Wings flutter at Texas Butterfly Festival this weekend
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- Published: Thursday, 24 October 2024 23:33
Renowned for a volume and variety of wild, free-flying butterflies that cannot be found anywhere else in the country, deep south Texas is home of the country’s premier butterfly event. The National Butterfly Center is hosting the 28th Annual Texas Butterfly Festival this weekend. For those that registered early, there will be several days of exploring renowned public lands and private properties with world-class leaders. For those that were not able to register, there is a free community day for visitors on Saturday, October 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The day will feature a native plant sale where if you buy three, you get one free. There will be arts and crafts, you can meet their resident reptiles, make seed bombs, participate in a Monarch migration game, explore the hackberry trail, and there will be plenty of birds and butterflies to be found. The event is held at this time each year because it is peak butterfly season. You can see as many as 60 species in one day during migration – and sometimes catch some rarities.
Attendees to this event typically hail from at least half of the 50 states and multiple countries. They converge at the National Butterfly Center in the Rio Grande Valley to experience one of the most biologically diverse areas in North America. Go see for yourself why this region has earned worldwide recognition for its outstanding butterfly and birding spots, inviting thousands of visitors each year to discover its remarkable assortment of preserves, refuges, nature parks, trails, and more.
Whether you are an accomplished naturalist or an enthusiastic beginner, the Texas Butterfly Festival is the place to be. Here, many eyes make for exciting discoveries, including US records, super rarities, subtropical strays, seldom-seen species, ‘life’ and chase butterfliers that may only be found in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, where the river winds its way toward the Laguna Madre at the Gulf of Mexico.
This unique region encompasses no fewer than 11 different types of habitats, from tidal wetlands to riparian forest, brushland scrub to prairie savanna, and is home to more than 1,200 different species of plants, 500 species of birds, 200 vertebrate species, roughly 300 species of butterflies, and over 90 species of dragonflies.
Nearly 150 species of North American butterflies can be seen only in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV), or by traveling to Mexico. More than 300 species of butterflies may be found in the LRGV, and more than 240 species have been seen at the National Butterfly Center, including rarities and US records.
More information can be found at the website www.texasbutterflyfestival.com. The National Butterfly Cetner is located at 3333 Butterfly Park Dr. Or you can call (956) 583-5400. The National Butterfly Center is part of the National American Butterfly Association. You can find out more at naba.org.
If you can’t make it to community day, the center has plenty of opportunities for volunteering throughout the year, trails, classes, and a gift shop.
The Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas invites you to their 54th Annual Dakee Si (Fall Gathering) Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas Powwow on Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Alton Recreation Center, 349 Dawes Ave. in Alton. Dancing and presentations will be held throughout the day. The event is free.
To volunteer or for more information, contact Robert Soto at (956) 648-8129, 
The wait is over! New season tickets for the upcoming Valley Symphony Orchestra 2024-25 Masterworks Concerts are now available. As a new season ticket holder, you’ll enjoy exclusive benefits such as 15% savings on each ticket, no processing fees (up to $20 of additional savings per ticket), priority seating, and early access to events. And if you’re renewing your season tickets, we’re holding on to your seats, but don’t wait too long!
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