BUGfest 2024 - Saturday

Insect & Plant Lovers, BugFest is Back!

Insect and Plant Lovers, BUGfest is back! Flutter on up to NHMU on August 10 and 11 for BUGFest and you'll see that this weekend’s festival is everything it's cracked up to be! The Museum will be humming with bug lovers sharing wild facts about Utah's invertebrates and the plants they pollinate. We'll have expert speakers, displays of amazing specimens, our famous Bug Bar, face painting, craft activities, interactive learning opportunities, and so much more. We'll even have a few things to be excited about for Museum Members and new members alike!

The theme of this year’s BUGFest is damselflies, but we’re excited to teach you all about other bugs too!

Prebook your tickets here and check out the growing list of event activities below.

• The return of the popular ‘Bug Bites’ speaker series
• A breathtaking Entomology Showcase where you can have conversations with our entomologists and examine numerous invertebrate specimens from our collections
• A Bug Bar featuring recipes and lessons from Evolutionary Anthropologist and Chef, Megan Bartley from University of Utah’s Department of Anthropology and NHMU’s Executive Director and Entomologist, Jason Cryan
• Numerous interactive and educational Zones for you to experience and learn about insects, make some memories, and have some fun
• A Sensory Friendly room reserved for those of all ages looking for a quiet, comfortable and sensory friendly space
• For NHMU Members – a dedicated member entrance and giveaway opportunity
• For potential new NHMU Members – a dedicated membership table for information and sign-ups
• Community Partners and Vendors from around Utah
• And so much more!

Bug Bites’ Speaker Series Schedule

Saturday, August 12

12:00 p.m. – Evolution of Flight in Insects: Insights from the Old Winged Insects (Odonata and Ephemeroptera), Dr. T. Heath Ogden, Professor and Chair of Biology at Utah Valley University

12:30 p.m. – What is a Dragonfly and Damselfly and why are they So Freaking Cool?, Dr. Seth Bybee, PhD, Professor at Brigham Young University

2:00 p.m. – Dragonflies and Damselflies of Utah and their Distribution and Habitats, Alan Myrup, Curator of Odonata and Lepidoptera at the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University

2:30 p.m. – For the Love of Fleas: Poetry, Art, Entertainment, and Science, Dr Michael F. Whiting, Director of the Bean Life Museum and Professor and Curator of Insects, Brigham Young University

Sunday, August 13

12:00 p.m. – Dragonflies are Cool – But How About Those Cicadas?, Dr. Jason Cryan, PhD, The Sarah B. George Executive Director of the Natural History Museum of Utah

2:00 p.m. – How to Lose a Guy in 10... Days?, Laura Sutherland, PhD Student, Brigham Young University

2:30 p.m. – Fluttering Flings: The Wild World of Dragonfly Romance, Dr. Rodolfo Probst, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Science Research Initiative (SRI Program) at the University of Utah