Photo by Jason Boudreau-Landis
Experience the magic of summer nights at the Arboretum with hundreds of fireflies flashing through the sky! Bring your family and friends along to marvel at the wonder of these glowing winged beetles (also known as lightning bugs). Begin your firefly viewing experience by gathering to learn about these special creatures from local experts before heading out to see them live on the trails.
Tickets
Special Ticketed Event: Advance tickets are recommended. Select your date below to book tickets.
- Member: $10
- Non-member: $20
- Children: $7.50
Event Activities
Enjoy a variety of on-site activities each night in addition to special presenters.
Activities available each night include:
- Concessions Stand: Featuring Rootstock snacks, freshly popped popcorn, beverages, and a selection of local beer and wines. Digital payments only.
- Glacier Laine Designs Firefly Craft: Stop by the craft tent for a magical make-and-take activity. As the woods begin to sparkle with fireflies, paint a keepsake ornament that’s uniquely yours. Customize your firefly tail with a variety of glow-in-the-dark colors. $5 each, sales tax included. Cash preferred. Digital payments include a 4% processing fee. Quantities are limited, so be sure to visit before they disappear into the night!
- Firefly Viewing Walks: Walk any of the three trails selected by the Arboretum team for the best firefly viewing possibilities! Please consider bringing flashlights to see the trails in the dim light and dress for the weather.
Presentation Schedule
June 25 - Storytelling with Gary Lussier Sr. from American Indian Storytelling
Immerse yourself in captivating tales of tricksters and nocturnal characters from Ojibwe and Dakota/Lakota traditional stories of the Red Lake Nation.
June 26 - Spiders with Meghan Cassidy
Meghan is a data analyst by day, and a naturalist and photographer by night! As a strong advocate for everything in class Arachnida, Meghan has been conducting nature education with a focus on spiders for almost 5 years. Meghan will show and discuss common spider species and offer tips for identifying spiders. After the presentation, there will be a short Q&A and a walk to look for spiders!
June 27 - Storytelling with Mashkiki Studios
Mashkiki Studios is an apothecary, educational space and creative studio in south Minneapolis that focuses on reconnecting people to land, language and plant knowledge through decolonial storytelling, traditional arts, Indigenous food systems, seed-keeping traditions and integrative health practices. Mashkiki is an Anishinaabemowin word often translated as 'medicine,' reflecting the strength that grows from the earth.
July 2 - Owls with Bob Ebsen from the Wildlife Science Center
Bob Ebsen is the Education Director at the Wildlife Science Center in Stacy, MN. He has worked in science education at the Wildlife Center for over 25 years teaching on wildlife conservation. Bob enjoys audience participation and is known to ask his audience more questions then they ask of him! Meet three owls of different species and discover the important role that you play in wildlife conservation.
July 3 - No Programming
July 5 - Fireflies and Moths with Diane Hirigoyen from the Xerces Society
A science enthusiast with deep roots in microbiology and environmental stewardship, Diane brings her passion for science to the great outdoors as an ambassador for the Xerces Society — a leading organization dedicated to the conservation of invertebrates. Whether you’re a nature lover, science geek or simply enchanted by summer nights, this is a presentation you won’t want to miss!
July 9 - Raptors with Danial Davis from The Raptor Center
The Raptor Center’s presentation-style program will feature live raptors! The presenter will handle and present the birds to the audience, during which you'll learn what makes these birds unique while getting a close-up view. This is your chance to learn from a specialist with the University of Minnesota and get a “human’s eye view” of various raptors!
July 11 - Bats with Jill Utrup from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Jill will lead an educational program about native bats followed by a conversational walk. Expect to dial up your bat knowledge as Jill touches on bats’ unique traits, charm, ecological importance, and why they need our help now more than ever. Jill's program will also feature acoustic detectors to see and "hear" the echolocation calls bats make in real time.
July 12 - Entomology/Night Insects of Minnesota with Robin Thomson from the Bell Museum
Robin Thomson, Ph.D., is the Collection Manager with Bell Museum's entomology department and is looking forward to seeing the thousands of fireflies blinking the night away! She will be giving a highly visual presentation on night insects of Minnesota that includes audience interaction with specimen drawers. Learn about singing bugs, nocturnal pollinators, and predatory insects and other “creepers” that only come out at night!
Photo by Phil Zumsteg
Photo by Phil Zumsteg
Special Access: Firefly Photography Class
Thursday, June 25 or Saturday, July 11
8:30-10:30 p.m.
Join photographer Jason Boudreau-Landis for an evening of photographing some of nature’s most incredible insects, the fireflies. Jason will begin the class with a brief introduction and discussion indoors followed by a guided walk through the Arboretum gardens as he demonstrates how to capture images that are sure to stun friends and family.