BROOKINGS — South Dakota State University Extension and McCrory Gardens will host the seventh annual Insect Festival for insect enthusiasts. 

The free event is from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 7 at McCrory Gardens in Brookings. There will be garden tours, interactive insect education, an insect costume parade, local vendors, crafts and edible insects. Registration is not required.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own insect costumes to wear for the parade. All ages are welcome, especially youth who enjoy hands-on learning experiences. Adults can also learn about the insects in their gardens, yards and homes. 

Sydney Trio, McCrory Gardens education coordinator and SDSU Extension horticulture assistant, said the event helps spread the understanding and importance of insects in our environment, from pollination to providing a food source for other animals.

“Insects are very important in helping many things in the environment we might not always see but we definitely benefit from,” Trio said. 

Trio and Amanda Bachmann, SDSU Extension urban entomology field specialist, are co-hosting the event, which will also feature SDSU Extension horticulture experts, Master Gardeners, and John Ball, professor, SDSU Extension forestry specialist and South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources forest health specialist. 

Attendees can also vote on an insect photo contest and participate in a monarch butterfly tagging program. For a complete schedule of events, visit the SDSU Extension Events page and search “insect.”

For more information, contact Trio at 605-688-6707 or Bachmann at 605-773-8120.