CLERMONT, Ky. — Two beloved festivals are returning next month to Bernheim Forest. CONNECT@Bernheim and BugFest will delight visitors with music, art and hands-on experiences on two consecutive Saturdays.
CONNECT@Bernheim
Celebrate the intersection of art, science, and nature at CONNECT on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 3:58 to 9:58 p.m. (four hours before and two hours following sunset). Returning for the twelfth time, CONNECT@Bernheim will challenge minds and delight the senses.
Don’t miss the chance to see Bernheim’s Forest Giants in a Giant Forest illuminated under the night sky! 2022 Artists in Residence Mike Elsherif and Sonja Hinrichsen, as well as our first-ever Environmental Artist in Residence Carla Rhodes, will also be showcasing their work around Lake Nevin.
The night includes live musical performances, spontaneous art displays, and hands-on experiences for adults and families, including making art, drum circle participation, Louisville Silent Disco, and participatory science, the sand pit and the bubble play zone.
This year’s CONNECT will offer regional craft beer from Mile Wide Beer Company in Louisville, West Sixth Brewing in Lexington, and wine from Clermont’s Forest Edge Winery. We will also have more food options than ever for your enjoyment.
For the first time this year, tickets to CONNECT may be purchased in advance! Advance tickets (through Sept. 9) are $10 for Bernheim members and $15 for non-member adults (ages 11+). The cost to buy tickets on event day are $15 for Bernheim members $15 and $20 per person for non-member adults (ages 11+). Children 10 and under are free regardless of membership status. Tickets may be purchased at Bernheim.org.
BugFest
Bugfest returns to Bernheim on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This year’s BugFest features a bug-themed concert, Insect Safaris, the Bug Zoo, Idlewild Butterfly & Insectarium, Spider Tent, bug crafts, the BUG PARADE and more!
Wildlife Conservation Photographer Carla Rhodes will be featured at this year’s BugFest. Meet the artist, see the forest through her eyes, and hear about her adventures as Bernheim’s first Environmental Artist in Residence!
The festival is free for members and there is a $10 per car admission fee for non-members.
Sunday Nature Hike
Meet a Volunteer Naturalist at the Visitor Center on Sunday, Sept. 4, and Sunday, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m. to noon for an engaging nature hike. These hikes are longer than our ECO Kids Hike of the Days, and are aimed primarily at adults, but children six years and up are welcome. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes.
The cost is $10 for Bernheim members and $12 for non-members. Registration and payment are due by 4 p.m. the day prior to the start of the program by calling (502) 955-8512 or visiting Bernheim.org. No pets are allowed.
Bernheim at Night: Creatures of the Night “Owl Prowl”
Join Bill Napper and other Volunteer Naturalists for Creatures of the Night “Owl Prowl” on Friday, Sept. 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. for an enchanted evening of prowling the woods in search of signs and sounds of some of Bernheim’s feathered hunters of the night.
Visitors will journey into sections of Bernheim where crepuscular and nocturnal creatures are most active. Program includes a small amount of hiking through easy terrain.
Register by 4 p.m. the day prior to the program by calling (502) 955-8512 or visiting Bernheim.org. The cost is $12 for Bernheim members and $15 for non-members. Night hikes are geared for ages eight and up. No pets allowed. Dress for the weather.
Birding with Binoculars
Led by Volunteer Naturalists, Birding with Binoculars on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 8 to 11 a.m., takes a deeper dive into the world of birds. Improve your birding skills, using clues, such as songs, call notes, habitat, behavior and more.
This small group setting will allow for one-on-one conversations with Volunteer Naturalists and birding enthusiasts Karen and Jim Scout.
The cost for Bernheim members is $12 and $15 for non-members. Registration and payment are due by 4 p.m. the day prior to the program. Register by calling (502) 955-8512 or visiting Bernheim.org.
Mellow Morning Stroll
If you are a morning person, this quiet, reflective stroll is designed with you in mind. This slow-paced walk on Wednesday, Sept. 21, from 7:30 to 9 a.m., will focus on nature’s small details, hidden connections, and the sensory-rich tapestry of life. Join Bernheim staff and Volunteer Naturalists near Bernheim’s Sensory Garden and start your day attuned to nature’s beauty and abundance.
The cost is $10 for Bernheim members and $12 for non-members. Registration and payment are due by 4 p.m. day prior to the start of the program by calling (502) 955-8512 or visiting Bernheim.org. The program is for ages eight and up, and no pets are allowed.
Foraging for Useful Wild Plants
Wild plants can reveal history, mystery, mythology, and ecology. When we take time to recognize our green companions and begin learning their stories, we often discover how much our own stories are intertwined, not only with those plants, but with other people and creatures.
Join Wren Smith, Bernheim’s Interpretive Programs Manager (with over 40 years’ experience sharing her passion for wild plants) on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 9:30 a.m. to noon
as we forage for these deeper connections. The cost is $12 for Bernheim members and $15 for non-members.
Registration and payment due by 4 p.m. day prior to the start of the program by calling (502) 955-8512. Ages 8 and up. No pets allowed. Space is limited.
ECO Kids Discovery Days
The E-C-O stands for Every Child Outside, and that’s exactly where kids can be found during ECO Kids Discovery Days. Discovery Days take place the first and third Saturday of each month near Bernheim’s Visitor Center and may include:
Hands-On Discovery Stations from 1 to 4 p.m.
Hike of the Day, led by a Bernheim guide, starts at the Visitor Center at 2 p.m. and runs 45-60 minutes.
Pop-Up Story Circles because everything and everyone has a story. Watch for our storytelling and story-sharing circles.
ECO Kids Discovery Days are weather dependent. Call (502) 955-8512 on the day of the event for weather-related updates. For details on ECO Kids Discovery Days, visit Bernheim.org. No registration is necessary.
Forest Homeschool Hike
Forest Homeschool Hikes provide opportunities for families and co-ops to join Bernheim educators for an afternoon of learning, exercising and adventure. Appropriate for grades K-5, each Forest Homeschool Hike includes a short lesson followed by a hike or activity that brings the lesson to life. The cost is $6 per person and children under four are free. Registration is required by 4 p.m. the day prior to the program. Call (502) 955-8512 or visit Bernheim.org to register. Space is limited.
The dates and Times are as follows:
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Tuesday, Sept. 6 from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
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Friday, Sept. 9 from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
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Tuesday, Sept. 20 from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
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Friday, Sept. 23 from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
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