• Outdoor Movie Night will take place outside on the front lawn of the invertebrate zoo in Westminster on June 21.
• Rice’s Honey® is a proud sponsor of the Butterfly Pavilion and its global PACE initiative to increase awareness of the importance of pollinators.
• Butterflies at Chatfield Farms opens tomorrow!

Media note: Photos, video and other editorial material is available by request. Rosie the Tarantula, other invertebrates and scientific experts are available for media appearances and interviews. Contact kstewart@butterflies.org

Westminster, CO – May 24, 2019– Colorado’s Butterfly Pavilion, the world’s only stand-alone Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited invertebrate zoo, is rolling out the red carpet to celebrate National Pollinator Week with a FREE outdoor movie night featuring Bee Movie, June 21, 2019, presented by Rice’s Honey. The 2007 Golden Globe-nominated CGI-animated film was created by Jerry Seinfeld, and stars Jerry Seinfeld, Renée Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, Patrick Warburton, and Chris Rock.

National Pollinator Week is a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about the critical role they play in our ecosystem, as well as address the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations.

“At the Butterfly Pavilion, we will observe this week in our signature style – by combining science, education and fun for the entire family,” said Butterfly Pavilion President and CEO, Patrick Tennyson. “It is also a perfect time to raise awareness about our PACE program and the crucial research done at Butterfly Pavilion to protect invertebrate pollinators.”

Pollinator Awareness through Conservation and Education (PACE) is Butterfly Pavilion’s global initiative to increase awareness of pollinators and promote habitat and species conservation and restoration. Through a combination of conservation and education programs, PACE works to create a better world for pollinators, making a better world for all of us. https://www.butterflies.local/

“Rice’s Honey® has always been committed to providing natural, delicious, U.S. only raw & unfiltered honey, while also supporting local American beekeepers and promoting the importance of pollinators,” noted Tony Landretti, Chief Executive Officer of Rice’s Honey®. “We believe our continued commitment to Butterfly Pavilion by supporting PACE and other fun, family events like this is an important way to champion pollinators now and for generations to come.”

Before Bee Movie takes center stage, kids and adults of all ages can enjoy a fun evening of arts and crafts, guided nature walks, a ladybug release, special give-a-ways and more. Local food trucks iPIE and Ba-Nom-a-Nom Nice Cream will be on site with food and dessert for purchase. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and activities begin at 6:30 p.m. Bee Movie begins at sundown. While the outdoor movie night is free, limited space means tickets are required. They are available starting June 1, 2019 at butterflies.local

Butterflies at Chatfield Farms opens Saturday

Memorial Day Weekend is the perfect time to visit the Butterflies at Chatfield Farms, which opens to the public on Saturday. This seasonal habitat at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms is home to hundreds of native Colorado butterflies such as swallowtails, monarchs, mourning cloaks and painted ladies. Butterflies at Chatfield is a partnership between Denver Botanic Gardens and Butterfly Pavilion. The habitat is open daily through Labor Day. Learn more at butterflies.local under the “exhibits” tab.

Now Open – Colorado Backyard

Butterfly Pavilion’s newest interactive exhibit connects guests to the rich and diverse life that surrounds us in the Centennial State, with a goal of inspiring greater commitment to conserve our natural treasures in Colorado and beyond. Colorado Backyard features live animals, indoor play structures, an immersive exploration station, a rotating exhibit area and invertebrate photography by talented individuals from the community. The exhibit also hopes to equip visitors to take small, but impactful, actions every day that can ensure these hidden heroes are protected for the future. Colorado Backyard is included in general admission.

Summer Events

Summer at Butterfly Pavilion comes alive with pollinators and pollinator events. This summer’s events include Nature Nerds Family Club workshops (starting June 1), the Zoo Snooze Overnight Adventure (June 28) and much more. Learn more at butterflies.local/Events

Butterfly Pavilion is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily at 6252 West 104^th Avenue in Westminster. Learn more about Butterfly Pavilion on Facebook or by visiting butterflies.local.

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About Butterfly Pavilion:

Butterfly Pavilion is the world’s only stand-alone, Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited invertebrate zoo dedicated to transforming the way people think about the small but mighty animals that are the hidden heroes of the animal kingdom. As the leader in invertebrate knowledge, inspiration and connection, and as a member institution of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, Butterfly Pavilion works to foster an appreciation of these critical animals by educating the public about the need to protect and care for threatened habitats globally, while conducting research for solutions in invertebrate conservation. Whether it is providing unique, hands-on learning experiences in our exhibits and educational programs, conducting new research that sets the standard for zoos across the country or building innovative solutions for species and habitat conservation in countries around the world, Butterfly Pavilion is leading the way in ensuring invertebrates are protected for the future. Learn more at butterflies.local.

About Rice’s Honey®:
L.R. Rice founded Rice’s Honey®, headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, in 1924. The company remains committed to its founder’s mission of being the leading producer of high quality, raw & unfiltered honey sourced exclusively from local beekeepers throughout the US. The Rice’s Honey®, brand, Local Hive™, can be found across grocery retailers nationwide, and features 16 varietals of local, American, raw & unfiltered honey that are exclusively sourced in the US. For a full list of products, and locations visit: https://localhivehoney.com/find-a-store

The Rice’s Honey® partnership with PACE, the Butterfly Pavilion’s global initiative to increase awareness of pollinators through public engagement, education and restoration/conservation programs will help inform consumers about the importance of pollination. One of every three bites of food eaten worldwide depends on pollinators. Without them, there would be no fruits, nuts, vegetables, oils or most flowers and they contribute more than $24 billion to the United States economy.

Butterfly Pavilion Media Contacts:
Kristen Petitt Stewart, kstewart@butterflies.org or 970-389-1561
Russ Pecoraro, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, rpecoraro@butterflies.org or 720.375.9984