Watch Beautiful Monarch Butterflies Spread Their Wings and Fly Away at This Year's Virtual Monarch Butterfly Releases

    GRAPEVINE, TX, September 29, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Celebrate the 23rd Annual Butterfly Flutterby with the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau online and in person from October 1 - 17 through live streamed butterfly releases, educational exhibits and more. Due to COVID-19, this year's signature event will be held virtually with three different live streams releasing 600 tagged butterflies. With more than 29,000 monarch waystations in the country and 2,400 in Texas alone, Grapevine is home to several waystations throughout the community for the annual monarch migration.

This unique event educates and celebrates the migration of the monarch butterfly from Canada to Mexico by way of Grapevine. Marked with an educational exhibit, online art and costume contests and activities for families to enjoy at home, including live streamed butterfly releases. The release coincides with the annual 1,600-mile annual monarch butterfly migration.

This year, the celebration theme is around the "Spirit of the Monarch" as a messenger of inspiration, beauty and the power of transformation. Everyone can join in the butterfly fun by engaging in live and virtual programming experiences through the following events:

"Spirit of the Monarch" Exhibit | October 1 - 17 | Tower Gallery, 636 S. Main St.

This year's Butterfly Flutterby celebration will include a complimentary exhibit in the Tower Gallery inside the Grapevine Visitors and Information Center from October 1 - 17. The exhibit will include monarch butterfly facts, live butterfly display (October 2-4, 9-11 and 14-16), educational science activities, interactive butterfly activities, photo opportunities and the chance to learn more about Monarch butterflies with the Grapevine Garden Club. The exhibit will be open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sundays from Noon - 5 p.m. There is a max occupancy and sanitization protocols following CDC guidelines will take place every 60 minutes.

Online Art Contest| Deadline to Enter is Monday, October 5

Children are encouraged to break out the crayons, markers and whatever else their hearts desire to draw and create their own butterfly themed work of art. Winners will be notified by Thursday, October 15 and will be awarded the opportunity to attend and participate in the Butterfly Flutterby live stream event on Saturday, October 17 where their winning piece of art will be officially announced. First, second and third-place prizes will be awarded for the following age groups:

• Sprouting Artist: Kindergarten - First Grades
• Budding Artist: Second - Third Grades
• Blooming Artist: Fourth - Fifth Grades

Online Costume Contest| Deadline to Enter is Monday, October 5

Another way to flutter into the butterfly spirit is by dressing up! Winners will be notified by Thursday, October 15 and will be awarded the opportunity to attend the Butterfly Flutterby live stream event on Saturday, October 17. Children and pets are welcome to submit photos for the online costume contest. First, second and third-place prizes will be awarded. Categories are:

• Ages 0 - 2
• Ages 3 - 5
• Ages 6 - 12
• Pets

Virtual Education Events/Butterfly Releases | Mondays, October 5 and 12 at 11 a.m.

There will be two virtual educational events starting at 11 a.m., promoting the life cycle and conservation of the monarch butterfly. Each virtual event will include a live butterfly release and educational highlights from experts, such as butterfly wrangler Jenny Singleton, who helps tag and identifies butterflies and assists in the overall event.

Butterfly Flutterby Live Stream Event | Saturday, October 17 at 11 a.m.

Join us for a live stream event featuring the Mayor's Monarch Pledge, educational videos promoting monarch conservation, an announcement of art and costume contest winners and the final butterfly release.

The Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau has partnered with the Grapevine Garden Club, the City of Grapevine Parks & Recreation Department and the Monarch Watch for the 23rd Annual Butterfly Flutterby event. The Monarch Watch program provides stickers used to tag and track butterflies and provides lifelong education of this beautiful species. For more information on this year's programming and to submit artwork/costume photos for the online contest, visit GrapevineTexasUSA.com/Events/Butterfly-Flutterby/.

ABOUT THE GRAPEVINE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
Historic Grapevine, Texas, centrally located between Dallas and Fort Worth, is the premiere go-to destination when planning a getaway or vacation in North Texas! Step back in time on Historic Main Street with a collection of charming boutiques, art galleries and bistros and cafes. Enjoy fantastic hotels and resorts, great attractions for the entire family, a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities, exquisite winery tasting rooms, world-class shopping and much more. For more information, visit GrapevineTexasUSA.com.

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