MARIPOSA BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL TAKES WING

As one of the most familyfriendly festivals in California, Mariposa spreads its wings for this signature celebration when families and friends gather for a weekend of music, art, food, education, equestrians, skydivers, and of course, butterflies! Everyone’s invited, and this year’s event takes place May 4 - 5, 2024 at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds.

The Mariposa Butterfly Festival is inspired by the 1806 Spanish expedition of Gabriel Moraga. After making camp by an almost dry riverbed near present-day Mariposa, Moraga’s company was swarmed by clouds of butterflies that nearly blocked out the sun. He named that place Las Mariposas, Spanish for “The Butterflies,” a title eventually adopted as the name of the city and county.

SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS

At the Mariposa Fairgrounds, more than 75 local vendors tender handmade crafts, apparel, vintage and antique collections, jewelry, food, photo booths and more. Butterfly-themed works of art, local foods, and numerous made-in-Mariposa vendor

booths will be on hand.

The Mariposa Butterfly Festival is a great showcase for local musical talent. Artists of many genres perform over the two-day weekend playing rock, country, pop and religious music at Mariposa Arts Park stage and other venues.

FUN & FAMILY FRIENDLY

The festival is wonderful for families, as children under 12 are

free and many activities geared to the younger set. One of the most anticipated moments of the Mariposa Butterfly Festival is the release of some 4,000 butterflies, creating a colorful storm guaranteed to inspire oohs, aahs, and smiles on skyturned faces. Some lucky guests will get a slice of orange that the butterflies land on for up-close and personal viewing.

Family-friendly games & activities, bouncy houses, pony rides, virtual reality station, and face painting booths entertain kids of all ages. Volunteers also present butterfly ecology and how to create a butterfly garden in your backyard.

BEYOND THE BUTTERFLIES

The Mariposa Butterfly Festival is a great launching point for an extended holiday weekend in Yosemite Mariposa. Rich in authentic California history, Mariposa’s splendid streets and stately structures are counted among the oldest in California. Don’t miss the Mariposa County Courthouse (the oldest courthouse in continuous operation west of the Mississippi and listed on the

National Register of Historic Places). Courthouse tours will be offered during the course of the festival weekend. Another must-see for history buffs is the Mariposa Museum & History Center, a “Best Little Museum” according to the Smithsonian Institution.

Mariposa’s food and drinks scene is vibrant and varied, with great options that run the gamut from burgers, craft beer and cider to brie, baguettes and local wines.

BUTTERFLY FUN FACTS

• Butterfly wings are translucent.

• Butterflies taste with sensors located on their feet.

• Butterflies live on an allliquid diet.

• Mud puddles are favorite butterfly watering holes.

• Butterflies can’t fly if they’re too cold.

• A group of butterflies is called a flutter.

Festivities start with the Mariposa Butterfly Festival Parade, featuring rolling bands, equestrians, animals, floats, classic cars, skydivers, and even a giant butterfly or two, all striding and strutting through the charming main streets of downtown Mariposa.

Don’t miss the moment when some 4000 odd butterflies are released in commemoration of the clouds of butterflies that gave Mariposa its name.

Families and friends love celebrating butterflies with music, crafts, food, and more.