information
festival day
a guide to making the most of monarch festival day
Click on any of the links below for info:
festival map
Main Entrance: N. St Mary’s Circle drive by the San Antonio Zoo
Festival Entrance 2: Corner of Red Oak Rd. & Tuleta Dr. accessible from within Brackenridge Park
Two Festival entrances :
Come by bike, bus, rideshare or car (now with a trolley that can take you to the fest from select lots!)
arrive with ease
Use destination: “San Antonio Zoo Train Depot” or “3910 N. St. Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX 78212” to be dropped off at the main festival entrance.
Rideshare & Drop-Off
See the Interactive Parking Map for routes and parking options.
Two Festival Trolleys, provided by Old Town Trolley, will loop from 9:00am-2:30pm to select lots marked on the map. The BLUE Bee Line and YELLOW Bird Line.
driving and parking
Bike parking is available near the festival entrance, courtesy of Trek Alamo Heights. Bring your own lock, as we are not responsible for the security of bikes.
Biking & Scooters
For accessible parking, park at the SAWS Garage (258 Alvin St) and take the Bee Line to access the ADA trolley. If that lot is full, the Train Depot Lot is another close option near the festival entrance.
Accessible (ada) access
VIA Metropolitan Transit offers routes 8, 9, and 10 to Brackenridge Park. Use VIA’s trip planning tool to map your route, and check the festival map for pinned bus stop locations. Close stops are: Devine Rd. & Hildebrand; Broadway & Tuleta; Broadway & Pershing
public transportation
parking
You asked, we listened! We’ve added more parking options and two festival trolleys(!) to make getting to the Festival easier.
Plan ahead and know where you’ll park.
Check out the map below for festival parking locations and routes for the 2 trolley lines. Festival Entrances are in red pins.
OR! Click to open it in Google Maps and view specific pinned locations, get directions, and save it to your own maps for easy access on festival day.
Interactive Parking Map
There are 2 lines, the Bird line and the Bee line (see details below) that will make continuous loops during festival hours: 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
To access, park in one of the lots listed below, find the Trolley Stop sign, and hop on your ride.
Trolley access from the Festival will be located at the St. Mary’s circle drive near the exit to the Festival. Look for the Bird and Bee signs to line up!
two trolley lines
BIRD LINE
STOP 1: Alamo Stadium / SAISD – Lot E 110 Tuleta Dr
STOP 2: Alamo Stadium (Across from Trinity) – Lot C (Will Pickup for lots B, C, D) Click here for address
bee LINE
stop 1: SAWS Parking Garage (rear of HQ Building) 258 Alvin St
STOP 2: Lions Field 2809 Broadway
General Parking
with a 10 minute or less walk to the Festival.
Zoo Train Depot Lot - 3910 N. St. Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX 78212
Enter Festival at Main Entrance on St Mary’s Circle Drive
Witte Museum / Brackenridge Park Garage — 3501 Avenue B
Enter Festival at Entrance 2/ Bat Cave Festival Entrance from Brackenridge Park
San Antonio Zoo Garage — 151 Tuleta Dr
Enter Festival at Entrance on St Mary’s Circle Drive
Enter Festival at Main Entrance on St Mary’s Circle Drive
Japanese Garden— 3853 N St Mary’s St
Tuesday Musical Club – 3755 N. St. Mary’s St
Enter Festival at Main Entrance on St Mary’s Circle Drive
Underpass Parking across from Zoo parking garage - 179 Tuleta Dr
Enter Festival at Main Entrance on St Mary’s Circle Drive
Brackenridge Park General Parking throughout the park
Enter Festival at Entrance 2 / Bat Cave Festival Entrance from Brackenridge Park
food & beverage
Food and drinks are located in and around the Cypress Pavilion. Offerings from local vendors include a variety of options for omnivores, vegetarians, and everyone in between.
Fine and Dandy Lion
Fresh pressed Lemonade and Limeade
Plantaqueira
Vegan tacos, coffee
Madre herb
Acai bowls & tea refreshers
BuJe JUICE CO
Juice
Viridian
Herbal tea, baked goods and pastries, and also butterfly lifecycle pasta! Meat options.
honey sol cafe
Specialty coffee, matcha, chai, limeades
Dos Perros Coffee
Coffee beverages, hot/cold beverages (all house made), breakfast items, beignets, empanandas, smoothies, boba, sandwiches
Miss Chickpeas Bake Shop
High quality vegan toasters and croissants
Charlotte Panadería
Mexican sweet bread: concha’s, marranitos, empanadas, cookies, croissants plus so much more
festival FAQs
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An RSVP isn’t required, but it really helps us plan for the event! If you know you’re coming, we’d love for you to let us know. RSVP on our eventbrite.
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Yes! We pride ourselves on keeping the Festival free and accessible for all. We do accept donations to our Non-Profit partner, Project Bloom, to help us keep it this way–click here to support this special day!
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The Monarch Butterfly & Pollinator Festival takes place at Brackenridge Park’s Pecan Grove, located at 3910 N. St. Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX 78212 , next to the zoo entrance from 9am-2pm. The entrance is at the roundabout, to the right of the Zoo.
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Check out our Interactive Parking Map for all available lots and for select lots with trolley lines that will take you to the event. We also highly encourage biking, carpooling, or using public transportation - and arriving early for the best spots!
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If you need help or have a question, look for a FRIEND wearing bright yellow shirts with a monarch butterfly and “FRIEND” on the back. There is also an info station near the entrance as well as the Blooming with Birdie tent.
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Yes, large Water Monster Hydration Stations will be available throughout the park–be sure to bring your reusable water bottle! Bottles will also be available for sale throughout the park.
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Yes! Enjoy local vendors' offerings of coffee, juices, açaí bowls, breakfast bites, pastries, and more. There’s something for everyone - vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores alike.
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Yes. Permanent restrooms can also be found near the Starbucks, in the Cypress Pavillion that will be the food court area, and by the Bird Wing on the far east side of the Festival. Port-a-potties are located to the right of the entrance by the Pecan Grove. Check the festival map for all restroom locations.
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Yes! A stroller check is available at the entrance, next to the Blooming with Birdie tent.
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There are 2 cooling stations (see map for locations) provided by CoSA Sustainability, and on-site medics stationed in the Pecan Grove.
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Over-stimulated? Visit the Book Nook Calming Corner - located on the far south end of the Pecan Grove by Pollinator Picnic. You can rest, read, and relax in this quiet, shaded space, in partnership with Free Radical Book Club.
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We love all living creatures! However, the Festival welcomes 10,000+ visitors, so it can be a lot for our furry friends. Though leashed, well-behaved dogs are allowed, we encourage you to let them protect the pollinators at home while you enjoy the day.
official festival merch
Swing by the Blooming with Birdie tent at the entrance! From wings, nature-inspired tees and hats, to stickers, water bottles, educational kits, posters, and more - it’s your one-stop spot for festival goodies and keepsakes. Cash and cards accepted.
There are 3 merch tents in the festival–at the entrance, in the Bird Wing, and in the Milkweed Meadow–look for the t-shirt icon on the map. The Bird Wing and Milkweed Meadow tents will also have snacks and juice!
Pollinator Pose-off
Prizes await the most creative, colorful, and pollinator-powered looks. Did you snap photos during the festival? Make sure you’ve entered the Pollinator Pose-Off by tagging @bloomingwithbirdie in your Instagram or Facebook posts and stories! Winners will be announced online after the festival!
NEED HELP FESTIVAL DAY?
NEED HELP FESTIVAL DAY?
FIND A FRIEND
Need directions, festival info, or help finding your next stop? On festival day, keep an eye out for our Friends—you’ll spot them in bright yellow hats and Blooming with Birdie yellow shirts marked with “Friend” on the back. They’re here to help you find your way and make your day even more enjoyable!