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Monarch Festival

September 21 @ 11:30 am - 3:30 pm

Free

MONARCH FESTIVAL AND RUN TAKES FLIGHT IN PETERBOROUGH WITH ART COMPETITION
Get your wings ready and mark your calendars. If you are concerned about the
environment and the plight of monarch butterflies, join us for the second annual Monarch Butterfly
Festival and Run, taking place on Saturday, September 21st at Millennium Park in Peterborough, Ontario.
As many are aware, the migratory monarch butterfly is now an endangered species, threatened by habitat
destruction and climate change. The Monarch Ultra, a community-led group in Peterborough, is
organizing a free festival that promises environmental action, amazing music and performances, and
running for a cause. After their initial 4,300 kilometre relay run from Canada to Mexico in 2019, followed
by an 1,800 kilometre relay within Ontario in 2021, the Monarch Ultra is organizing the second annual
Monarch Festival and Run to raise awareness and funds for monarch conservation.
The event is a fundraiser for Nación Verde, a Mexican non-profit conservation organization that is helping
to restore habitat loss from deforestation in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. The organization
works in several areas including conservation, greening schoolyards and the protection of the
environment. Diego Leon, Project Manager for Nación Verde, shares that “We have had the privilege of
planting more than a million native trees in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve together with the
indigenous communities that live there. This effort not only translates into fir trees, which are key to the
hibernation habitat of the Monarchs, but also into economic support for the people who are responsible
for the ecosystem services that we all enjoy thanks to the care they give to their forests. At Nación Verde
we believe that we have a historical debt with these communities, since we all want clean water and air,
but the people who care for the ecosystem that provides these services are not compensated.” 100% of
donations raised through the Monarch Run will be for Nación Verde. Learn more about the organization
and how to donate funds: https://raceroster.com/events/2024/87399/monarch-ultra-10km.
Carlotta James, cofounder of the Monarch Ultra, said “Recognizing that monarch butterflies are
endangered should inspire action on several levels, and one way is for communities to protect and
increase biodiversity along the migratory path which ultimately helps all wildlife species.” James
continued, “There are multiple ways that you can help save the monarch butterfly. One way is to plant
milkweed (the host plant for monarchs) and other nectar rich flowers that appeal to a wide range of
pollinators. Citizens can also influence their local governments to create better policies that protect
biodiversity and wild spaces. Lastly, we are encouraging folks to donate to Nación Verde who are
working hard to protect habitat for monarch butterflies and other forest dwellers.”
Some of activities included in this weekend’s event are a 10km Race and 1km Kids Fun Run along along
the Rotary Trail and picturesque Otonabee River. For those wanting to come out and cheer on the runners,
the 10km route can be accessed here: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2556557. Following the race,
community members are invited to attend the Monarch Butterfly Festival, from 11:30am-3:30pm at
Millennium Park. Musical performances by Giovanni y Sus Amigos, Indigenous drumming, Zumba
dancing, face painting, and environmental presentations are part of the festival itinerary, while over
twenty vendors have been invited to showcase sustainability and biodiversity initiatives. Participants can
also receive free milkweed seeds to support Monarch conservation.
Another exciting aspect of the event is the Art Competition for high school students that promises to
showcase the beauty of monarch butterflies while encouraging creativity and awareness for youth. Ana
Maria Zapata, Creative Director for the Festival, said “I just always admired the monarch butterfly, and I
always wanted to protect it—especially when I learned their numbers are falling, and that many of their
issues are caused by humans.” The winner of the Art Competition will receive a tote bag with art supplies from the Art Gallery of Peterborough. The deadline to submit an art piece is on Friday, September 20th.

More information on the art contest can be found here: https://www.themonarchultra.com/art-
competition.html.

Details

Date:
September 21
Time:
11:30 am - 3:30 pm
Cost:
Free
Event Categories:
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Website:
https://www.themonarchultra.com

Venue

Millennium Park
130 King St.
Peterborough, ON K9J 0A5 Canada
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