The wings are ready to take flight. Both artificial and real.
The 2026 Mariposa Butterfly Festival is approaching quickly — and so are the preparations.
“I am energized and excited,” said Kimberly Vaughan, president of the board of the festival.
The festival will take place over two days, Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3, at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Admission is $10 for adults and children 12 and under are free. Parking is $5 and the bulk of those funds go to the Mariposa Yosemite Rotary Club, which oversees parking.
“I am really excited because of the new things we are bringing,” said Vaughan.
Oh, and there’s another thing she really likes: “Kids smiling.”
A lot happening
That’s almost a given with all of the events and activities taking place during the Butterfly Festival, the annual event which kicks off the tourist season in Mariposa County.
The festivities are actually kicking off the night before, said Vaughan, with a downtown scavenger hunt that will result in a cruise for the lucky winner.
People are asked to go to Twisted Cedar to start their search. There, they will be given a card with a list of designated downtown destinations where they have to get a card stamped.
But, stressed Vaughan, people will not have to visit all 12 places on the list, just some of them. That number will be listed on the cards. They will be given a map and can follow it to the various locations.
“We want them to wander downtown and get to know Mariposa,” said Vaughan. “Go into the stores, go eat at a restaurant.”
Those who complete the cards will be eligible to win a cruise that will be given away, said Vaughan.
On Saturday, the annual parade kicks off in the downtown area at 10 a.m. The Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce organizes that event, which features varied entries as well as Little Miss Butterfly and Little Mr. Monarch.
Once completed, people will then head out into the fairgrounds for two days of fun — and a lot to do.
One big addition this year is a pair of monster trucks that will be at the festival. One of those trucks will be available for people to take a ride into town for a fee.
“I reached out to them and they wanted to come,” said Vaughan. “They want to come to a smaller community.”
The idea has been rattling around in Vaughan’s head for a couple of years, she said, and now it is happening.
Some changes
Also this year, Vaughan said they are moving the bar into the Redbud Room at the fairgrounds. She said there will be music and seating in one of the rooms to give the adults a place to relax and enjoy themselves.
That move means Monarch Grove will be moved to where the bar area used to be located.
In addition, Vaughan said they are transforming the Beer Garden into a children’s area where there are tables and a stage. There will be story time, a balloon artist and much more for the younger folks in that area.
Vaughan said she thinks it’s a great location because it is fenced in and has everything necessary for the younger people to enjoy various activities.
There will be many activities for the kids, including Dizzy Chickens train rides and “just a ton of stuff,” she said.
Part of that will be giving away Vaughan’s new children’s book “Legacy of the Wings,” which was just released.
She said they will be giving away copies of the books each day to the children. There are 250 copies they will hand out, thanks to a sponsor she secured. The book focuses on — you guessed it — butterflies.
And it’s butterflies which have been, and Vaughan said, always will be the focus of the festival.
“It’s nature and it’s our namesake,” she said.
Butterfly releases will be taking place again this year, but now on a timed schedule. The will be at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Also at the festival, a full Building A of vendors will be offering a wide variety of goods. There are also many food vendors signed up to be at the festival.
In Building B, one of the most anticipated displays of the year in the county will once again thrill people of all ages.
Jurassic Mariposa, headed up by local resident Michael Hall, will be bigger and better than ever.
“He’s added a couple more,” said Vaughan of Hall’s animatronical dinosaurs.
Each year, people are amazed at the scale of the display — and they get a little education about dinosaurs and the time when they ruled the planet.
In addition, Hall will be utilizing his new drawing tools to offer caricatures of people. Money raised from those will be given to the Mariposa Museum and History Center for their ongoing fundraising efforts.
The educational aspect
Another annual feature of the festival is Habitat Row and this year is no exception.
With a 40-foot caterpillar in the middle, the row is flanked by information booths where people will be present to help educate the public about nature and everything associated with preserving the planet.
“A lot of this is education driven,” said Vaughan. “It is to understand the importance of nature. There will be a lot of information.”
That will include how to plant gardens and other areas of a property to help wildlife, including butterflies. Experts will advise people on how to grow milkweed, the plant butterflies depend on for the essence of life.
Also at the festival will be four stages where musical entertainment will take place both days. (See next week’s edition for a lineup of the music at this year’s festival.)
On Saturday, the annual car show takes place, always a popular event. Vaughan said they are still accepting entries for the car show. Those forms are available on the festival’s website.
“There is something for all ages,” said Vaughan.
That will include International Jazz Day on Saturday, a new event this year.
On Sunday, the local 4-H members will be featuring exhibits at the festival.
A growing event
Each year, since it moved to the fairgrounds, the event has grown in attendance and breadth.
“We have a really great team,” said Vaughan. “We have a fantastic board. Everyone rolls up their sleeves. People are reaching out.”
She also stressed it is an all-volunteer festival and people have stepped up year after year as it has grown.
Being the first big event of the year, Vaughan said the Mariposa Butterfly Festival sets the stage for the tourist season and everything else that takes place in the county.
“The community has responded,” she said. “I feel like people are going to come out and celebrate.”
Visit mariposabutterflyfestival.net for more information.
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