Monarch Festival and Race Returns to Peterborough with Renewed Hope for Butterfly Populations

The fourth annual Monarch Ultra Festival and Race is returning to Millennium Park September 19 with a message of collective action and making a difference for butterflies.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONARCH ULTRA.

Recent reports from conservation scientists show that the eastern monarch population has increased by approximately 64 per cent over the past year, marking one of the most significant rebounds in nearly a decade. While experts caution that long-term threats remain, the increase signals that conservation efforts such as habitat restoration, tree planting and grassroots awareness, are working.

The event promises to bring together runners, families, artists and environmental advocates for a day of celebration and purpose. Participants can choose between a 10 kilometre race and a 1 kilometre kids fun run, with monarch-inspired costumes encouraged. The event will also feature educational workshops, interactive exhibits, native plant and milkweed giveaways, monarch tagging activities and more.

“This moment is both hopeful and urgent. We’re seeing signs that our collective efforts are making an impact but it also shows how important it is to keep going,” says Monarch Ultra organizer Carlotta James. “Running for me has always been about connection. Connection to the land, to each other, and to the species we share this planet with. Monarch butterflies are a symbol of that connection, and this event is our way of protecting it.”

The Monarch Ultra began as an ambitious international relay run to follow the monarch migration from Peterborough, Ontario to the Sierra Madre Mountains in central Mexico, a total distance of 4,300 kilometres covered by ultra runners over seven weeks in the fall of 2019. The group has since inspired a broader movement that connects athleticism with ecological responsibility.

Over the past seven years, Monarch Ultra has grown into a community-led initiative that extends beyond race day. Through international relay runs, documentary screenings, art installations, monarch festivals and grassroots fundraisers, the organization has raised nearly $40,000 for conservation efforts across North America.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 19. To register for the race and/or to support monarch conservation efforts, visit the website.

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