Monarch Magic Returns this November!
Butterfly Pavilion is thrilled to announce the return of our Monarch Magic celebration. Starting November 1, this exhibition will feature the release of majestic monarch butterflies within our “Wings of the Tropics” butterfly conservatory, where they’ll live amongst the thousands of other butterflies we care for at our zoo. The month-long exhibition blends the ecological importance of monarchs with their cultural significance in Mexican culture.
Monarchs, known for their striking orange wings, are not just garden favorites but also vital pollinators worldwide. Monarchs are renowned for their astounding migratory journey, covering over 3,000 miles from the northern United States and Canada to the oyamel fir forests nestled in Mexico’s mountainous terrain. By championing native monarch populations, we help safeguard a critical pollinator species and conserve invaluable cultural legacies.
Monarch butterflies are one of over 200 butterfly species found in Colorado, however, their survival is under threat due to habitat destruction, pesticide use, climate change, and extreme weather events. Protecting monarchs is crucial, as they play a vital role in pollination and ecosystem health, serving as indicator species. As deforestation increases in their overwintering grounds in the Oyamel Fir Forests in Mexico, Butterfly Pavilion is actively working to protect these vital creatures.
In partnership with the Government of Mexico we are working towards replanting 100,000 native oyamel fir trees in high-elevation areas, creating safe havens for Monarchs during the winter and securing their migration for future generations. This work is crucial as this vital habitat faces increasing threats. Wildfires, climate change, and habitat loss have taken their toll, leaving only a fraction of the original 56,000 hectares available for the monarchs which they so heavily rely on. To learn more about this project, visit butterflies.org/monarch-butterfly-biosphere-reserve/
By supporting monarch populations, we not only keep an important pollinator population healthy but also help preserve unique cultural traditions. The Monarch butterfly resonates deeply within the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, as the arrival of the monarch is believed to be the spirits of those who have passed away. Coincidentally, these butterflies time their arrival to their overwintering sites in Central Mexico around the beginning of November, aligning with Día de los Muertos festivities. This synchronicity has led to the belief that Monarchs embody the souls of departed loved ones, making their timely appearance a poignant reminder of life, love, and memory.
While inside Wings of the Tropics, guests can visit the community altar or “ofrenda” for Día de los Muertos and write a note to a loved one who has passed, courtesy of Chicano Humantities and Arts Council.
What to Expect:
Butterfly Pavilion honors these magnificent butterflies through Monarch Magic by providing a unique, unforgettable, and enchanting experience for all. Guests will leave with a deeper knowledge of these incredible butterflies and a little more magic and wonder in their hearts.
In partnership with the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council, a community altar or Ofrenda will be available to honor Dia de los Muertos which invites guests to leave notes in remembrance of their dearly departed.
Here are some ways you can help our native monarchs:
Visit Butterfly Pavilion during Monarch Magic, November 1 – 30, 2025.
- Get a friend to join you, invite your friends and family to visit and experience monarchs; with more people we can have a bigger impact.
- Plant a garden next spring, your garden doesn’t have to be big to be impactful so long as it has milkweed and native nectar plants. Monarchs need milkweed for their caterpillars and native nectar plants give them the food they need to migrate!
- Donate to support Butterfly Pavilion’s monarch conservation efforts Conservation is in our hands. Donate here.
- Participate in community science- there are many projects that help scientists and researchers to learn more about monarchs and their life cycles so that we can better protect them in the future. Learn more here.
(Note: The monarchs released into our butterfly rainforest were bred under human care at ethical butterfly farms specifically to educate and inspire our guests about these magnificent invertebrates. They are not wild butterflies and would not be able to complete the migration like their wild counterparts do. By showcasing monarchs in our conservatory, we are bringing awareness to their importance in the ecosystem and educating the public about how they can do their part to support monarch populations in the wild.)
Monarch Magic is sponsored by Intrepid .jpg)
in partnership with Chicano Humantities and Arts Council 
