NH—The 13th Annual NH Monarch Festival is under new management. Petals in
the Pines owners Jim and Donna Miller hosted the NH Monarch Festival since 2013 and have
now entrusted the event to monarch citizen scientist, Amira Provost. This year, the Festival will
be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at a new location: Canterbury Shaker Village, 288
Shaker Road in Canterbury, New Hampshire.
Amira Provost has been rearing monarchs, collecting data, and educating others since the
pandemic. “I posted a photo of a monarch caterpillar in 2020, and a friend of mine told me that
only 3-5% of them survive to adulthood. I was shocked and wanted to learn more. My curiosity
to help these caterpillars morphed into a passion to help pollinators and educate others.”
Provost has collected data on, tagged, tested, and released hundreds of healthy butterflies.
Some of her tagged monarchs have been recovered every year, including one that flew as far
as South Carolina!
While migrating numbers from annual early winter counts in Mexico increased between 2023
and 2024, the monarch butterfly is still in trouble. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, monarch populations have dramatically decreased over the past two decades due to

habitat loss and pesticide use, prompting the agency to join Tribes, other agencies, and non-
government groups “to identify threats to the monarchs and take steps to conserve monarchs

throughout their range.” (Source: fws.gov) Monarchs are considered an “indicator” species,
meaning that their presence—or absence—reflects the overall health of the ecosystem.
The NH Monarch Festival will continue to provide a unique educational opportunity on what
adults, children, and families can do to help these butterflies and other vital pollinators, all while
giving kids fun ways to celebrate this amazing insect. Visitors will be welcomed to exhibits and
short presentations on topics including how to plant milkweed, test butterflies for diseases, and
help through citizen science projects. Come learn about which native plants attract monarchs,
and how to tag butterflies for research. You will also receive FREE milkweed and flower seeds–
and more!

This year the Festival will be a one-day event held on Saturday, August 23, from 10am to 3pm
at Canterbury Shaker Village. Attendees will pay at the gate:
● FREE: Children under 2 years old
● $4 per Child 2 to 12 years old, or FREE if wearing an appropriate costume
● $7 per person 13 years or older
● Discounts will be provided for attendees who bundle the Monarch Festival with a tour of
Canterbury Shaker Village.
If you are interested in attending the 13th Annual NH Monarch Festival, please visit the
Facebook page @NHMonarchFestival or contact Amira Provost by phone at (210) 279-3463 or
email at TheMonarchMatriarch@gmail.com

VENDORS:
We are looking for vendors for the event! Vendors must keep to the monarch, milkweed, and pollinator theme. Vendor space rental: $25/booth. Vendors offering approved presentations will waive the rental fee. Please email TheMonarchMatriarch@gmail.com for more details if you would like to be a vendor.