BETHEL — Over 15 regional artists are showcasing at the festival and have donated special pieces to the event’s raffle. Attendees receive five complimentary tickets upon entry.

The Mahoosuc Land Trust’s (MLT) “Habitat for All” initiative focuses on the philosophy that small actions lead to big changes. It invites everyone to reimagine outdoor spaces as an opportunity to create new habitats for plants, wildlife, birds, bees, butterflies, and humans.

With that philosophy in mind, MLT has reimagined its own space and built a 16,000-square-foot garden at its headquarters in Bethel, Maine. This garden is planted specifically to support pollinators – birds, bees, and Monarch butterflies – and to create a habitat for wildlife. It provides sanctuary for humans looking for a peaceful place to relax, and it acts as an anchor in bringing people together.

Community and conservation are at the center of Mahoosuc Land Trust’s work, and with that, they invite the public to its Monarch Festival on August 13. This event brings artisans, vendors, gardeners, local business owners, visitors, and residents together.

The Monarch Festival is family-friendly and admission to the event is free. Attendees will enjoy a cookout, educational and children’s activities, the opportunity to speak with gardening experts, live entertainment, Monarch Tagging, and an artisan “park.”

Upwards of 15 artisans are registered to showcase fine art, handmade pottery and jewelry, paintings, textiles, and more. The Monarch Festival celebrates creativity, and connects attendees with a direct line to local artists that create unique art. It provides a great opportunity to get a head start on holiday shopping, and finding something special to gift to yourself.

Attendees have the opportunity to win something made by each of the artisans. A raffle is included in this year’s Monarch Festival, and upon entry to the event, attendees receive five complimentary raffle tickets. More are available for purchase to increase one’s chance of winning pieces of art such as a stained glass garden stake made by Lizz Peacock of Puzzle Mountain Glass Works; a maple syrup gift basket made by Suzanne and Brian Dunham of Dunham Farm Velvet Hollow Sugar Works, or a handmade Cone Flower pattern bowl made by Joshua David Rysted Pottery.

The Monarch Festival kicks off with a pre-event keynote speaker on the Friday before the event.  On Saturday, August 12, at 6 p.m. at the Gem Theater, keynote speaker Doug Tallamy of the Homegrown National Park will describe his national effort to have everyone reimagine their backyards as places where birds, bees, and butterflies thrive. This initiative aims to convert approximately 50% of all privately owned lawns into areas that support wildlife, pollinators, and birds. The Habitat For All garden is a recognized park within this project.

The following day, Sunday, August 13, the actual festival begins at 11 a.m. with MLT’s Annual Meeting. Bethel poet, Richard Blanco, will share poetry to inspire the occasion. At 12 p.m. festival activities begin. A signature aspect of the event is the monarch tagging demo from 1 – 3 p.m. Each year monarchs make their way from Maine to Mexico as part of their lifecycle. So far two monarch butterflies that were tagged at Valentine Farm have been found in El Rosario, a monarch preserve in Mexico, traveling a distance of 2,986 miles.

Habitat for All thanks its event sponsors, The Rotary Club of Bethel, River Fund of Maine, Franklin Savings Bank, and supporter, Norway Savings Bank. Without their support, free public access to this event would not be possible, and sustaining Habitat for All’s work of restoring the connection between people, nature, and their backyards is that much stronger because of them.

For more information about the Monarch Festival, email info@mahoosuc.org or visit https://www.mahoosuc.org/monarch-festival to see the agenda for the day.

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