Mare Island is more than just the location for our festival – it’s a vital haven for monarch butterflies.

Each fall, western monarch butterflies migrate hundreds of miles from their summer breeding grounds to their “overwintering” locations along the West Coast, where they cluster together in trees to shelter from winter weather. These sites are crucial to the survival of the western monarch butterfly population.

Mare Island is home to at least one of these overwintering sites, and monarchs can be seen each winter clustering in the trees next to the historic St. Peter’s Chapel at Chapel Park! Vallejo is one of the rare places where monarchs not only overwinter but also live year-round, making it a unique and important environment for their survival.

By joining us at the festival, you’re helping to raise awareness about this incredible site and supporting efforts to protect it and others for generations to come.