Houston Arboretum & Nature Center to hold first Bat Fest celebration Saturday, Sept. 17

Event is free and open to the public

The festivities continue into the evening with “Going Batty” for adult guests

The Houston Arboretum is proud to host its first-ever “Bat Fest” on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., which is free and open to the public. Families are encouraged to come out with their children for this fun and educational event in honor of our mosquito-eating, pest-controlling, pollinating, and seed-dispersing bat superheroes. Bats do so much for us humans, they deserve an entire day of celebration.

At “Bat Fest,” visit booths from community partners like Houston Bat Team and Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition to learn more about Houston’s 11 bat species, how they help humans, and how we can help them. Fun bat-themed activities will be offered, including crafts for kids and live animals, as well as a blood drive with Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center.

As a continuation of “Bat Fest,” adults can celebrate at “Going Batty,” an evening event from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Arboretum, which includes tequila treats, since bats are the pollinators of the tequila agave. Guests will hear a presentation by bat expert Cullen Geiselman, Ph.D., who will discuss the important role of bats in our ecosystem as pest control, seed dispersers, and pollinators.

Delicious tequila popsicles from KICPOPS will be available. The event also features a bat hike using special detectors to listen to bat sonar over the Arboretum grounds.

“We are excited about this new, first-time event all about bats, which features entertainment and education for both children and adults,” says Debbie Markey, Executive Director of the Houston Arboretum. “Bats are fascinating to people of all ages, and we will help them better understand all the good things that bats do for us every day. ‘Bat Fest’ is a perfect way to enlighten while offering fun activities, thanks to the help of our partners.”

While “Bat Fest” is free, “Going Batty” requires registration and costs $35 per person for members and $50 for nonmembers, ages 16 and up. Guests must be 21 or over to be served alcoholic beverages. To register, go to https://houstonarboretum.org/event/going-batty/.

The Houston Arboretum is located at 4501 Woodway Dr. You can also enter from the Loop 610 feeder road at 120 West Loop North.

For more information about all the Houston Arboretum’s fall events, including the fall plant sale, ArBOOretum and Halloween Sip & Stroll, go to our website at www.houstonarboretum.org.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Houston Arboretum and also public domain