Thousands of Painted Lady butterflies, hand reared by volunteers in Wimberley classrooms, businesses and homes, found their way to the sun at last week’s Butterfly Festival at EmilyAnn Theatre and Gardens. Despite cooler than normal temperatures and occasional misting rain, the delicate fliers were helped on their way into the gardens by the blessings of some 5,000 visitors.
At the opening ceremony held at the Veterans Memorial Plaza on the garden’s highest point, butterflies were released to remember veterans and those who fell in the line of duty.
At 30-minute intervals throughout the day, butterflies were coaxed out of their cages with wedges of cantaloupe, urged by wondrous children and adults.
Live presentations by musicians and performance artists added to the fun of face painting, bounce houses, interactive games, mini equines and llamas. Visits to the Butterfly Flight House and a ride on the small gauge Butterfly Train were especially popular.
The festival awarded students who participated in the annual art competition. The 2026 Grand Prize winner, who will be featured on the 2027 t-shirt and postcard, was Braxton Borrego, a 4th grader at Jacob's Well Elementary in Wimberley.
This year, the EmilyAnn hosted the Rising Stars of Wimberley concert, which featured up-and-coming musicians from the Wimberley area. Each December it is home to the Annual Trail of Lights event. Visitors can walk through eight acres of illuminated displays to usher in the holiday season. In the Summer, Shakespeare Under the Stars, a six-week program for young people, culminates in live performances on the garden's main outdoor stage. The 12-acre garden is the namesake of EmilyAnn Rolling, a Wimberley teen who passed away in 1996. It is open year-round.
