The Virginia Museum of Natural History‘s (VMNH’s) annual Reptile Festival is slithering its way back to Martinsville on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The 2-day event provides attendees with the opportunity to view a wide variety of live animals, investigate reptile specimens from the museum’s scientific collections, interact with reptile experts, and participate in an array of activities, ranging from reptile-themed games and crafts to balloon animals and face painting.
“Reptiles serve an incredibly important role in our ecosystem, but they’re often polarizing animals that have many misunderstandings and misconceptions attached to them,” said VMNH Services and Events Manager Robbie Hendrix-Wirt. “With Reptile Festival, our goal is to provide museum visitors with a unique adventure that also allows them to leave with a greater understanding and appreciation for these animals.”
During the event, numerous live reptiles – and amphibians – will be on display, including snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, and salamanders.
“This year’s edition of Reptile Festival places an emphasis on the reptile and amphibian life that calls Virginia and North Carolina home,” said Hendrix-Wirt. “Snakes, of course, will be a highlight of the live animal displays and attendees will be able to view a wide variety of them, from well-known species, such as the eastern copperhead, to lesser-known species, like the northern pine snake, to the secretive, such as the worm snake.”
Snakes won’t be the only live animals that visitors will find on exhibit.
“Lizards, ranging from the common fence lizard to the green anole, numerous turtles, frogs and salamanders can be found on exhibit both days of the event,” said Hendrix-Wirt. “Though we generally don’t allow visitors to hold any of the animals, there will definitely be opportunities for two-finger touches and plenty of photo ops.”
In addition to the live animals, the festival will feature a wide variety of reptile specimens from the museum’s scientific collections.
“Despite only being established several years ago, the museum’s herpetology program has already amassed an impressive collection of scientific specimens, as well as live animal ambassadors,” said VMNH Biology Research Technician Marshall Boyd. “Reptile Festival will not only provide visitors with the opportunity to view these specimens, but also the opportunity to interact with the researchers who have helped amass the collections.”
Beyond the museum’s own displays of live animals and scientific specimens, Reptile Festival will feature exhibitors from outside organizations and institutions, including:
*Box Turtle Sanctuary of Central Virginia
*Averett University
*Fairy Stone State Park
*Herpetofauna of North Carolina
*Herpetology Club of North Carolina State University
*Herping Virginia
*Science Museum of Western Virginia
*Virginia Herpetological Society
*Virginia Living Museum
*Virginia Tech
“While the museum has its own impressive herpetology holdings, what helps make this festival truly stand out are the collections of live animals and other displays provided by our partnering institutions and colleagues,” said Hendrix-Wirt. “This year’s event features a diverse lineup of exhibitors that will help give visitors a better understanding of the reptile and amphibian life found right here in our own region.”
Giving visitors the opportunity to interact with some of the region’s most prolific reptile experts is also a staple of Reptile Festival. For the first time ever, this year’s edition features the animals and expertise of Dr. Ron Grunwald, who will be presenting “The Herpetofauna of North Carolina”.
“The museum is excited to have Dr. Grunwald exhibit at this year’s event,” said Hendrix-Wirt. “His animal displays will provide a great sampling of the type of animals that can not only be found in North Carolina, but here in Virginia, too.”
It’s not just modern day reptiles that will take the spotlight during the festival. Ancient reptiles will also have their chance to shine at the event, with a science station hosted by the museum’s paleontology department comparing the massive crocodiles that lived millions of years ago in what we now know as Virginia and North Carolina to the reptile life that exists in the region today.
As with all museum science festivals, Reptile Festival will offer visitors an exciting lineup of interactive activities.
“All of the offerings that have become synonymous with Reptile Festival over the years will be available to visitors,” said Hendrix-Wirt. “Crowd favorites, such as face painting and balloon animals, will be available throughout both days of the event, as well as a variety of hands-on, reptile-themed activities hosted by the museum’s education department, researchers, and vendors. We’ll even offer the Reptile Festival Photo Booth for folks to capture a memory of their adventure. Best of all, it’s all included in the price of admission.”
Reptile Festival will also feature numerous on-site food options for visitors to choose from during the event, as well as new, reptile-themed souvenirs and merchandise available for sale.
“Whether you want to grab a quick snack or a full lunch, the Reptile Festival Food Truck Alley will be accessible to visitors throughout both days of the event,” said Hendrix-Wirt. “The event will also offer brand-new merchandise and souvenirs for sale that are specific to the festival.”
This year’s lineup of on-site food options includes Bahama Sno-Shack, Birrieria La Vaca, Chick-fil-A, D’s Hot/Ice, Factory Roast, Ga-te Shoken, Kona Ice, MalloyDogz, Palumbo’s (Friday only).
Admission to Reptile Festival is $10 per adult ages 18-59 and $5 for children and youth ages 3-17, seniors ages 60+, and college students. Admission is free for children under 3, museum members, and members of museums and science centers that participate in the ASTC Passport program.
The museum also participates in the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Museums for All initiative, offering discounted admission to EBT cardholders. Through this program and additional funding provided by Hooker Furnishings, Carter Bank, and the Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia, visitors who present their EBT card and accompanying ID at the gate will receive free admission to the festival. The free admission offer is available to EBT cardholders from any state and up to 5 of their immediate family members living within the same household.
Parking for the event is free of charge and will take place off-site. Parking details will be made available on the museum’s website prior to the festival.
Reptile Festival is sponsored by Atlantic Union Bank, Bassett Furniture Industries, Boxley Building Materials, Hooker Furnishings, and The Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust.
For more information about the festival, visit www.vmnh.net/events/reptile-festival.
