OAK GROVE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – The 17th Annual Butterfly Festival is on the way, with Oak Grove setting the date for Saturday, Sept. 6 at the War Memorial Walking Trail. Each year during the festival, hundreds of people gather to watch the release of over 2,000 butterflies, while also having the opportunity to step inside a butterfly house and garden.

For the first time, Oak Grove Tourism will be partnering with the Directorate of Public Works at Fort Campbell, melding together their Public Lands Day event with the festival. Due to this collaboration, this year’s event will have nearly a dozen interactive booths focused on environment education and hands on fun for all ages, according to a news release. This includes the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s seed game, Quail Forever demos, Fort Campbell’s Bird Beak Buffet, and more.

“We are excited to celebrate the 17th Annual Butterfly Festival,” said Traci Cunningham, Executive Director of Oak Grove Tourism. “This one-of-a-kind festival continues to grow each year, and we’re always looking for ways to make it even more magical. From our always-anticipated live butterfly release to this year’s exciting new additions like the Agri-Puppet Show, and our partnership with the Directorate of Public Works at Fort Campbell, this will be our most interactive and unforgettable experience yet!”

Things to do at the 17th Annual Butterfly

The festival will kick off at 11 a.m., ending after the butterfly release in the afternoon. Here are a few things visitors can enjoy during the event.

  • Butterfly Release: Witness the breathtaking sight of 2,600 butterflies taking flight in a mass release at 4 p.m.
  • Educational: Learn from Christian County Master Gardeners about butterfly habitats, migration patterns, and conservation efforts.
  • Butterfly Garden: Explore the butterfly garden, designed to attract and support various butterfly species.
  • Butterfly House: Step inside the Butterfly House and be surrounded by hundreds of live butterflies.
  • Kids’ Corner: Fun and educational activities for children, including face painting, arts and crafts tents, petting zoo, train ride, balloon artist, bubble zone, and zipline.
  • Entertainment: Agri-puppets will put on an education show, and families can meet Oscar the Robot and Pearl the Squirrel
  • Choose Your Dream Background: Step in front of the green screen and choose from a variety of stunning butterfly-themed backgrounds.

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