The City of Arlington’s Stormwater Education Program invites everyone to Molly Hollar Wildscape this Wednesday, July 22, for a free evening of nocturnal insect watching, expert-led moth talks, and a chance to help document Texas’s overlooked pollinators as part of National Moth Week
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 8:30 p.m. at Molly Hollar Wildscape, 2866 Spanish Trail, Arlington, TX 76016. Free and open to all ages. Bring a flashlight, sturdy shoes, water, and a smartphone. More info at arlingtontx.gov/mothnight.
Well neighbor, let’s talk about one of the coolest — and quietest — family outings you can plan in Texas this summer. This Wednesday night, the City of Arlington is hosting its annual Moth Night at the Molly Hollar Wildscape, and if you’ve never spent a summer evening watching moths swirl around a light in a Texas nature preserve, you are missing one of nature’s genuinely magical little shows. It’s free. It’s family-friendly. It kicks off around sunset. And the whole thing is timed to launch National Moth Week, which runs July 18 through 26.
Bring the kids, the grandkids, the curious friend, or just yourself. Arlington puts these events on well, and this one is the sweet kind of low-key community magic that reminds you why living in North Texas is worth it.
What’s actually happening
Here’s how the evening works. The City of Arlington’s Stormwater Education Program sets up multiple viewing stations along the trails of the Molly Hollar Wildscape, each with special ultraviolet-tinted lighting designed to attract moths and other nocturnal insects. You stroll from station to station, watching moths of every size and color come in to investigate the light. It’s part outdoor classroom, part free nature show, and part community photography project all rolled into one.
Guiding the whole thing is Sam Kieschnick, an urban biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, who’ll be on hand to share what these creatures are, what they do, and why they matter. Sam is one of the most beloved urban biologists working in North Texas — he’s the guy who’s often on iNaturalist, TV, and social media helping regular Texans identify the wildlife in their own backyards. If you’ve ever wanted to ask an expert what that big brown moth on your porch actually is, this is your chance.
Moths are a bigger deal than most people realize
Here’s the part that’ll surprise you. According to the City of Arlington, there are more than 160,000 described moth species around the world, with thousands more still unidentified — some estimates put the true total at closer to 500,000 species. They range in size from a pinhead to larger than a person’s open hand. Their colors run from brilliant vibrant hues to subtle camouflage. And they’re absolutely vital to the North Central Texas ecosystem.
Moths pollinate plants — just like butterflies and bees — but they do most of their work at night, so most Texans never see them at it. They also serve as essential food for birds, bats, and just about every other kind of nocturnal wildlife. Without moths, huge parts of the Texas food web collapse. Yet most folks give them zero thought except when one flies into the house and they swat at it.
Moth Night flips that. It gives you a chance to look at them, learn about them, and appreciate them for what they actually are: some of the most beautiful and important creatures in Texas.
Help document Texas’s nighttime wildlife
Bring your smartphone or a camera. The city is encouraging attendees to take pictures of the species they see and upload them to iNaturalist, the citizen science platform that scientists around the world actually use to track species distributions. Every photo you upload becomes part of a real scientific dataset that helps researchers understand what’s living in Arlington, what’s changing over time, and which species may need protection.
It’s a small thing to do on a summer night. But it matters. Your kid’s photograph of a big Texas silk moth uploaded on July 22 could end up in a research paper about moth populations in the DFW area years from now. That’s a genuine “hey, my family contributed to real science this summer” moment worth showing up for.
What to bring
Wear sturdy shoes — you’ll be walking on nature preserve trails, and terrain can be uneven. Bring a flashlight to help you navigate between viewing stations. Pack a water bottle — Texas in late July at 8:30 p.m. is still warm. And bring your smartphone or camera to capture and upload what you see.
A few extras that will make the evening better: bug spray (mosquitoes love the same nights moths do), a light jacket if you get cool easily, and maybe a folding camping chair if you’d rather sit at a station and watch the show than walk around the whole time. And of course, bring your curiosity. Kids especially do great with this event.
About the Molly Hollar Wildscape
If you haven’t been to the Molly Hollar Wildscape, you’re in for a treat. It’s a native plant demonstration garden run by a nonprofit partnership with the City of Arlington, tucked inside Veterans Park. The gardens are filled with Texas-native flowers, grasses, and shrubs designed to showcase the plants that support local pollinators — bees, butterflies, and yes, moths. It’s a lovely, quiet place, and the fact that Arlington puts on Moth Night here is a perfect match. Learn more about the wildscape at thewildscape.org.
About the Stormwater Education Program
Arlington’s Stormwater Education Program hosts events throughout the year focused on protecting local water quality and the ecosystems it supports. Moth Night is one of their signature programs. If you want to stay looped in on future events, contact Melissa Walker, Stormwater Education Specialist, at 817-459-6572 or [email protected].
Why this belongs on your calendar
Here’s the honest read, neighbor. In a summer packed with baseball games, concerts, food festivals, and all the loud, big Texas events — Moth Night is the opposite of all that. It’s quiet. It’s small. It costs nothing. It happens after dark under the trees in a native plant garden. And it gives you and your kids a chance to slow down for a few hours, look at the actual living world around you, and be reminded that Texas is full of small wonders you rarely notice.
Bring the family. Take some pictures. Learn something. Meet an urban biologist. Contribute to real science. And be home in time for a late summer dessert. That’s a Wednesday night well spent.
For more information, visit arlingtontx.gov/mothnight or call the Stormwater Education Program at 817-459-6572.
See you at the wildscape, neighbor. Bring your flashlight.
