Praise for Pollinators at Great Parks Pollinator Festival and 5K

Butterflies, bees, bats and birds will take center stage as Great Parks celebrates all the pollinators who make our food possible at the annual Pollinator Festival and 5K race, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, at the Miami Whitewater Forest Harbor.

Pollinators support biodiversity, help plants to grow, provide food security and keep our ecosystem and agriculture vibrant. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as much as one-third of the world’s food crops depend on pollinators to reproduce.

Great Parks honors these important creatures every year at the Pollinator Festival. Guests can learn more about the role pollinators play in our lives and enjoy the fruits of their labor with tasty treats from vendors at the festival. Great Parks will bring back the popular immersive butterfly garden and have educational stations to learn more about pollinators. Children’s games will be available and live music from the Mama Said String Band will fill the harbor.

Pollinator 5k Race

The Great Parks Pollinator 5k will race around the harbor on Miami Whitewater Forest’s paved scenic trails. Race participants receive a custom medal, shirt and gifts. Registration costs $40 and is available online at GreatParks.org. The race starts at 9 a.m.

Dinner to Benefit Great Parks Forever

Great Parks is also offering a new dining activity during Pollinator Festival week. A special Bite & Buzz Dinner on May 6, in partnership with Aberson’s Kitchen + Desserts and Hearth Brewing, will celebrate our region’s pollinators over great food and local beer. All proceeds from the dinner go to Great Parks Forever, the philanthropic partner for Great Parks. Tickets are available at GreatParks.org.

Cincinnati MINI is the official automotive partner, and Tri-State Running Company is the event sponsor for the Pollinator 5K.