Butterflies Return to Flutter for Public's Enjoyment at Lake Katherine Monarch Festival

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — Four hundred butterflies will be released into two tents for the public to enjoy at this year’s Monarch Butterfly Festival in Palos Heights.

The much-loved festival, now in its 23rd year, will take place on Sunday, Sept. 18 between 11 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. at Lake Katherine Nature Center.Other attractions at the festival include face-painting, live animals, a children’s farm, an arts & crafts fair, children's crafts, storytime, scarecrow making, food & drink vendors, an education tent and a ‘migration maze’ through the prairie to bring the monarch migration to life for both children and adults.

After the festival the butterflies will be released into the wild. In the past 20 years the monarch population has dropped from a billion to 30 million largely because of habitat destruction. Monarch caterpillars feed and lay their eggs exclusively on milkweed, but the colorful flower is rapidly disappearing from the countryside due to the overuse of herbicides and decline of the native prairie.

"Not only is our festival is fun it is also educational and sheds a very important light on the monarch migration,” says Lake Katherine’s Operations Manager Gareth Blakesley. “As many people are aware they haven't been as many monarchs around this year. Adverse weather in Mexico, and cooler weather in the early parts of the migration in Texas, has probably played a part in reducing those numbers. We also know lack of milkweed plays a part. We think it's important that the public at large know that planting milkweed is at least something they can do, and if they stop by our education tent at the festival they may learn some more information that might help."

Tickets are $6 per person and free entry for children two and under. There are also early ticket deals featured on Groupon.com. A free gift bag will be given out to children wearing butterfly or insect costumes, while supplies last.

On the day festivalgoers will be able to park at Palos Heights City Hall and take a free shuttle to Lake Katherine or use additional parking facilities at 7350 West College Drive.

Prior to the event Lake Katherine is offering local businesses the opportunity to promote their trade and support the Monarch butterfly by becoming official sponsors of the Monarch Festival. For more information about sponsorship opportunities please contact Bridget Provost at bridget.provost@lakekatherine.org.

photo provided by Lake Katherine: Families enjoy the butterfly tent at last year’s festival.