Imagination And Curiosity Take Flight Later This Month At The Fields Pond Butterfly Festival

To many, butterflies are beautiful and fascinating creatures worthy of awe and admiration; one of those "bugs" that seem to not really bug people at all. And Maine is home to a good number of butterflies.

In fact, butterflies will be what folks gather to celebrate at a festival in Holden next weekend.

According to the Fields Pond Butterfly Festival Event Page on Facebook, this free family event will take place from 10 AM to 2 PM Saturday, August 20th.

"With more than 20 species of butterflies recorded, the Fields Pond Audubon Center is the perfect setting to celebrate the beauty and diversity of butterflies."

Some of the activities that are planned for that day include a monarch butterfly release and some butterfly-themed crafts. They also have a Butterfly Parade scheduled for noon, so make sure you come dressed as your favorite! And to really get into the science and nature behind these bugs, there's also an Insect BioBlitz scheduled to take place. 

They also have a Monarch Butterfly Storywalk set at the Center, which lets readers get an up-close-and-personal look at these beautiful bugs.

"This storybook is appropriate for young readers and all of those who appreciate nature! When you're done, stop in the Nature Center and say "hello" to our resident Monarch caterpillars, see their chrysalis up close, and perhaps get a chance to see an adult butterfly being released."

The Maine Audubon Society website says not only are butterflies cool to look at with their delicate, colorful wings, but they are important to Maine's ecosystem.

"Butterflies play a vital role in the ecosystem as pollinators and are an important source of food for our native bird species. "

So bring your sense of wonder, your butterfly costume and/or wings and your peepers (eyes) to the Fields Pond Audubon Center, which is located at 216 Fields Pond Rd. Holden, ME 04429.