Butterflies Take Wing At Oak Lawn Park District Monarch Fest

OAK LAWN, IL -- Celebrate the mystical king of butterflies before they wing their way to Pacific coast for the winter. Oak Lawn Park District'spopular Monarch Festival returns this Saturday, September 14. The festival runs 2 to 5 p.m. at the Oak View Center, 4625 W. 110th St. Admission is free.

This festival is designed to bring some much needed awareness to the issues that Monarch butterflies face today. Participants will learn how to assist in the preservation of the Monarch butterfly species and the environment. This fun family event features live butterfly tagging, a bug zoo, caterpillar aquarium, butterfly arts and crafts for kids, an interactive puppet show, live music, a movie in the theater and much more.

In the past 20 years the monarch population has dropped a billion to 30 million, largely due to habitat destruction. Monarch caterpillars feed and lay their eggs exclusively on milkweed, but the colorful flower is rapidly disappearing from the countryside due to the overuse of herbicides and decline of the native prairie.

The Monarch Butterfly Festival is generously sponsored by Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant Mary Beth Swibes. For more information, call 708-857-2200.