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Merlin Tuttle Day

It’s Merlin Tuttle Day – we’re so excited to celebrate Merlin’s legacy with you!

Click here for tickets to this year’s event.

Thanks to Merlin’s life-long and continued dedication, Austin has become a world leader in demonstrating that bats make invaluable and safe neighbors and the bats have become a staple of Austin’s culture. Austin Mayor Steve Adler officially proclaimed August 26th as Merlin Tuttle Day in honor of Merlin’s success in saving the city’s now world-famous bats. Let’s celebrate!

There is limited capacity to join Merlin aboard the Capital Cruises Pride & Joy II double-decker boat for food, drinks, story-telling and bat-watching. Merlin will tell stories and personally answer your bat questions.

Each in-person ticket grants:

  • Admission to the private cruise
  • Food and drinks (Beer, wine, and non-alcoholic provided. Vegan, Veg, GF available. BYO is also welcome.)
  • One entry into raffle prize pool. The grand prize is a Merlin Tuttle 16×20 SIGNED AND MATTED PRINT of a spectacular bat emergence over Austin’s skyline. We will announce additional prizes as the event approaches. **Additional raffle entries may be purchased in person.

Whether you’ve seen them a hundred times or never before, these bats are spectacular! However, they are wild animals and their behavior is weather-dependent. There’s always a chance for a less-than-perfect viewing experience, but we will have enjoy spending time together no matter what!

Not free that day? 

If you can’t join us in-person or virtually but still want to celebrate Merlin and Austin’s bats, check out our Merlin Tuttle Day merch here!

Send Merlin a message!

Whether you can attend in person or not, we invite you to submit a personalized video message and join in on the fun for Merlin’s 82nd. Please share this link with anyone that might like to wish Merlin well. 

It’s quick and easy. You can share a short story, what Merlin means to you, and/or how he has impacted your life – your contribution will make this unforgettable for him. Thank you!

Submit your video message before Thursday, Aug 24, 2023 12:00 AM CDT.

Thank you for being a friend of bats - let's celebrate!

Want to know the story of how Merlin saved Austin’s bats?
Read all about it, and find tips for bat watching, info about the bats, and more at Austinbats.org!

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors!

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Michael Lazari Karapetian

Michael Lazari Karapetian has over twenty years of investment management experience. He has a degree in business management, is a certified NBA agent, and gained early experience as a money manager for the Bank of America where he established model portfolios for high-net-worth clients. In 2003 he founded Lazari Capital Management, Inc. and Lazari Asset Management, Inc.  He is President and CIO of both and manages over a half a billion in assets. In his personal time he champions philanthropic causes. He serves on the board of Moravian College and has a strong affinity for wildlife, both funding and volunteering on behalf of endangered species.