About 1,200 people visited Clarkston Family Farm for the Monarch Festival 2019, Sept. 8. Photo provided by Diana Casetti

About 1,200 members of the community learned all about butterflies at the Second Annual Monarch Butterfly Festival at Clarkston Family Farm, Sept. 8.

The free event included 22 activities for all ages, including adopt a caterpillar, Monarch Butterfly citizen science tagging station, lifecycle instruction, low-cost and free butterfly and native plant crafts, farmer’s market, food truck, live bands, and native plant sale sponsored by North Oakland Headwaters Association. They also had a native plant scavenger hunt, facepainting and farm animal fun.
Monarch Watch experts adopted out over 800 caterpillars and tagged over 150 Monarch Butterflies. Sponsors included Neiman’s Market, Union Joints, Target and Supernova Volleyball.
“Approximately 60 volunteers worked tirelessly to make the day a huge success,” said Chelsea O’Brien, Clarkston Family Farm executive director. “The Clarkston Family Farm not only hosted, planned, and implemented this event, but donated $400 to Monarch Watch.”