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Butterfly Festival: Celebrate, mourn, whichever, the flight of the Monarchs

Chris Graham
Photo by
Crystal Graham, AFP editor
monarch butterfly on purple butterfly bush summer
Photo: Crystal Abbe Graham/AFP

The parks and rec departments in Charlottesville and Albemarle County are teaming up to help us cope with the pending end of Monarch butterfly season here locally.

Yep, it’s time – fall is when the Monarchs pass through the area on their journey to the warmth of Mexico.

I know, life is unfair.

But we at least have the annual Butterfly Festival, which will be held on Sunday from 3-7 p.m. at Darden Towe Park.

The free community event blends Mexican cultural heritage, environmental education, and family-friendly fun.

Highlights include:

  • Live music: featuring local bands Brookhouse and The Lua Project
  • Celebrate the life cycle of the Butterfly with Metamorphosis, an aerialist performance by Host of Sparrows Aerial Circus
  • Hands-On Crafts: Make cempasuchil, or marigolds out of paper, decorate an upcycled butterfly feeder. Squish together a milkweed seed bomb, and learn how to make art with the sun using cyanotype paper.
  • Puppet Show and Workshop: Watch Barefoot Puppet Theatre’s adorable Wriggling Brother’s Circus and make a puppet of your own in their Puppet Making Workshop.
  • Learn about native species with presenting partners and participate in a BioBlitz with the Piedmont Discovery Center.

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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected]. Support AFP by signing up for our newsletter and/or powering our work with a one-time or monthly contribution.