by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
Looking for the perfect way to kick off spring? Tree Hill Nature Center, located in the heart of Arlington, is hosting their annual butterfly festival next Saturday, April 28, an event that perfectly ushers in the warm weather and helps a good cause.
Tree Hill was established 35 years ago when a group of citizens saved the property from development. Today, the 53-acre site boasts a natural history museum, nature trails, a 250 seat amphitheater and gardens filled with plant and wildlife. Tree Hill is committed to education, conservation and awareness, goals they strive to meet by partnering with the local schools and offering guided tours, animal encounters and scout programs to the public. The facility also provides service training for teachers and retreats for companies who want to get out of the office. Their major yearly fundraiser, held next weekend, is Northeast Florida’s premiere butterfly festival, an event that draws thousands of butterfly enthusiasts to Tree Hill to delight in nature’s wonders and to raise money for this terrific organization.
This year’s Butterfly Festival will be filled with fun for the whole family. The event features an enclosed butterfly exhibit where guests can interact one-on-one with the winged beauties. Beyond this fascinating exhibit, there’s something at the festival for the entire family. Kids will enjoy games, activities and storytelling from local author John Oberheu, Times-Union Children’s Book Editor Brandy Allport and Tree Hill’s own Bella Butterfly. Meanwhile, mom and dad can learn how to attract butterflies to their gardens and much more from local experts. Musical guests Celinda Pink and the Blues Band, Front Porch Music and SABA will be providing the event’s soundtrack and lectures. Dave McClintock, executive director of Energy Explorers, will be on hand to educate visitors on important environmental issues. Many vendors will be selling their wares at the Monarch Mall. Expect to find handmade jewelry, yard art, native plants and much more. And of course, what festival would be complete without food? Snow cones, hot dogs and French fries were just some of the event’s favorites in previous years. Of course, families are also invited to walk the trails and experience all that Tree Hill has to offer. The festival ends at 5:00 with the main event: the massive release of live native butterflies.
The Tree Hill Butterfly Festival will be held on Saturday, April 28 from noon to 5 pm. Admission is just $5.00 per family (free for Tree Hill members) and all proceeds go to the center, which has been supporting environmental education programs in Jacksonville for over 35 years. Tree Hill is located at 7152 Lone Star Road in Arlington. For directions, more information or to find out how you can become a sponsor, please visit their website at www.treehill.org or call (904) 724-4646.
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