Maine Audubon & Birth Roots present: The 11th annual Pollinator Parade & Picnic!
Sponsored by L.L. Bean and Back Cove Financial
At Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm in Falmouth, Maine on Saturday, May 16th 9:30am to 12:30pm
Calling all families eager to play an important role in an important parade – by assembling adorable pollinator-themed costumes! Help two local nonprofits celebrate, raise awareness, and call attention to the vital importance of our pollinators and the vulnerability of their habitats by dressing up as a bee, butterfly, ladybug, hummingbird, bat, firefly or other favorite woodland friend for some family-friendly habitat activism!
Little Pollinator Parade activity areas are organized with toddler & preschooler development in mind. Activities cater to a younger audience, but with that in mind, all ages are welcome! Families will move at their own pace through the activity stations, exploring in a child-led, self-guided-tour-style.
Event Schedule:
🐛 9:30 to 10:00 am (Arrival and get oriented)
The parking lot opens at 9:30am. Many children benefit from extra time to ease into a costume after they arrive (also costumes and carseat buckles are often at odds). Get to know Gilsland Farm, pond, woods, gardens, and orchard
🐞 10:00 – 11:30am (Activity Area Stroll)
Explore the pollinator-themed games, challenges, activity stations provided by our creative community partners… including LIVE music from Pejepscot Station and Activity Areas hosted by Baby Roots Nature Camp, Maine Audubon, Ketcha Outdoors, The Children’s Nursery School, Creekside Hollow Preschool, Book Fairy Pantry Project, and more!
🦋 11:30am – 12:00pm (Pollinator Parade!)
We will need dozens of butterfly families, dozens of bee families, dozens of ladybug families and more – (pollinators and their friends). Join in the Pollinator Parade by marching in costume through the Maine Audubon campus – ringing bells or chimes, blowing bubbles and holding signs to welcome spring and bring attention to the vulnerability of key pollinator habitats. Dressing up for the parade is highly encouraged for both children and adults! Could be as simple as wings and antennae, or as elaborate as you have energy for!
🐝 12:00pm – 12:30pm (BYO Picnic)
Participants are invited to stay and enjoy a BYO picnic on the grounds. Picnic tables are limited, so bring a picnic blanket and please be prepared to pack out any waste.
Ticketing:
One $35 family ticket = one vehicle. Your ticket represents your parking spot, and “family” is defined as people traveling in the same vehicle. If your party is large enough to need 2 parking spots, then you will need two tickets.
Parking:
Parking at Gilsland Farm is finite and to some degree, fragile. The ticketing format is designed to minimize impact on the wildlife sanctuary, both in terms of cars parked and foot traffic – to keep the number of vehicles and humans at a manageable level. Thank you for understanding (and for carpooling).
Rain or Shine:
While tickets purchased are fully transferable to another family (as in the instance of illness), tickets are nonrefundable, even in the event of uncooperative weather. Thank you for understanding that the Little Pollinator Parade is an outdoor festival that is a “rain or shine” event.
Other Important Info:
Maine Audubon and Birth Roots photograph the event so we can tell the story of local families raising awareness about the vulnerability of pollinator habitats. By purchasing a ticket you are acknowledging that participation in this event includes the possibility of being photographed and your release of the images for our storytelling and communication purposes. Tickets may be transferred to another family, but all sales are final and refunds are not available for this event.
Event Location:
Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm
20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105