FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  June 23, 2010

CONTACT:  Deb Cary, 508-753-6087, ext. 17 or dcary@massaudubon.org

Broad Meadow Brook Celebrates

3rd Annual Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival!

New This Year -- Public Butterfly Art Project – All Welcome to Participate!

Worcester, MA – Come celebrate the beauty of butterflies at the 3rd Annual Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival on Saturday, August 14, 10am-4pm at Mass Audubon Broad Meadow Brook. Rain date is Sunday, August 15, 10am-4pm.  Admission is $5 per person (ages 3 and above), with a maximum fee of $20 per family.

The Butterfly Festival will feature butterfly walks and talks led by members of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club, tours of the butterfly garden, children’s crafts and games, face painting, live butterfly and moth caterpillar displays, butterfly art, music, a butterfly plant sale, a gift shop stocked with butterfly books and related items, and butterfly-themed food.

Special events include:

• Broad Meadow Brook’s second StoryWalk™ -- Walk BMB’s all-person trail while reading the pages of everyone’s favorite storybook, Stellaluna, displayed along the trail.   Copies of this beautiful book are available in the gift shop.
• Butterfly Art including a special exhibit of “Beauty in Excess,” a public art project featuring an array of beautiful butterflies created from everyday excess materials.  Festival goers are invited to join this fun, uplifting project and create a butterfly during the festival. (More information is available at http://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Broad_Meadow/news.php?id=1448&event=no)
• Tours of the Butterfly Garden at 11:15, 1:15, and 2:15.
• Hourly Walks and Talks led by members of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club

For a complete schedule, please visit the Mass Audubon website at www.massaudubon.org or call Broad Meadow Brook at 508-753-6087.

Mass Audubon works to protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and wildlife. Together with more than 100,000 members, we care for 33,000 acres of conservation land, provide educational programs for 200,000 children and adults annually, and advocate for sound environmental policies at the local, state, and federal levels. Mass Audubon’s mission and actions have expanded since our beginning in 1896 when our founders set out to stop the slaughter of birds for use on women’s fashions. Today we are the largest conservation organization in New England. Our statewide network of 45 wildlife sanctuaries welcomes visitors of all ages and serves as the base for our conservation, education, and advocacy work. To support these important efforts, call 800-AUDUBON (283-8266) or visit www.massaudubon.org.

Photos from the 2009 Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival at Broad Meadow Brook are attached for your use.  Additional photos available upon request; please contact Kristin Steinmetz at ksteinmetz@massaudubon.org.

Photo Captions:

ButterflyFestival2009-WomanwithWings-082(small).jpg

A 2009 participant shows her spirit at the Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival.  This year’s festival takes place Saturday, August 14 from 10am-4pm at Broad Meadow Brook, 414 Massasoit Road, Worcester.  For more information, contact Broad Meadow Brook 508-753-6087 or www.massaudubon.org.

ButterflyFestival2009-Swallowtail-033(small).jpg

A swallowtail butterfly enjoys the flowers in the Broad Meadow Brook butterfly garden.  Tours of the butterfly garden will be one of the many butterfly-themed activities offered at this year’s 3rd Annual Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival, Saturday, August 14 from 10am-4pm.  For more information, please contact Broad Meadow Brook 508-753-6087 or www.massaudubon.org.