Celebrate the Monarch Migration at Gathering Place This Fall
Visitors can enjoy interactive gardens, engaging exhibits, and up-close butterfly encounters this October
This fall, Gathering Place invites visitors to immerse themselves in the wonder of the monarch migration through a variety of interactive exhibits and hands-on experiences throughout the park. Guests can wander through vibrant, pollinator-packed gardens, snap photos at whimsical installations, create their own butterfly-friendly crafts, and engage in educational displays that bring the incredible journey of monarchs to life.
“The monarch migration is one of nature’s most remarkable natural events, and we are proud to offer visitors an engaging and educational way to experience it at Gathering Place,” said Julio Badin, Executive Director of Gathering Place. “As these butterflies pass through Tulsa on their journey south, our gardens and sustainable practices support pollinators in their essential role in nature, helping ensure these species thrive for generations to come.”
Visitors can explore a larger-than-life butterfly garden and learn about the monarch migration, add their own flower to the community waystation, or send postcards to friends and family inside ONEOK Boathouse. Ramble Sensory Garden features a playful wing selfie installation, perfect for capturing memories, while Sky Garden and the Wetland Gardens showcase pollinator-friendly plants that provide food and shelter for monarchs and other vital pollinators.
The celebration continues with The Great Monarch Quest on Saturday, October 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. near Williams Lodge. Participants can follow a scavenger hunt through the park, enjoy live acoustic music during the monthly Pickin’ in the Park jam, explore offerings from local vendors, and create butterfly-friendly habitats at the PSO Monarch Waystation Workshop. Visitors will also see monarchs up close, learn about their migration, and discover how tagging supports their conservation.
Monarch butterfly populations have declined in recent decades and are now listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Gathering Place strives to educate the community about these remarkable pollinators while creating intentional garden spaces that help support and sustain their populations.
These experiences offer families and nature enthusiasts a unique chance to observe monarch butterflies up close, learn about their incredible journey and how to support them, and enjoy the park’s scenic beauty this fall.
