Preparethe placeget us ready

Getting ready for Butterfly Pavilion.

A room full of butterflies, bugs and spiders, a play area, and gardens outside. Headphones and weighted vests on request, a quiet area every day, and a Sensory Friendly Afternoon every month.

Jump to the plan ↓

Sensory supports. Quiet area: Colorado Backyard.

Hours

9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, timed entry on the hour; last admission 4:15 pm. Closed Thanksgiving and Dec 25. Dec 24 closes 1 pm, Dec 31 closes 3 pm, Jan 1 opens 11 am.

6252 W 104th Ave, Westminster 80020

Sensory Friendly Afternoon, 3:00 to 5:00 pm (last entry 4:15). Reduced attendance, natural lighting, lower noise levels, guided interpretation in each exhibit, optional activity guides, the playroom, and “a Quiet Room sponsored by SOAR Autism.” Regular admission: adult $19.45, child (2 to 12) $14.45, senior $17.45, under 2 and members free, SNAP $5; spaces are limited.Sensory Friendly Afternoon, 3:00 to 5:00 pm (last entry 4:15). Same setup as every Sensory Friendly Afternoon: fewer people, natural light, lower noise, and the SOAR Quiet Room. Regular admission; spaces are limited.Sensory Friendly Afternoon, 3:00 pm start. Expect the same setup as the other Sensory Friendly Afternoons. Expect regular admission; call 303-469-5441 to confirm.Sensory Friendly Afternoon, 3:00 pm start. Expect the same setup as the other Sensory Friendly Afternoons. Expect regular admission; call 303-469-5441 to confirm.Sensory Friendly Afternoon, 3:00 pm start. Expect the same setup as the other Sensory Friendly Afternoons. Expect regular admission; call 303-469-5441 to confirm.Sensory Friendly Afternoon, 3:00 pm start. Expect the same setup as the other Sensory Friendly Afternoons. Expect regular admission; call 303-469-5441 to confirm.Sensory Friendly Afternoon, 3:00 pm start. Expect the same setup as the other Sensory Friendly Afternoons. Expect regular admission; call 303-469-5441 to confirm.

When it's quieter

“We recommend visiting after 1:00 p.m. for a quieter experience.”

“At Butterfly Pavilion, we know that things can get hectic with busy butterflies and bodies buzzing around.”

  • The play area in Colorado Backyard closes for 15 minutes of cleaning at 1:45 every day. If you arrive right after 1, a short wait there is normal.
  • Sensory Friendly Afternoons are usually the third Wednesday of the month: Nov 18, Dec 16, Jan 20, Feb 17, Mar 17 and Apr 21. In May it moves to the second Wednesday, May 12, then Jun 16.

In their own words: butterflies.org. Checked Sat, Oct 24, 2026. Something wrong or out of date? Tell us · How we check

Three things to know

  1. Noise-canceling headphones and weighted vests on request. Sensory bags too. Just ask a staff member.
  2. A designated quiet area in the Colorado Backyard exhibit, available all day. Ask a staff member.
  3. Re-entry is allowed until exhibits close at 5 pm, no matter when you came in.

Visual schedule

Butterfly Day

  • Drive to the Butterfly Pavilion
  • Park the car
  • Show our ticket
  • Borrow headphones
  • See a butterfly
  • See the spiders
  • Quiet break in Colorado Backyard
  • Play in the indoor play area
  • Go outside to the gardens
  • Bathroom
  • Walk to the car
  • All done
Make it yours →

Ask before you go

  • food and drink rules, a café or picnic spots
  • bag rules or lockers
  • where first aid is
  • what is in a sensory bag, or whether ID is needed
  • where the Quiet Room is on Sensory Friendly Afternoons
  • heat or humidity in the butterfly conservatory
  • free days
Call 303-469-5441
More about Butterfly Pavilion

Louder, in the Pavilion's words

Quieter

Designated quiet area, Colorado Backyard exhibit (every day; ask a staff member)quiet zone
Outdoor gardens and trails (come back inside until 5 pm)quiet zone
Quiet Room sponsored by SOAR Autism (Sensory Friendly Afternoons only)quiet zone
  • Free parking in the main lot; accessible spaces are near the main entrance. If the lot is full, free overflow parking at the Westin Westminster or the Armed Forces Tribute Garden.
  • Tickets: adult (13 to 64) $19.45, child (2 to 12) $14.45, senior $17.45, under 2 free. SNAP, EBT, WIC and P-EBT $5 each, up to four tickets per card. Buy online or at the front desk.
  • Daily schedule: Butterfly Encounter 11:30 am and 3:30 pm in Wings of the Tropics; spider feedings 11 am and 3 pm; leafcutter ant feeding 1:30 pm.
  • Fully wheelchair accessible with elevators to all levels. Outside strollers welcome. Wheelchairs at the front desk with ID.
  • First aid kits and AEDs on site; tell a staff member. Staff cannot give medication.
  • A caretaker or nurse helping a guest gets in free, and adults with intellectual disabilities pay $8. Ask at the front desk when you arrive.
  • The museum's own social story (mostly pictures) is linked from the Sensory Friendly Afternoon pages. Look through it together the night before.
  • Water's Edge is open, but its animals are not in yet.
Email
VisitorServices@butterflies.org Visitor services

Source: butterflies.org