The Museum’s largest and buggiest event, BugFest, educates and engages the public in science and the natural world. This year’s theme is hoppers – plant, leaf and tree! Learn about the fascinating world of arthropods at over 100 exhibits, crafts, games, and activities. Engage with entomologists and other scientists about all things arthropod or taste some buggy culinary creations at the Café Insecta. Drop-off area, accessibility tent, sighted guides, ASL and blind-deaf interpreters are available upon request. Additionally, we will have accessible bathrooms, family restrooms, a nursing room, a quiet room, and assisted listening devices.
BugFest 2026 is a free, day-long educational festival at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences dedicated to the world of insects and arthropods. This year, the event highlights leafhoppers, planthoppers, and treehoppers through interactive displays, games, and hands-on crafts spread across the museum grounds. If you are planning your visit, the event is best suited for toddlers through middle schoolers. Admission is entirely free, though you will want to budget for parking in the downtown decks or street spots, which fill up quickly. Strollers are welcome, but the crowds can get dense, so a baby carrier is highly recommended for infants. The museum provides excellent accessibility support, including a designated quiet room, family restrooms, and a nursing space. This event makes a fantastic weekend outing because it combines high-energy entertainment with genuine scientific learning. Kids can get up close with live creatures, talk directly to entomologists, and test their bravery at the insect cafe, making it a standout educational adventure in the heart of Raleigh.
Yes, admission to the festival and the museum exhibits is completely free, though some food vendors and museum store items will be available for purchase.
Where should I park for BugFest at the museum?
You can park in the green square visitor deck at 329 West Jones Street or look for street parking along Wilmington and Edenton streets, which is free on weekends.
What resources are available for nursing mothers and sensitive children?
The museum provides a dedicated nursing room, family restrooms, and a quiet room for children who need a break from the sensory stimulation of the crowds.
