Wildlife Festival

Join us for a scientific celebration of creatures big and small, furry and scaly, during the Virginia Museum of Natural History's first-ever Wildlife Festival on Saturday, June 18, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.!

What to see and do!

• Museum animal taxidermy mounts!
• Live animals! (list of animals below)
• Specimens from the museum's scientific collections!
• Balloon animals and wildlife-themed face painting!
• Wildlife-themed activities and crafts!
• Special presentations by wildlife experts! (list of presentations below)
• Food trucks!

Live Animals!

• Birds of Prey (raptors)
• Monocled Cobra
• Eastern Rat Snake
• Hog-nosed Snake
• Coachwhip Snake
• Louisiana Pine Snake
• Canebrake Rattlesnake
• Timber Rattlesnake
• Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
• Cottonmouth
• Eastern Copperhead
• Burmese Python
• Jaguar Carpet Python
• American Alligator (juvenile)
• Large Snapping Turtle
• Woodland Box Turtle
• Northern Diamond-backed Terrapin Turtle
• Blue-tongued Skink
• Giant Cane Toad
• Black Widow Spider
• Deathstalker Scorpion
• Australian Fattail Scorpion
• Giant Vinegaroon
• African Spurred Tortoise
• And more!

***Please note that all live animals listed are subject to change.***

Special Presentations

"Animal Control...Questions, Concerns, & What to do?"
Presented by Jayme Clark (Martinsville Animal Control Officer) at 11 a.m.

"Bears, Bobcats, and Coyotes...Oh, My!"
Presented by Katie Martin (Deer, Bear, Turkey Biologist - VA Department of Wildlife Resources) at 1 p.m.

"Wild Wonders in Your Backyard"
Presented by Darin Handy (All Are God's Creatures Sanctuary) at 3 p.m.

Festival Admission

• $10/Ages 18-59
• $5/Ages 3-17 and Seniors 60+
• FREE for children under 3
• FREE for VMNH Members and members of ASTC Passport participating institutions!
• FREE for EBT card holders who present their EBT card and official photo ID!
• Groupons accepted

*Admission is available at the door. Face coverings are optional.

Special thanks to The Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust for helping make this event possible!