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Great MonArch Migration Event
The City of St. Louis and National Park Service partner annually to hold a community event on National Public Lands Day to celebrate the migration of the monarch butterfly.
The Great MonArch Migration Event 2020
2020
The City of St. Louis and National Park Service have been holding The Great MonArch Migration Event the last Saturday in September since 2017 to coincide with National Public Lands Day. The Great MonArch Migration Event is held on the ArchGrounds at Gateway Arch National Park. Due to the need to observe physical distancing, the 2020 Great MonArch Migration Event will have a scaled-back physical presence, and a new virtual component.
NEW THIS YEAR: Native Plant Sale (Pre-orders only)
Take advantage of a special "Monarch Garden In A Box" native plant sale as one physical component of The Great MonArch Migration Event 2020. Thanks to Grow Native!, Missouri Prairie Foundation, the National Park Service and native plant growers, you will have the opportunity to safely pre-order/pre-pay for a pollinator-friendly collection of native plants, and collect them with physical distancing. Pre-order by Thursday, September 24th. The 9 native plants within the Monarch Garden In A Box collection will include milkweed and nectar sources, and align with the plant recommendations of the STL Monarch Mix (there may be some variation in species due to availability). Between 10am and noon on Saturday, September 26th, there will be a dedicated spot at the Archgrounds near the Old Courthouse on Fourth Street for you to pick up your purchased plants.
Come celebrate the spectacular monarch migration on Saturday, September 26th. Bring your camera or phone to try and spot migrating monarch butterflies on their migration route near the Arch. The first 5 people to attend The Great MonArch Migration Event with monarch "wings" and mask will receive a free plush monarch butterfly prize.
After enjoying the Archgrounds, collect your plants to create a monarch habitat in honor of National Public Lands Day. Also that day will be a social distanced yoga class at the Arch offered by the National Park Service, Gateway Arch Park Foundation and the Collective STL. Yoga is 9:30-10:30am.
Due to the need for social distancing, much of The Great MonArch Migration Event will be held virtually this year. Whether you would like to watch a short video, a full length webinar, or peruse articles, you can enjoy learning about gardening for monarch butterflies, attracting pollinators, and the importance of using native species through the following resources:
