KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR INFORMATION ON THE 2012 BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL EVENTS.  BELOW ARE A LIST OF THE PREVIOUS YEARS EVENTS, TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TOO!

April 6-June 3, Children's Coloring Contest

Enter this coloring contest to celebrate the festival's 15th anniversary. Have you seen the butterflies this spring? Create and color a butterfly scene in their natural habitat on a letter-size piece of paper; up to three entries are allowed. Each child must create their own entry, pages from a coloring book are not allowed. The contest will be judged in three categories: preschool, K-Grade 4, and Grades 5-7. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place in each category. Members of the Mount Magazine Action Group will judge the contest and provide awards. Winners will be notified the week before the Butterfly Festival, and winning entries will be featured at the Visitor center. The rest will be displayed in the lodge tower room. There is no fee to enter the contest. Send entries (may be folded for mailing) to Mt. Magazine State Park Coloring Contest, Visitor Center, 16878 Highway 309 South, Paris, AR 72855.

"Giving Gives You Wings" Campaign

As we give to butterflies, let's also give back to our community during this year's Butterfly Festival. Participate in the "Giving Gives You Wings" campaign by donating a non-perishable food item at the Mount Magazine Action Group information table when you arrive. Your donation will be delivered to Community Outreach Services, which helps thousands of people. When you drop off a non-perishable food item or financial contribution, you receive a badge stating "I earned my wings today!" because giving gives you a great feeling, similar to seeing your favorite butterfly!

Butterfly Explorer "Metamorphosis" Program

Friday & Saturday 9am-3pm in the pavilion. This self-directed program is divided into 3 parts for explorers of all ages:

Larva Explorer: Available for children ages 4-6

This booklet has coloring pages and games about butterflies, moths, and other insects. A limited number of booklets and crayons are available, so please consider bringing your own crayons. Children who complete the booklet receive a special prize.

Butterfly Explorer: Suitable for children ages 7-14

This self-directed booklet is for children who are curious about the natural world and like a challenge. This booklet is full of puzzles, word searches, and questions about the programs available during the butterfly festival. You must complete 5 of the 7 activities; it will take a few hours. When you are finished, have the designated park interpreter check it. When everything is correct and you take the "pollinator pledge," you receive a special Butterfly Explorer Badge and certificate make especially for this event. A limited number of pencils are available so please consider bringing your own. You only have until 3p.m. Saturday to complete your booklet!

Metamorphosis Explorer: Only available for children and adults who have received their Butterfly Explorer badge and certificate either this year or during past festivals.

This booklet contains more challenging self-directed activities. Complete your "metamorphosis" of discovery during this year’s festival and receive a certificate of achievement. A limited number of pencils are available, so please consider bringing your own.

Exotic Butterfly Display
Visitor Center Exhibit Gallery; Friday & Saturday 9am-4pm

View the contrasting colors and sizes of butterflies and moths from around the world in this display. Compare them to butterflies and moths of the same families in Arkansas.

Bug Bonanza in the Pavilion
Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Mount Magazine State Park Pavilion

Courtesy of Mt. Magazine Action Group and operated by professional park interpreters and entomologists Families may enjoy a variety of make-and-take crafts, including a special stencil station to create a backdrop for Saturday's concerts. This backdrop will be raffled off at the beginning of the "Still on the Hill" concert at 7 p.m. Saturday evening. Purchase raffle tickets at the stencil station for 50 cents each (3 for $1) Proceeds go the Mount Magazine Action Group to help fund educational programs.

High Tech Pollination Hunt
Visitor Center Exhibit Gallery; Friday & Saturday 9am-4pm

Grab your GPS unit and join the hunt for plants butterflies need for their life cycle including some host plants, nectar plants, and habitat in general. Coordinates are listed on a special form at the Mount Magazine Action Group Welcome table on Friday & Saturday. Each coordinate has a corresponding station, and fill in the blanks on the form. Return completed form to the welcome station to be entered into a drawing for a prize, which will be announced right before the concert on Saturday evening at the lodge.

Logan County Master Gardeners Plant Sale
Near the pavilion, open 8 am - 4 pm

The Logan County Master Gardeners are good friends of Mount Magazine State Park, and include a few of the members of the Mount Magazine Action Group. Join them for the "power of flowers" garden tours. Get nectar plants, host plants, vegetables, herbs, and your questions answered. All proceeds are used for projects in Logan County.

FREE ADMISSION

Bug Jar Raffle

Located at the Mount Magazine Action Group Information table at Visitor Center from 9 am-4 pm Saturday. Guess how many bugs are in the jar to win a "Butterfly Garden" gift basket! The winner announced at the concert Saturday night.

Food Vendors are located near the Greenfield Restrooms or visit the Sky Crest Restaurant in the Lodge

"Net-Free Zone" Collecting butterflies is illegal in the park due to the park's ecological mission.