1. When is SOAR open? SOAR is open daily from May 1 through August 31. SOAR’s hours are Monday -Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (last ticket time at 4 p.m.), Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (last ticket time at 4:30 p.m.). On weekday holidays and Free Tuesdays, SOAR will be open from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (last ticket time at 4:30 p.m.). Lastly, there will be a SOAR Photo Pass ticket available for most Wednesdays from 10 a.m. -11 a.m.
  2. Do I need to arrive early? Yes. We ask that you arrive at the SOAR exhibit up to 15 minutes prior to the time on your ticket as this is your time to ENTER the pavilion. Prior to entering the pavilion, you’ll need time to walk through our Host and Nectar Garden, see our Emergence Chamber and meet with one of our knowledgeable SOAR Guides. Once inside, you’ll have 30 minutes to visit with the butterflies.
  3. What happens if I arrive late? If you arrive past your scheduled time, you can still enter the pavilion, but you’ll have less time to visit with the butterflies. Each ticket holder is allotted 30 minutes inside the Pavilion starting at the time on their ticket. For example, if you have a ticket for 11 a.m. but arrive at 11:10 a.m., you will only have 20 minutes inside the Pavilion.
  4. I have a ticket to SOAR, do I also need a General Admission ticket? Nope! All SOAR tickets are also General Admission tickets. You can enter the Garden up to 30 minutes prior to the time on your SOAR ticket (not any earlier) to ensure you are in line at the pavilion on time (see above).
  5. I want to feed the butterflies, do I need a separate ticket? To feed the butterflies, you’ll need a SOAR + Butterfly Feeding Experience ticket. That ticket allots the ticket holder 1 vial that will be filled with nectar to help attract hungry butterflies.
  6. If I buy a Butterfly Feeding Experience ticket, does everyone in my party need one as well? No, your whole party does not need the same type of ticket. However, you will only receive 1 vial per Butterfly Feeding Experience ticket.
  7. Do I have to purchase a Butterfly Feeding Experience to enjoy SOAR? Absolutely not! SOAR has and will remain an up-close-and-personal experience with the butterflies. The Butterfly Feeding Experience will increase your chances of a hungry butterfly coming to hang out with you for a while.
  8. Are service dogs allowed? Service dogs are allowed in the Garden and Pavilion, however, butterflies are poisonous so it’s best that the animal is well-trained and will not eat the butterflies.
  9. It’s raining, is the pavilion still open? The pavilion is open rain or shine, unless the weather is very inclement and/or if the Garden and pavilion paths are unsafe. In those cases, we will close the pavilion and contact ticket buyers to reschedule. The pavilion mesh netting diffuses the rain and although the butterflies will be less active, it provides a unique opportunity to view the butterflies closer.
  10. Is the Pavilion wheelchair accessible? Yes, the Pavilion is ADA-compatible and wheelchair and walker accessible.
  11. My child is a toddler, do they need a ticket? Tickets are needed for children 2 years old and older. If your child is younger than 2 years old, they do not need a ticket.
  12. Are strollers allowed in the pavilion? In order to keep our butterflies safe, strollers are not allowed in the pavilion. All infants without a ticket need to be held while in the pavilion.
  13. Do you allow groups inside the pavilion? Yes, if you have a large group that would like to visit SOAR, including school field trips, please contact our Guest Services team at 424-452-0920 or email them at guestservices@scbgf.org.
  14. Are photos allowed in the pavilion? Yes! We encourage you to take photos of this experience, however, we do not allow tripods or any equipment that would impede another guest’s experience inside the pavilion. If you wish to bring in additional equipment and have a longer time in the pavilion, you may purchase a SOAR Photo Pass ticket, available most Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m.

For more Garden rules and procedures, please visit our Plan Your Visit page.