Monarch Sanctuary Fun Run & Festival

About the Fun Run/Walk: 

This first annual 3-mile fun run around Lake Pflugerville is a celebration of the Monarch butterfly and the incredible migration they make through Texas twice a year in the Spring and Fall. Race starts at 8:00 am after a warm-up hosted by our friends at Soul Strong Yoga. 

About the Festival: 

The FREE family-friendly festival will be poppin' from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Enjoy live music, food trucks, nature-inspired art vendors, face painting, amazing photo ops, and a packed raffle with goodies from our wonderful non-profit & artisan vendors. This is a free event. Registration is not required, but it sure does help us with planning. RSVP with a free ticket. 

Event Timeline 

07:30 am

Fun Run check in

07:45 am

Race meeting

Warm-up w/ Soul Strong Yoga

08:00 am

Ready, Set, GO! Fun run starts

09:00 am

Official festival start

Music - JustUs

Food trucks & vendors

Face painting

10:00 am

Music - FunGus & the Shrooms Duo

Raffle giveaway #1

Photos with Bubbles the Mini Monarch Pony

11:00 am

Music - Lady Dan

Raffle giveaway #2

12:00 pm

That’s a wrap

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q. Where is it? 

A. The Fun Run follows the Lake Pflugerville 3-mile loop. Starting at the pavilion, by the kayak rentals. The trail will immerse you in fun monarch facts and get you in the Earth Day spirit. The course will drop you right into the Festival so you can celebrate and enjoy all of the music, food, and activities. 

Q. What if it rains?

A. The forecast is looking amazing for the event day, and besides, a little rain never hurt anyone. The race and festival will go on rain or shine. Please note, No refunds will be given due to inclement weather.

Q. Do I have to run it? Can I walk it? Can I bring a stroller? Can my dog run?

A. No, yes, absolutely, and yes! You can walk, run, skip, crawl, roll or fly your way around the 3 mile loop. Well behaved, leashed pups are welcome at the race and festival. 

Q. How much are Fun Run tickets? 

A. Fun Run Tickets: $30 adult/$ 20 kids. Registration includes: event swag bag (water bottle, native seeds, Core Culture samples, sticker, and temporary Nature Tats monarch tattoo) and free festival perks (free slice of Marco's Pizza and 1 free raffle ticket to win amazing prizes donated by our vendors). 

Q: Can I register on the day of the event? Will I get a swag bag?  

A. Yes, you can still register on the day of the event but a swag bag will depend on availability. We suggest registering before April 19th for guaranteed swag bag goodies.

Q. Is the festival free? 

A. Yes! Entry to the festival is free from 9-12. Raffle tickets are $5 each.

Q. Why are we doing this? 

A. An integral part of our mission with the Monarch Sanctuary Project is to raise awareness for monarch conservation in our local communities by hosting events that champion education and actionable solutions that support the monarch migration as they come through central Texas in the spring and fall. We are partnering with other local organizations and businesses who share our vision in celebration of Earth Day AND the spring monarch migration.

We’re beyond excited for this event! Swag bags with beautifully designed T-shirts, live music, food trucks, face painting, nature education opportunities and so much more! Costumes? Go ahead! The weirder the better!

Q. What is the refund policy? 

A. As a charity event, all proceeds go to aid in the Monarch Sanctuary Project's mission to help restore native habitat and support the monarch migration. No refunds will be offered. If you are not able to attend, you can still request your swag bag (a $50 value). Contact us for more info.

Q. Can you tell me more about the raffle? 

A. You get a free raffle ticket with your Fun Run registration swag bag. Additional tickets are $5 each. We have amazing donations from each of our sponsors, vendors, and organizations! Gift cards, jewelry, health products, memberships, native plant bundles, gardening gear, and more!

Q. Who's gonna be there? 

• Monarch Sanctuary Project with milkweeds, nectar plants, seeds, and merchandise 
• Core Culture 
• Central Texas Mycological Society 
• Families in Nature 
• Texas Master Naturalists 
• Sawyer’s Pottery 
• Maddie’s Malas 
• Soul Strong Yoga 
• Bubbles the mini pony in butterfly wings