CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Each fall, thousands of Monarch butterflies pass through Central Virginia on their remarkable journey to Mexico. In partnership with Albemarle County Parks and Recreation, the Butterfly Festival is a free community event that celebrates this natural wonder with a vibrant daytime event that blends Mexican cultural heritage, environmental education, and family-friendly fun. Set for Sunday, September 27 from 3-7 p.m. at Darden Towe Park, the festival will feature live performances, a puppet show, crafts, and interactive learning experiences that honor both the butterflies and the communities connected to their migration.
Highlights include:
Live music from local bands Brookhouse and The Lua Project.
Metamorphosis, an aerialist performance by Host of Sparrows Aerial Circus that celebrates the life cycle of the butterfly.
Hands-on crafts including paper cempasuchil (marigolds), decorating an upcycled butterfly feeder, creating a milkweed seed bomb, and learning how to make art with the sun using cyanotype paper.
Puppet show and workshop featuring Barefoot Puppet Theatre’s Wriggling Brother’s Circus and a puppet-making workshop.
Learning about native species with presenting partners and participating in a BioBlitz with the Piedmont Discovery Center.
Charlottesville Parks and Recreation, 501 East Main Street. For more information, please contact Ellen Joy at 434-970-3669.
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