A buzzing cicada symphony will soon fill Illinois’s trees as periodical cicada broods XII and XIX are due to emerge from the ground in May and June. The simultaneous emergence of the Great Southern brood and the Northern brood only occurs every 221 years, making this spectacle a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
To mark this rare occasion, the Field Museum is hosting a series of cicada-centric events to celebrate these magnificent bugs that are coming to us by the trillions.
Want to know what to expect?
Check our our latest blog to learn what you will see and hear the next several weeks as trillions of cicadas emerge!
Featured Events
Meet a Scientist: Cicada Series
Join us in the Grainger Science Hub every Wednesday from May 15—June 26 to get up close and personal with cicadas from the Museum’s behind-the-scenes collections and speak with Field Museum scientists about everything cicadas, from life cycle to ecological impact.
Cicada Pinning Workshop
Looking to start your very own insect collection? Or maybe you just want to spice up your gallery wall with a new piece of art. Join Field scientists on May 29th as they lead a class through the process of pinning cicada specimens for display, and take home a shadow box of your very own.
Bug Bites
Did you know that insects are as nutritious and delicious as they are cool? Tantalize your taste buds with adventurous bites created by Big Star’s chefs at Bug Bites on Tuesday, June 11th from 5 PM to 8 PM at Big Star West Town.
Cicadas Take Flight Storytime & Craft
On June 26, families with 2-6-year-olds are invited to the Crown Family PlayLab for a PlayLab PlayDate featuring cicadas!
