All things butterfly: Beech Creek celebrates the insect with annual release party

WASHINGTON TWP. – Kids dressed in wings, antennas and butterfly-printed T-shirts paraded through Beech Creek Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve on Saturday during the organization's annual Butterfly Release Celebration. 

More:Beech Creek's Butterfly Release Celebration is this weekend

Between 600 and 700 butterflies will be set free over the course of the two-event, which runs through Sunday. The celebration also featured butterfly tagging demonstrations, parades, crafts and hands-on educational activities designed teach children about Ohio's native butterflies.

"We're basically at the end of our butterfly season. We do just native Ohio butterflies in our butterfly house as a summer exhibit, and at the end of the summer, we release all of the butterflies," said Melinda Carmichael, executive director of facility near Alliance. 

Carmichael said the goal of the event is to give attendees a sense of the life cycle of a butterfly and encourage them to grow plants in their backyards that will help support the state's population. She estimated that roughly 1,000 people would participate in the festivities. 

Children and families stopped at stations scattered throughout Beech Creek, where they received butterfly tattoos, constructed maracas out of paper plates and made pendant necklaces shaped like butterflies. 

"I think this is a good event because they can learn how actually the insects live and how the monarchs are so amazing and can travel far distances," said Mia Keppeo, who works in Beech Creek's butterfly house. 

Keppeo also felt the celebration was great way to help children get acquainted with nature and not be afraid of the insects. 

Kids enjoy butterfly part at Beech Creek

Two-year-old Paisley Triplett showed no signs of fear. Dressed in a pair of orange butterfly wings, the tot had a great time learning about butterflies and exploring the different activities the celebration had to offer, according to her mom, Katrina Triplett. 

"It's a lot of fun," said Katrina Triplett, of Mogadore. "She is enjoying it. She's fed some of the butterflies, and she's having a ball." 

Kristin Cody, of Jackson Township, attended the celebration with her 5-year-old daughter, Avery, and 2-year-old daughter, Brooke. The family recently moved to the area from Columbus, and it was their first time participating in the event. 

Both girls were excited to see the butterflies. 

"It's pretty exciting (to be back)," Carmichael said. The celebration didn't take place last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Beech Creek modified this year's activities to limit the number of people in the area at a time. 

"In order to try to make sure we're thinning the crowd, we're splitting it into two days. We've also split the release sites. Instead of having one release site, we're having two release sites three times a day," Carmichael said. 

During the releases, attendees received a small packet containing a butterfly. A drum roll played, and participants let their butterflies soar. 

Carmichael said the event is both educational and enjoyable.  

"We're educating and inspiring so we can try to preserve our environment for now and for the future," she said. 

Reach Paige at 330-580-8577 or pmbennett@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @paigembenn.