PHOENIX – Kartchner Caverns State Park invites nature lovers and conservation enthusiasts to its first-ever Bat Festival, a family-friendly event aimed at raising bat conservation awareness. The festival will be held on Saturday, October 21 and feature a variety of activities, crafts, book readings for kids, and educational talks.

Arizona is home to 28 different species of bats. Bats are a primary nocturnal predator of insects and a key pollinator of many desert plants. This festival will help event-goers learn more about why we celebrate these creatures, how they contribute to a healthy ecosystem, and what we can do to protect their habitat.

Special presentations from bat biologists and experts from various organizations, including Bat Conservation International, Arizona Game and Fish, Buecher Biological Consulting, and Northern AZ Bat Rescue/Grand Canyon Deer Farm will also be featured.

Admission is free with the standard park entry fee of $7 per vehicle (1-4 adults) and all ages are welcome to attend. Cave tours are not included in the Bat Fest activities and advance reservations are recommended for those who wish to take a cave tour. Campground and camping cabin reservations are available online for those who wish to extend their trip beyond the festival. For more information about the event, please visit AZStateParks.com/Kartchner.

WHAT: Bat Festival

WHERE: Kartchner Caverns State Park, 2980 S Highway 90, Benson, Ariz.

WHEN: Saturday, October 21, 2023, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHY: Celebrate bat conservation awareness

For more information about Kartchner Caverns State Park, and the more than 30 state parks across Arizona, visit AZStateParks.com.