Come out April 1st-31st for the 2019 Butterfly Festival at The John White Butterfly Center inside the spectacular Elizabethan Gardens. Below you will find the schedule of events taking place throughout the month of April.
Every Tuesday from 1-4 PM **Butterflies On Canvas** (Free with paid admission/membership)- A mixed-media butterfly painting class. All supplies provided (April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30)
Every Wednesday 10:00 AM **Butterfly Releases** (General Garden Admission Applies)- Come join us in the Gardens for a grand butterfly release and program on butterflies. The butterfly release is firmly scheduled for 10 AM. Attendees need to plan to arrive promptly by 9:45 for distribution. The butterflies will be released and given yummy watermelon. (April 3, 10, 17, 24)
Every Thursday 9-Noon **Batik Butterflies** (Members: $35, Not-yet members: $45, limited to 12 guests. Minimum of 3 required)- Join us Thursday mornings with local artist Robin York. We will create your very own butterfly painting. All supplies are provided. (April 4, 11, 18, 25)
Saturday, April 6, 2019 10-2 PM **Butterfly Keeper Day** (Members: $20 adults, $15 for children under 15 years, Not-yet members: $30 adults, $20 for children under 15 years. RSVP five days before event)- Do you want to be a butterfly keeper for a day? Learn how to care for butterflies and see what they need to be healthy and happy alongside our butterfly keepers. Learn how to identify tropical butterflies and help unpack, release and feed newly-emerged butterflies. Participants receive a "Butterfly Keeper for a Day" t-shirt and a certificate. Includes admission and a bagged lunch.
Saturday, April 13th, 2019 11-3 PM **Grand Butterfly Ball** (Members: $25, $10 for children, Not-yet members: $35 adults, $15 children, participants must be 4 years or older)- Come enjoy food, drink, and fun for all the love of butterflies. There will be kids arts and crafts, butterfly releases, vendors, bounce house, educational seminars, and more. This event is for ages 4-12 years old. Learn about butterfly conservation; tag a monarch's wing and set it free; buy plants for your butterfly garden; face painting, games and activities; and wear a butterfly costume with cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place. There will also be: kids activities and craft vendors, food trucks and wine tasting, educational exhibits and presentations, local environmental agencies and groups, and tours and butterfly releases.
Sunday, April 17, 2019 2-4 PM **Butterfly Tea Party** (Members: 40 adults, $20 youth under 15, Not-yet members: $45 adults, $30 youth under 15, limited to 100 participants)- Savor each sip, melt on each morsel and bask in the Gardens as you enjoy meeting an upcoming author in this fun-inspired tea with butterfly crafts and games. Odom Hall will be adorned with plants from the greenhouse setting the stage for tea to be served in the style and elegance expected of a decadent tea party. Sponsored by Downtown Books.
Saturday, April 20, 2019 10-1 PM **Easter Eggstravaganza**- (Members/Friends: FREE, Non-Members: standard admission, children under 5 free with paid adult)- Come spring over to our Eggstavaganza, an Outer Banks tradition. In the midst of beautiful spring blooms, it features an egg scavenger hunt, photo opportunities, a homemade bake sale, egg roll on the Great Lawn, story time, educational crafts, games, an Easter bonnet and hat contest, and more kid-geared fun.
Saturday, April 27th, 2019 10-2 PM **Pop Up Art Show** (Free with standard admission, Art prices as low as $50)- Enjoy a glass of wine (cash bar, $5), morsels of cheese, and sweets while you stroll the gardens and see what the art community has to offer. See watercolor, acrylic, oils and mixed media paintings. Both established and new emerging artists will be presented together, giving the public a chance to see some favorites and to discover new works too. This is one show you will not want to miss!! Proceeds benefit the Elizabethan Gardens.
Sunday, April 28, 2019 Noon-2 PM **Spring and Sip Floral Arranging** (Members: 45, Not-yet members: $50, class is limited to 16, minimum of five required)- Carl Curnutte will lead a class on how to create a spring bouquet arrangement. Participants will be treated to delicious wines and fine cheeses. This is the perfect opportunity to create a wonderful floral artwork showpiece for your table with this hands-on workshop.
**** If you would like to arrange any of these special programs for the month of April for special tours, garden clubs, school groups, or business retreats please call Carl Curnutte at
(252)-473-3761 to make arrangements.
Tickets or information- (252)-473-3234, www.elizabethangardens.org
Schedule of events provided by- The John White Butterfly Center