***Due to the lapse in government appropriations, the Minnesota Bat Festival is cancelled.
There are more than 1,400 species of bats worldwide, but have you ever wondered how many species of bats call Minnesota home? Come celebrate and learn about the unique role that bats play in our world during International Bat Week at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge's Visitor Center!
The theme for the 2025 Minnesota Bat Festival is, "Water is life: for bats and Minnesotans," which coincides with the We Are Water MN exhibit that will be housed at the Visitor Center during the same time as the Festival. Get ready to dive into our shared connection to water and keep an eye out for more We Are Water MN-related events on the refuge's events page!
Who:
Fun activities for all ages!
Cost:
Free!
Activities:
- Live Bat Programs- meet Edgar and Eugene, both big brown bats native to Minnesota
- Batty Costume Contest- New this year! Click here for rules and schedule!
- Explore the "Bat Cave"
- Explore the ever-popular cave and see how many (pretend!) bats and other cave critters you can find hiding in the cave
- Be a Bat Biologist!
- Ever wonder how biologists study bats? See a real bat net, try your hand at "bat tracking," and hear about the acoustic technology that is allowing us to learn about bats' whereabouts throughout Minnesota
- Bat Disease Research- see how scientists are battling for bats' survival by studying one of the threats that haunts our bats, white-nose syndrome
- Bat House Information Station- get all the details on how to make a safe home for a bat maternity colony (congregation of female bats and their pups) and enter to win a bat house
- Planting for Bats and Other Wildlife- hear about what bats look for in establishing their summertime forest homes and take a home a free tree to plant in your yard!
- Get Crafty with new Batty Crafts
- Make and bring home your own 2025 Minnesota Bat Festival ink print
- Bat Trivia- test your bat smarts and win a prize!
Programs:
More details about speaker schedule will be posted here soon!
Did someone say Food Trucks?
Yes, there will be three!
- Eggroll Queen
- Potter's Pasties
- Tomatillo Mexican Cuisine
Parking:
Event goers can park anywhere in the visitor center parking lot. Overflow parking will be at the Hilton Hotel parking lot across the street (look for a sign that says "Overflow Parking"). Parking lot monitors will be present to provide direction.
Public Transportation:
Metro Transit- Blue Line Train
- Exit at American Blvd Station and cross 34th Avenue to the east.
- Proceed east on American Blvd East and follow the sidewalk 1/4 mile around the bend and up a small rise to find the entrance on the right.
Accommodations:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to this event for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, close captioning, or other accommodation needs to Jill Utrup at jill_utrup@fws.gov, at least ten business days before the event.