Staff Reports
The Florida Museum of Natural History and First Magnitude Brewing Company will hold a party for pollinators Saturday at its annual Pollinator Palooza.
The family-friendly festival will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. at First Magnitude.
The event — which features free plants, special beer and community partners — will kick off National Pollinator Week and put a spotlight on the importance of pollinators and ways to help their declining populations.
“We wanted to have a fun event to highlight what people can do for pollinators in their own communities,” said Jaret Daniels, curator of the museum’s McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, in a press release. “It’s a party for the pollinators.”
According to the press release, “Attendees can take home a free flowering plant for their garden that will attract pollinators like bees, butterflies and moths. These nectar and host plants provide food and habitats for these important insects. Festival goers can choose one plant each; the options are Florida skullcap, Simpson’s stopper, compact firebush and firebush plants.”
The event will feature food trucks, community organizations, live music and attendees can learn ways to get involved and make a difference locally. Experts from UF’s Natural Area Teaching Laboratory, the Florida Native Plant Society, the Florida Wildflower Foundation, the UF Native Plant Nursery and the UF Department of Geological Sciences will each be on hand to provide information and tips to help pollinators thrive.
According to the release, “The brewers at First Magnitude have crafted several beers inspired by local pollinators, some of which incorporate yeast harvested from the insects. Just like previous launches, a part of the proceeds from beer sales will go to support imperiled butterfly recovery efforts throughout Florida.”
This festival will mark the 13th and 14th beer collaborations between the Florida Museum and First Magnitude.
“It’s one of my favorite things First Magnitude does, and it helps educate people about things in their backyards that they may not even know about,” said Patrick Soucy, lab manager at First Magnitude, in the press release. “Putting aside a bit of money for conservation efforts, too, is pretty awesome. I’m glad to be a close part of it, and I’m looking forward to the festival.”