CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW)- Over 1,400 butterflies will take flight and embark on their migration to the mountains of Mexico when they are released on Saturday, September 28 as part of Oak Grove’s annual Butterfly Festival.
The 11th Annual Oak Grove Tourism Butterfly Festival will be held on the grounds of Valor Hall Conference Center at the War Memorial Walking Trail Park, at 101 Walter Garrett Lane.
The free, family event will take place 11 a.m-4 p.m. and includes something for everyone to see, do and learn.
The Festival was first established in 2008 and has continued to draw a larger crowd each year, releasing more butterflies and bringing tourism to the city while providing an educational experience to families.
“The Butterfly Festival is a way to provide children with fun and educational activities at no cost,” said Britnee Ohmans, executive administrator for Oak Grove Tourism. “We do a live release of the butterflies to celebrate the monarch’s migration to Mexico.”
Those who attend will be able to interact with live butterflies in their habitat in the Butterfly House. Master Gardeners will give tours of the butterfly garden and children will have the opportunity to create environmental arts and craft projects.
A stage show will occur three times during the day featuring comic ventriloquist Steve Brogan, who has been featured on multiple national shows. The event will also include a Canine Star Stunt Show featuring Sara and Hero, finalists from the 2017 America’s Got Talent competition.
Max’s Hope Rescue will also be there with cats and dogs to adopt for a fee.
“We wanted the rescue here in honor of our show,” Ohmans said. “Many of the dogs in the show are rescue dogs. This is a way to support our local rescues.”
Train rides, face-painting, caricature artistry, a human gyroscope ride and fun photo ops will also be available.
Near the end of the festival, 1,400 live butterflies will be released to begin their long migration to Mexico.
The Oak Grove Tourism Butterfly Festival is the only one of its kind in the state of Kentucky and is one of the region’s most popular events.
Parking, admission and all activities are free. The only costs are food vendors and pet adoptions. Coolers and oversized bags will be checked. No alcohol is permitted. Lawn chairs are welcome, but tents and canopies are not advised.
“This is such a unique event and brings so many visitors to Oak Grove,” Ohmans said. “The tourism to our area is positive and we want people to see what Oak Grove has to offer.”
For more information on this, and many other events, Visit Oak Grove Tourism online.