6th Annual NOLA BugFest

Free Admission!

This Year's Theme: "Habitats in Nature: Exploring the Vibrant World of Insects and Rodents"BugFest 2026 Logo

October 10th, 2026, 10 am-3pm

New Orleans Mosquito, Termite & Rodent Control Board
2100 Leon C. Simon Dr., New Orleans, LA 70122

Let us know you're coming! Text BUGFEST to 504-478-0572

 

 

 

Dive into the fascinating world of insects at the 6th annual NOLA BugFest!

  • Mimicry & Camouflage – Step into the blind with interactive displays and behind-the-scenes science.
  • Cooking with Remy – A culinary demo inspired by Ratatouille, where flavor meets fun (and hygiene!).
  • Rainforest Magic – Explore the rainforest with its species diversity. 

Bug feast Group Picture

Visit numerous booths to have an upclose encounter with insects and wildlife from around the world

Cheer on your favorite bug in the Beetle Race!

Learn how to use a microscope at the Insect Identification table! Bring your insect to ID!

Talk with scientists and experts in the pest vector control industry to learn about insects in our region and get at-home pest prevention tips.

Insect crafts and games are available for all ages.

Schedule of Events

Time Activity
10 am Spin the Color Wheel
10:30 am Edible Insects Cooking Show
11:30 am Stump the Bug Expert
2 pm Storytime
2:30 pm Beetle Races

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Exhibits

Audubon Insectarium

See exotic insects, edible insects, and insect diversity

Autism Brain and Language Lab

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social and communication challenges along with specialized interests or repetitive behaviors

Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council

Learn about environmental leadership and bring computers and other electronics for recycling

Central Life Sciences 

Learn about the “cannibal mosquito,” Toxorhynchites

City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board

Bring your unknown insects for expert identification by a professional entomologist, with microscopes available to examine specimens commonly found in and around homes

City of New Orleans NOLA Ready, Office of Coordination and Emergency Management (NOCEM)

Hear about local preparedness

Civic Studio with Courtney Egan

Use plants from the meadow to create sunprints

Clarke

Learn more about public health products and services  

Councilman Eugene Green, District D

 

Crosby Arboretum

Located in Picayune, MS, learn more about The Crosby Arboretum’s 64 acres with 3 ecosystems

DA Exterminating 

DA Exterminating is one of the oldest and most reliable pest control companies in the New Orleans area with branch offices in Metairie, Covington, and Houma.

East Baton Rouge Parish Mosquito Abatement & Rodent Control (EBRPMARC)

East Baton Rouge MARC is a non-profit organization that provide services and educational information throughout the parish. The community can call to get their area of their homes spread for mosquitoes and also request rodent bait boxes. We also attend health fairs, social events, go out to schools, senior citizens complex, day cares, etc. to help education the community on how NOT to get mosquito bites.

Florida A&M University

Learn about public health and other science programs

Greater New Orleans Pest Control Association (GNOPCA)

Protecting public health and property while coming together as company owners and managers to work together and promote the pest control industry.

Keep LSU New Orleans Beautiful

Keep LSU New Orleans is a university affiliate of Keep Louisiana Beautiful on LSUNO campus. Our organization thrives to bring green practices to campus through a variety of sustainability-centered programs. Garden Club is a separate club on campus where students can grow and plant anything their green thumb desires! Both organizations work together to implement Louisiana Native Plant gardens around campus.

Longue Vue House & Gardens

 

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF)

Discover best practices and pesticide safety

Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Infectious Disease Epidemiology Section 

Understand zoonotic and vector-borne diseases

Louisiana Master Naturalists GNO

Awareness, understanding, and stewardship of the natural environment 

Louisiana State University, Department of Entomology 

Learn about the insects that are found in our region

Mayor's Office of Community Engagement

The Mayor’s Community Engagement Office is the City’s permanent mechanism for public participation in government decision-making. We create opportunities for dialogue, information sharing, partnership, and action between City government and neighborhood residents and leaders.

Mosquito BEACONS

The Mosquito Biodiversity Enhancement and Control of Non-native Species (BEACONS) working group is a multi-state working group dedicated to enhancing invasive mosquito surveillance and control capacity in the southern United States.

National Park Services

The National Parks of southern Louisiana provide multiple opportunities for visitors to encounter the history, cultures, and landscapes of our region. The two parks, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, are made up of six separate sites: the French Quarter visitor center, the Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery, the Barataria Preserve, and three Acadian Cultural Centers in Thibodaux, Lafayette, and Eunice.

New Orleans Public Library

Sign up for a Library card and browse bug themed books available for check out

New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC)

Learn about the resources for rec., athletic and cultural experiences  

Redd Pest Solutions

Their team of entomologists and pest professionals will answer your questions about maintaining your house pest free.  

Sankofa Community Development Corporation

Sankofa Community Development Corporation works to improve community health and well-being through food access, environmental stewardship, education, and community engagement. Our work includes Fresh Start Market, community growing spaces, and the Sankofa Wetland Park and Nature Trail in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, which features a birding trail and provides habitat for native and migratory birds.

Sewerage and Water Board

Observe storm drain safety

Terminix NOLA 

Find out more about residential and commercial pest control

The Inner Pup

Learn about heartworm disease and how to prevent it in your pets.

The Scarab Lab

The Scarab Lab is the nation's only, standalone, permitted exotic beetle breeding facility. Come see a live display of arthropods from around the world.

Tulane University, Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine

View insects under the microscope and learn more about Public Health

Tulane University & The Gulf South Mycological Society

Tulane University's Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Departmental in collaboration with the Gulf South Mycological Society are presenting how insects and fungi interact in many ecologically significant ways. 

University of New Orleans, Birding

Learn more about birdwatching and conservation initiatives

University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology

Entomology experts from Florida will showcase insects, mites, ticks, spiders, nematodes, and related organisms from around the state 

University of Georgia, Deparatment of Entomology

Explore the UGA Insect Zoo.

UNO Federal Credit Union

Chartered in 1972, UNO Federal Credit Union has proudly served the University of New Orleans. We’ve expanded to include St. Bernard and Orleans Parish, welcoming residents, employees, and local schools and places of worship.

Veseris 

Catch a glimpse of pest control product support 

Walgreens Pharmacy

Providing Flu/COVID19 vaccines

Woodlands Conservancy

Woodlands Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust organization created with the mission to preserve and restore forested wetlands and other ecologically or historically significant lands in Louisiana.

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Activities

Remy’s edible insects-try tasty treats made from insects 

Face painting 

Insect art: Use stamps, markers, crayons, and stencils to create your own insect art 

Insect tattoo station 

Insect ABCs 

Walk through the rainforest

Camouflage and mimicry

Glow in the dark bracelet making station

Nighttime collecting adventure

Storm drain larvicide toss 

What happens when you flush? 

Insect identification using microscopes 

Insect personalities quiz 

NOMTRCB aviation program-pilot play 

Experience virtual reality with an interactive projector

Spin the Wheel: Insect Trivia  

Plus many more featuring our 2026 theme Habitats in Nature: Exploring the Vibrant World of Insects and Rodents

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Vendors

Fairie Formations

Fairy wings and face painting

NOMTRCB BugShop

A variety of insect and rodent-themed merchandise    

Bird & Bea

Textile art studio specializing in botanically dyed linens and eco-friendly ink printed work.

@ birdandbeabotanically

NOLA ‘Nacular 

Printmaking Studio and Local & Vernacular Art Gallery

@nola_nacular

Bug Feast Picture of Group

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Food

New Orleans is famous for its food and music.  A variety of food trucks will be on-site with food for purchase.  A snoball cart will be on-site and the first 500 kids will receive a free snoball. 

Parking

Parking is available along Leon C. Simon Blvd. Additional parking is available on UNO’s lot directly across from NOLA BugFest.  

Facility and Grounds

The City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board’s facility has 18,000 square feet of exhibitor space, laboratories, and training rooms. Exhibits will be set up on the grounds and in the parking garage. Tents placed on the property will provide additional seating areas for the participants.  

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