OAK GROVE, KY (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The 12th annual Oak Grove Butterfly Festival, highlighted by the release of 1,600 butterflies, took place Saturday at the War Memorial Walking Trail, hosted by the Oak Grove Tourism Commission.

Executive Director of the tourism commission Traci Cunningham said close to 5,000 visitors attended the free event, which she said should have been its 13th year, but since it wasn’t held in 2020 because of the pandemic, this year it was referred to at the 12th annual “Take 2” festival. Cunningham added that the Viceroy Butterfly, which looks similar to the Monarch butterfly, is the state butterfly of Kentucky.

A Butterfly lands on a shirt at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
Children gently handle a butterfly at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival on the lawn of the Viceroy Amphitheatre on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
Traci Cunningham, Executive Director of the Oak Grove Tourism Commission talks to the crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
Oak Grove Tourism Commission, mascot Pearl the Squirrel, at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The crowd at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival watch the release of 1.600 butterflies on the lawn of the Viceroy Performing Arts Center on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
Children gently handle a butterfly at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival on the lawn of the Viceroy Amphitheatre on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival at the War Memorial Walking Trail on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).
Children gently handle a butterfly at the Oak Grove Butterfly Festival on the lawn of the Viceroy Amphitheatre on Sat September 4 2021 (Lee Erwin).

Along with the butterfly theme and the butterfly release, the festival featured a butterfly house, military static display, zipline, train rides, arts and crafts, a bubble zone, and Dominguez Attractions with a high wire act, acrobatics, dog tricks, and the motorcycle Globe of Death. The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival has been recognized with both regional and international awards.