support the beauty and importance of invertebrates — animals without backbones which make up more than 97% of all animal species and are essential to life on Earth. From pollinating crops to cleaning waterways, these tiny heroes support entire ecosystems — yet they’re disappearing at alarming rates due to habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. For 30 years, Butterfly Pavilion has led the charge to protect invertebrates across Colorado and around the globe, through conservation science, public education, and groundbreaking research. Insectival 2025 is more than a celebration — it’s a movement, inviting the community to honor three decades of impact and join the fight for our planet’s smallest, mightiest animals. 

30 Years of Global Impact and Local Roots
Since opening its doors in 1995, Butterfly Pavilion has been dedicated to protecting the 97% of animal species that are often overlooked — invertebrates, creatures essential to pollination, soil health, food webs, and ecosystem health. Over the past three decades, the organization has evolved from a local treasure into a world-renowned conservation leader, with projects spanning Mexico, Mongolia, Tanzania, Indonesia, and across the United States. 

Key accomplishments include: 

• Habitat and species restoration for pollinators like monarchs, bees, and tarantulas. 

• Groundbreaking research on fireflies, tarantulas, dragonflies, and pollinators with partners such as Colorado State University. 

• Education programs reaching more than 106,000 students annually. 

• Community science and public engagement, including the Colorado Butterfly Monitoring Network. 

• Global conservation innovation — from urban prairie restoration in Colorado to sustainable butterfly farming in Sumatra and monarch habitat preservation in Mexico. 

Let’s celebrate where we’ve been—and where we’re going next. Learn More about our 30th anniversary here.

Thank you to our sponsors for supporting this event and helping us celebrate invertebrates while sharing the wonders of all they do with YOU!

Can’t attend Insectival? You can still support our mission by donating today!