Event Overview

Saturday, June 14 & Sunday, June 15 | 11:00a.m.–5:00p.m.

Step into the whimsical world of bugs and creatures during Bug Weekend at the Toledo Museum of Art, inspired by the special exhibition Rachel Ruysch: Nature Into Art. On June 14 and 15, the museum’s campus comes alive with art, science, and nature-themed fun for all ages. From dazzling circus stilt walkers and aerial acrobats to insect-inspired face painting, there's something for every curious mind to discover. Little explorers can join Bugs in the Brush: A Ruysch Tour for Young Explorers, a docent-led tour designed just for kids, or dive into hands-on art activities provided by the Family Center. Whether you're inspecting butterflies with the Toledo Zoo, observing Madagascar hissing cockroaches with Imagination Station, or picking up a Bug Bento Box to enjoy in the sunshine, your weekend is sure to be buzzing.

This is a perfect outing for families and even a unique way to celebrate Father’s Day with creativity and curiosity. Don’t forget to visit the exhibition (free for members, $10 for nonmembers, and free for kids under 3) and swing by the TMA Store to take home bug-themed gifts and fun surprises for the little ones.

Bugs in the Brush: A Ruysch Tour for Young Explorers

*Registration required*

Discover both new and familiar bugs in the special exhibition Rachel Ruysch: Nature into Art. This family-friendly Docent-led tour is a 45-minute experience that invites you to explore with a guide the fascinating world of bugs like the avocado mantis, admiral butterfly, herculean beetle, and other tiny creatures hidden within Ruysch’s vibrant floral paintings. See how the smallest details can tell a story in a painting.

Bug Bento Box

*Pre-order required*

Select a Pick Up Time in Libbey Court between the hours of 11:00a.m. and 2:00p.m.

Get ready to crunch, munch, and discover the wild world of edible insects with our Bug Bento Box! From sweet treats with scorpions to bao buns packed with teriyaki crickets, this adventure is not for the faint of heart but it is for the curious.

Birds Eye View Circus Presents: A Not So Still Life: Bugs in Motion.

Come interact with our larger than life stilting butterflies. Get your own balloon bug to take home twisted by our balloon twister. Become a bug yourself with some fun face painting from one of our face painters. Then fly on over to see Birds Eye View Circus Presents: A Not So Still Life: Bugs in Motion. This circus performance will include performers that fly, hoop, juggle, and jump with a variety of circus arts performed on silks, lyra, trapeze, hammock, and more.

Toledo Zoo: Butterfly Learning Experiences

Flutter over to a world of discovery with the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium's Education Department as they bring the science of monarch butterflies to life through fun, hands-on activities for kids and families! Inspired by the butterflies in Ruysch's art and celebrating the natural world, this interactive station will explore the incredible journey of monarchs and their special relationship with milkweed. Get up close with preserved specimens, play a monarch migration game, tag a paper butterfly, and create your own nature-inspired artwork—all while connecting the beauty of science to the works in the exhibit.

Imagination Station: Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

Get up close and personal with insect specimens! You will use scientific tools such as magnifying glasses and microscopes to see all of the unique features of these fantastic creatures--including live Madagascar hissing cockroaches.