Summer Fun: Butterfly Experience

Delight in Nature in Dunwoody

Words by Sarah Deloach

Picture this: You are walking around outside in the summer time with your friends and family. There is music all around you, kids are playing and laughing, and you are surrounded by some of the most beautiful creatures on earth—butterflies. 

This graceful and delicate species is so special, and Dunwoody Nature Center wants everyone to understand why they should be celebrated. Did you know that every year 100 million Monarch butterflies make an extraordinary journey across North America laying eggs and pollinating plants along the way? The Butterfly Experience celebrates this extraordinary migration by educating all ages about the wonders and fragility of our natural environment through butterfly encounters.

Historically, the event has had several tents, filled with beautiful, free roaming butterflies for you to meet. The festival also includes a Birds of Prey show, a showcase of reptiles, and many other live animal encounters. Although the festival is a fun, late summer event, it also is highly educational. There are many booths set up that offer information and activities about the butterflies being showcased, along with fun facts about the other creatures at the festival. This is a perfect opportunity for kids to learn about the fragile ecosystem these insects inhabit while getting to see them first hand. 

From August 19 through 22 at the Dunwoody Nature Center, this year’s festivities will include several days of family-friendly fun, with a new adult component coming this year. “Butterflies and Brews” allows guests to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying food, brews, and live music. The adults-only event will take place from 5-8 p.m. on August 20 and feature BBQ and brews from Porter Brew and Que.

For families, the traditional Butterfly Experience is the perfect place to get up close and personal with butterflies at the Dunwoody Nature Center while learning about this delicate species from educators. The newly added Pollinator Pathway will lead guests station-to-station throughout the park and to many activities. Some fun tents being featured this year will offer arts and crafts, face paint, all the food and drink you could think of, and incredible local musicians. This year, they are also offering a nature scavenger hunt for the kiddos—sign up to participate and hunt to find hidden treasures hidden all around the Dunwoody Park.

This event is such a great way to close out the summer, as the butterflies are almost ready to start a new part of their journey. Tickets to this event are available here, and include two drink vouchers, dinner, and entry into the butterfly tents.