Pocatello will host a series of community events centered on pollinators and native plants during National Pollinator Week, which runs June 22–28, 2026. The Portneuf Pollinator Partnership is organizing the local celebrations, with activities spread across several days and venues throughout the city before wrapping up at Idaho Fish and Game’s Edson Fichter Nature Area.
Most events are free and open to all ages, with a few exceptions noted below. The week offers something for families, nature enthusiasts, artists, and early-morning walkers alike.
Early Week: Plant Walks, Kids’ Art, and a Presentation on Chocolate
The week kicks off Sunday, June 22, with a guided plant walk hosted by the Sawabi Chapter of the Idaho Native Plant Society. Participants are asked to gather at the bison statue outside the Idaho Museum of Natural History on the Idaho State University campus at 9 a.m. That same afternoon, Marshall Public Library will offer a children’s plant-based watercolor painting class for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, beginning at 3 p.m.
Monday, June 23, brings two separate evening events. Idaho Fish and Game will deliver a presentation titled “Do you like chocolate? Thank a Pollinator!” at the Idaho Museum of Natural History at 6 p.m. Attendance is free, but tickets are required. Simultaneously across town, Jim Dandy Brewing on Lander Street will host a Pollinator Paint Night for adults starting at 6 p.m. That event carries a $35 fee.
On Tuesday, June 24, an early-morning meditative walk begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Edson Fichter Nature Area amphitheater. In the evening, a pollinator garden tour will take place at the Sacajawea Park Pollinator Garden on Aspen Lane, starting at 6 p.m. Pocatello maintains a separate pollinator garden at Sacajawea Park, giving residents another local spot to observe beneficial insects and native plantings.
Weekend Festivities Cap the Week at Edson Fichter Nature Area
Thursday, June 25, offers a midweek pause before the final weekend push, with the Snake River New Horizons Band performing summer and America-themed music from 4 to 5 p.m. at Edson Fichter Nature Area.
The week’s largest gathering is scheduled for Saturday, June 27. A morning bird walk gets underway at 7 a.m. at the Edson Fichter Nature Area amphitheater — organizers ask that attendees leave dogs at home for that particular event. The main celebration, Pollinator Celebration Day, runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the same location.
At noon during the celebration, Mayor Dahlquist will present an official Pollinator Week Proclamation at the site’s certified Monarch Waystation — a designation that recognizes the pollinator garden’s role in supporting monarch butterfly populations along their migration routes.
The pollinator garden at Edson Fichter was developed and is maintained by the High Desert Chapter of Idaho Master Naturalists, a volunteer-driven group that works to restore and protect native habitat in the region.
What Comes Next
National Pollinator Week begins Sunday, June 22, giving Pocatello residents just under two weeks to mark their calendars. Anyone interested in attending should note that the Idaho Fish and Game presentation on June 23 requires free tickets in advance, and the Pollinator Paint Night at Jim Dandy Brewing carries a $35 cost — all other listed events are free to the public.
For residents who want to continue their involvement beyond the week’s programming, both the Edson Fichter Nature Area and Sacajawea Park offer accessible pollinator gardens for ongoing visits throughout the summer season. Additional details on statewide conservation efforts and Idaho Fish and Game programs can be found at idfg.idaho.gov.