Moth Madness: Moth Observing on the Mount Vernon Trail

Join us after dark for Moth Madness, a nighttime nature adventure celebrating the mysterious beauty of moths! As the sun sets, we’ll gather around softly glowing light traps to observe an array of moth species up close. Whether you're a seasoned lepidopterist or just curious about the creatures that flutter through the night, this is your chance to learn, explore, and marvel at the hidden world of nocturnal pollinators.

Naturalist will be on hand to identify species, share fun facts, and explain how moths play a vital role in our ecosystems. Bring a flashlight, your curiosity, and a sense of wonder — you never know what might fly in! This event is free and family-friendly.

The event is part of National Moth Week from July 19th to 27th, which celebrates the beauty, life cycles, and habitats of moths around the world.

We'll meet at Daingerfield Island in the soccer field near the back parking lot off of Marina Drive here.

This is a drop-in event. Come anytime during the event to observe and look at the moths and other bugs that we find.

Things to bring:

1. Flashlight (preferably with red light setting).
2. Reflective vest if you have one.

Inclement Weather:

In the event of rain, the event will be cancelled and notification will be sent by e-mail by 5 p.m. the day of the event.

Getting there:

By foot or bike: The meetup spot is located on the Mount Vernon Trail in the soccer field near Daingerfield Island here.

You can park bikes at the Washington Sailing Marina

By public transportation: Take DASH bus AT5 to the Slaters Ln and W Abingdon Dr stop and walk .5 miles to the meetup spot.

By car: There should be parking available in the Washington Sailing Marina Parking Lot.

Food

We will be eating at Catboat Pizza Bar ahead of the event. If you are feeling hungry, please stop by for a bite to eat before the event. Please note that Catboat Pizza Bar closes at 9pm.

Support our Work:

We're raising funds to continue to improve the Mount Vernon Trail. Donate to keep our volunteers equipped with tools and supplies at Donate to Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail.

Keep up to date with upcoming events and news about the trail by following us on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram.

Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Alexandria, Meetups in Alexandria, Nonprofit events in Alexandria.