Turtle Fest

Friday, June 12th – Sunday, June 14th
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Join us for a Turtle Fest, a 3-day shellabration of Discovery World’s most charismatic residents!
Saturday, June 13th
🐢 Meet Local Conservation & Wildlife Experts | 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.Explore interactive exhibitor tables featuring local organizations, turtle advocates, rescue groups, and nature experts sharing hands-on activities, turtle education, and conservation stories throughout the day.
🔨 Preston Edmonds: The Turtle Blacksmith | 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.Watch craftsmanship come to life with live blacksmith demonstrations inspired by turtles, wildlife, and the natural world.
🐢 Live Turtle Encounters Meet fascinating turtle species up close, including Box Turtles and Painted Turtles from Hawthorn Glen, Musk Turtles from Havenwoods State Forest, and more while learning about their habitats, behaviors, and conservation.
🎨 Turtle Drawing Station | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.Color, sketch, and create turtle-themed artwork perfect for young artists and animal lovers alike.
🪣 DIY Turtle Bucket Wall Challenge | 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.Put your creativity and engineering skills to the test as you build, stack, and design your way through this fun turtle-themed challenge.
Get to know our amazing turtles (and meet some turtle-y cool friends from partner organizations), make wearable turtle projects, join turtle enrichment presentations, enjoy animal encounters, and more!
Learn from our aquarists and local wildlife experts, catch a turtle feeding, and so much more!
Meet the Turtles of Discovery World

Beep & Boop – These Box Turtles are our spokes-turtles! Beep, is shy and loves curling up in their shell. Boop, is the opposite—outgoing and always ready for the camera!
Salt & Peppa – Our two resident Wood Turtles who love to climb and explore!
Tortilla – A Spiny Softshell Turtle who loves burrowing under tiny rocks, often leaving just his snout peeking out.
Linnaeus – A Blanding’s Turtle with a perpetual smile who enjoys watching guests walk by.
Wolverine – A Red-Eared Slider who dances through the water and loves squeezing under exhibit elements to hide.
Plus, find our group turtle exhibit behind our touch tanks with Red-Eared Sliders, Northern Map Turtles, and Painted Turtles.