May 01, 2026

Find a way to BUG OUT this May!

Fernbank’s calendar is crawling with things to do.

Bugs have taken over Fernbank as we welcome our brand-new permanent exhibit, the Orkin Discovery Zone. Step into the role of scientist as you discover the variety of ways insects have influenced our daily lives as well as the world around us. Don’t forget to say, “hello!” to our newest (and smallest) staff members: a Madagascar hissing cockroach, a tarantula and tree frogs.

The Orkin Discovery Zone opens on May 2, with Bug Fest. This interactive all-ages extravaganza celebrates all things insects with multiple activities that’ll have you bugging out in all the best ways. Crawl, fly and flutter on nearly every floor of Fernbank to discover the magic of Metro Atlanta bees, gain insight into the world of insect farming and so much more!

If you are looking for some adults-only fun, turn your antennas to Fernbank After Dark: Buzzed. Join us on May 8 for some after-hours activities centered around Earth’s tiniest creatures! Get invested in the insect world and see what all the buzz is about. Bee sure to try our specialty cocktails; curated especially for the perfect late-night sting.

Want to celebrate Mother's Day with your favorite mother figure? Explore the combination of nature, art and storytelling in Flight of Butterflies, on view through June 7. These 25 butterfly sculptures, each decorated by artists, dot the landscape of WildWoods, bringing a colorful and thought-provoking addition to the natural world.

But everyone knows that the best place to bug out is Fernbank Forest and WildWoods. Join our rangers and walk on the wild side with our Guided Hikes series. There is something for everybody under our canopy of champion trees and a new discovery waiting in every corner of our diverse ecosystem. 

Not much of an outdoors fan? Enjoy the a/c in our Giant Screen Theater, where stories come to life on a larger-than-life screen. Titans of the Ice Age (playing through May 22) and Horse Power are on currently showing, with T. REX stomping in on May 23.

Be sure to check out our Calendar of Events for all of our upcoming nature walks, animal encounters, Museum Nights and so much more!