Register Today, and Join Us October 26-28

Dr. Robert Michael Pyle, Texas Butterfly Festival Keynote Speaker.

Photo by Benjamin Drummon and Sara Joy Steele

MISSION, TX – The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce invites the Rio Grande Valley community to attend the 17th Annual Texas Butterfly Festival to be held at the National Butterfly Center located on 3333 Butterfly Park Drive in Mission, Texas, on October 26th – 28th 2012. Join us this fall during the peak season of butterfly abundance and diversity, for an unforgettable weekend at the most biologically diverse region in the United States. Four ecosystems converge in this four county area; with its sub-tropical climate, the area boasts over 300 species of butterflies. This year’s festival will feature a Keynote Address by Dr. Robert Michael Pyle, a lepidopterist (a person who studies butterflies) and one of the most sought-after butterfly speakers and teachers in the country. He is the founder of the Xerces Society and the author of Mariposa Road. His seventeen books include several national award-winners, as well as butterfly standards such as the Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies, The Handbook for Butterfly Watchers, and The Butterflies of Cascadia. This annual festival will also include seminars, guided tours, an expo, and a community family day with various activities for the entire family.

Five butterfly excursion tours are scheduled to depart from the National Butterfly Center on day long trips with multiple stops to the East & Western-most parts of the valley on Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27. Expert Tour Guides and Leaders will map out the various butterfly tours to nature sites such as Rancho Lomitas, Edinburg Wetlands, Santa Ana Refuge, Riverside Club pontoon tours, Estero Llano Grande, Bentsen-RGV State Park, Valley Nature Center, Roma World Birding Center and South Padre Island.

Guests who do not elect to attend a guided butterfly tour off-site can also enjoy the hundreds of butterfly species found on-site at the National Butterfly Center and interact with the professionals and shop for nature gear at the EXPO set up in the Visitor’s Center. Participants will also be able to purchase tickets to one of two professional seminars on that Friday and Saturday. Friday and Saturday night will also include receptions and dinners with entertainment.

We invite the community to take part in the Texas Butterfly Festival Community Day on Saturday, October 27, to learn all about butterflies at the various children activity stations which will include painting, drawing, designing and other arts & crafts. Educational and entertaining activity stations will be hosted by sponsors and manned by different student organizations from 9:00am-1:00pm. Community Day is FREE and will feature the “Best Little Bugs & Butterflies Halloween Costume Contest and Parade,” in which children are encouraged to dress up in their best bug or butterfly (homemade or store bought) costumes. Prizes will be given to top three costumes.

For more information, visit our official website at www.texasbutterflyfestival.com. If you are interested in donating your time as a volunteer, please contact Vivian Vargas at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 956-585-2727. And if you are a business owner and would like exposure as a sponsor, please contact Teresa Saldana at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 956-585-2727.