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Blue-eyed Sailor Photo By: Michael Klein
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Remember the times as a child when you would chase butterflies across the yard or the open field mesmerized by their delicate flight and amazing colors, some so vibrantly painted that they appeared to be on a canvass created by the hand of an art master?
Rarely is there an image of nature so brightly illustrated than a field full of these colorful creatures flitting from flower to flower or congregating near rivers banks or streams.
October is the perfect month to recapture those childhood memories when the Texas Butterfly Festival kicks off in Mission beginning Oct. 19th with seminars, field trips, a children's parade and other children's events, and a nature expo to headline the festival.
Located in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, the most biologically diverse region in the United States, the Texas Butterfly Festival celebrates the wonder that is nature. Four ecosystems converge in this four county area; with its subtropical climate the area boasts over 290 species of butterflies, some 400 species of birds and approximately 78 species of odonates.
Here's your chance to learn about butterflies from internationally-renowned speakers; have a chance to stock up on field guides, optics and other butterfly/nature related merchandise at the EXPO.
Topic speakers include:
Mike Overton
The Resident Naturalist at Frio Country Resort near Concan Texas, and Director of the Frio Country Nature Center. In addition to promoting eco tourism in Uvalde County, he presents seminars and leads field trips at a variety of nature festivals, plans and guides tours for several organizations and serves as the Field Trip Coordinator for the Texas Ornithological Society.
John & Gloria Tveten
The Tveter's are full-time freelance naturalists, writers, and photographers. They are the authors of several books including Butterflies of Houston and Southeast Texas, Wildflowers of Houston and Southeast Texas, The Birds of Texas, Vanishing Wildlife of Texas, Coastal Texas, Our Life with Birds, and their recently published Adventures Afar.
Also on the seminar agenda are Richard Lehman, Kim Garwood, Ezequiel Nuñez- Ezequiel, Robert Behrstock, Ro Wauer, Phil Schappert, Paul Opler, Charles Bordelon, Dr. Ed Knudson, David L. Wagner, and Rick Cech.
Children's events include:
Butterfly Bonanza—Full of fun and games for kids of all ages. With the educational expertise of South Texas College’s Biology Department, the Children’s Activities will be sure to educate and entertain! Enjoy the wide variety of informative talks, develop future butterfly watchers in the Kids Learning Activity stations or venture into the Butterfly Conservatory and feed the butterflies by hand. Lots of games, arts and crafts, rides and prizes too!
Butterfly Conservatory—An enclosed “habitat” filled with butterflies that can be hand fed and examined up close and personal. A great photo op! (Purchase tickets on site)
Children's Costume Parade - Grand Marshaled by Mother Nature, this “manpowered” parade offers children the opportunity to express their creativity through nature-themed costumes. Watch as a Great for kids of all ages: 1 to 101.
Getting here by Car
 Via San Antonio: I-37/281 south, take exit 72 about 75 miles outside of San Antonio to Three Rivers and continue south all the way into Edinburg, take 83 West to Mission. Via Houston/Corpus Christi: Take 59 South through Victoria & Kingsville to Rivera then turn west (right) on 285 to Falfurrias then go south on 281 to Edinburg, take 83 West to Mission.
To the Festival HQ: From the east take the Bryan Road Exit off EXP 83 and turn north (right) onto Bryan Road(K-mart/Jack in the Box). Proceed to 8th Street(if you cross the railroad tracks you have gone too far). From the west take the Bryan Road Exit off EXP 83 and go north (up and over the overpass) to 8th Street. The Parks and Recreation Building is on the west side of the street. REGISTRATION is in the Gymnasium behind the P&R offices. All seminars will be held in the City Council Chambers at City Hall about a block west on 8th Street. Watch for signs to help direct you to the festival site.
For more information and to register for the festival, visit the official site
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Rio Grande Valley