COLUMBIA, Mo. – Bask in the wonder of live native Missouri butterflies at the seventh annual Butterfly Festival on Saturday, June 22, at Jefferson Farm and Garden Extension and Education Center in Columbia.

The free event is a chance to learn about the life cycle and behavior of butterflies and their important role as pollinators, in addition to enjoying kids activities and food offerings, said Debi Kelly, University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist.

“Native pollinators, including butterflies, are important for the production of most of our vegetable and fruit crops,” Kelly said. “The Heart of Missouri Master Gardener chapter is committed to educating the public about these fascinating insects by holding the Butterfly Festival each year. This will be my first one as the MU Extension State Extension Master Gardener coordinator, and I am looking forward to seeing the beauty of these butterflies.”

Marie Pasley, a Heart of Missouri Master Gardener and festival planning committee member, said there will be a variety of host and nectar plants for the butterflies inside the butterfly house. Pasley and her husband helped build the interior of the butterfly house.

“We will have several kinds of butterflies, mostly natives, to enjoy viewing,” said Pasley. “And there will be lots of things for kids to enjoy at the festival, including a bug hotel.”

The event includes kids activities, face painting, food trucks, pollinator information and live barn animals. Tours of the farm’s wildflower meadow and demonstration pollinator and vegetable gardens will also be available.

The Butterfly Festival is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at the MU Jefferson Farm and Garden Extension and Education Center, 800 New Haven Road, Columbia.

For more information and free registration, go to http://muext.us/BF2024.