21st Annual Indiana Bat Festival Coming to Terre Haute

If you're fascinated by bats, or maybe you'd just like to understand the little winged creatures a little better, one of Indiana's coolest wildlife festivals is returning this fall.

The 21st Annual Indiana Bat Festival will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, in Terre Haute, with an entire day dedicated to the bats that call Indiana home.

Hosted by Indiana State University's Center for Bat Research, Outreach, and Conservation, the festival includes two separate portions this year: daytime activities at Indiana State University followed by an evening of bat science at Dobbs Memorial Park.

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Spend the Day Learning About Indiana's Bats

The daytime portion of the Indiana Bat Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second floor of the Science Building at Indiana State University.

Activities will include live bat, bird and reptile presentations, along with educational exhibits where visitors can learn more about the animals.

There will also be children's activities, face painting, bat merchandise and more.

It's an opportunity to get an up-close look at some fascinating animals while learning more about the important role bats play in our environment.

Bat Science Night Takes the Fun Outdoors

After the daytime festivities wrap up, the celebration moves to Dobbs Memorial Park, 5170 E. Poplar St. in Terre Haute, from 5 to 9 p.m. for Bat Science Night.

And this is where things get especially cool.

The evening will include another live animal presentation along with hands-on demonstrations from bat biologists, giving visitors a chance to see some of the science involved in studying these nocturnal mammals.

Guests can also participate in a wetland hike, children's activities, BatVentures and even a yard board game.

A bake sale and food truck are also planned for the evening.

Listen for Bats After Dark

Of all the activities planned for the festival, this might be my favorite.

Once darkness falls, festivalgoers will have an opportunity to listen for bats at night.

Since bats are nocturnal and use echolocation to navigate and find food, hearing and identifying their activity isn't quite as simple as listening for a bird call during a daytime hike. The festival gives visitors a chance to experience bat research and observation alongside people who actually study them.

It sounds like a pretty fantastic way to spend an early fall evening.

Indiana Bat Festival Celebrates 21 Years

The Indiana Bat Festival has now been celebrating these often misunderstood animals for more than two decades.

Whether you want to see a live bat, meet the biologists who study them, get the kids involved in some wildlife education, or head outside after dark to discover what's flying overhead, there will be plenty happening throughout the day.

The 21st Annual Indiana Bat Festival is Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, with daytime events from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Indiana State University and Bat Science Night from 5 to 9 p.m. at Dobbs Memorial Park in Terre Haute.