wish upon a butterfly

Watch monarch butterflies fill the skies

Saturday, July 19, 2025
9 a.m. - 12 p.m

Monarch butterflies will fill the skies again on Saturday, July 19, 9 am – 12 pm, at Wish Upon a Butterfly, an annual fundraiser at the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History. This symbolic event highlights the elegant monarch, the Texas state insect. This year, festivities begin inside the Museum where guests may make a “wish keepsake” and other butterfly crafts before receiving their purchased butterflies outside from 10 - 10:30 am for release.

One butterfly ticket purchase per family includes admission inside the Museum where visitors may enjoy the observation bee hive, butterfly displays, live music, refreshments, activities, and other Museum exhibits.

Unable to attend or pick-up your butterfly? Museum staff will also release purchased butterflies upon request. While supplies last, butterflies will also be available for purchase at the event.. For more information on how to be a sponsor, or to purchase a butterfly, call 979-776-2195!

A close-up shot of a young girl holding a monarch butterfly in her hands.

Event Details

Release a butterfly and pay homage to celebration, childhood wonder, the memory and presence of loved ones, fallen or deployed service members, new beginnings, and more.

There will be a variety of fun activities for all ages including butterfly themed activities and crafts. The Texas A&M Garden Club will be present to distribute seeds, butterfly plants, and discuss butterfly gardening. The Master Naturalists, the Texas A&M Honey Bee Lab, and others will also have educational booths.

Guests who come to the event in a butterfly or caterpillar theme costume will receive a surprise gift. Proceeds benefit the Museum and support free admission to the Museum for active-duty enlisted personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Butterflies are limited. Guests may pre-purchase butterflies, each at a cost of $20 or 6 for $100, by calling the Museum to order by credit card, or by mailing a check to:

Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History

Attn: Wish Upon a Butterfly

3232 Briarcrest Drive, Bryan TX 77802

Sponsor Flyer

Sponsorship Details

Letter to our Sponsors

Sponsorship Form

Interested in becoming an event sponsor? Read the Sponsorship Form or call the Museum at 979-776-2195 for more information on how you can help put a smile on a child’s face!

Wish Upon a Butterfly honors

M. Bookman and Mervin D. Peters

The Museum is proud to dedicate the 2024 Wish Upon a Butterfly, an annual symbolic event, to the memory of two brothers, M. Bookman and Mervin D. Peters.

Both men were deeply committed to the Bryan/College Station Community, serving in a myriad of ways, not only with their philanthropy, but also generously giving their time and energy.

The development of the Boonville Heritage Park stands as a testament to the dedication and love they had for the Bryan/College Station Community.

They will be remembered for their outstanding leadership, their thoughtful generosity, and their big hearts.