Butterfly Road Rally heads to LH
It's an event created to inspire environmental stewardship in the city of Dallas and encourage eco-friendly lifestyles.
The main attraction of this year's event is sure to be the Smart Car Butterfly Road Rally.
About 30 members of the DFW Smart Car Club will start their engines at 10:00 a.m. at the TDC, located in Fair Pair.
The stopping points on their route through the city will include Kiest Park, Lakecliff Park, Celebration Farmer’s Market, Stonewall Gardens, the Lake Highlands Community Garden, the Bath House at White Rock Lake, then back to the TDC by noon.
According to Susan Lee, Director of Development for the Texas Discovery Gardens, the race participants will have log sheets, and their arrival times will be stamped at each stopping point.
"This rally was my wild idea for a fundraiser," she says.
"During this year's Dallas Green Festival, I very much wanted to promote the fact that since the opening of the year-round Tropical Butterfly House, participation in the TDC’s children’s educational programs has grown by more the 96%."
"These programs highlight math, science and the environment in the hands-on discovery of nature. Last year, over 10,000 students from schools in Dallas were involved in our programs."
"What’s fun about the Smart Cars is that they can be made to look like butterflies, ladybugs, and caterpillars," says Lee. "After meeting with the Smart Car Club, we knew a Rally would be a great promotion event for the festival because they draw so much attention and are so eco-friendly."
The Lake Highlands Community Garden also has a Butterfly Garden, certified by the TDC.
When the Smart Cars arrive at the garden, Cub Scout Pack 890, the young men who are regular volunteers in the Donation Garden, will handle stamping arrival times in each driver's log book.
The boys will have their work cut out for them because according to Tim Fellows, member of the DFW Smart Car Club, there will be at least 25 Smart Cars participating, some decorated!
Fellows shared some specifics of the race.
"Our Smart Cars will be lined up in front of the entrance to the main building at the TDC before and after the Rally. Susan Lee is working with SkinzWraps to do some partial wrap decorations on some of our cars, and our plan is to have our entrants participate in five teams."
"One car will be the lead and navigate for the rest of the team to each rally point. We certainly won’t be speeding or disregarding the rules of the road or traffic signs, but each team will be using navigational skills to be the first back to the TDC to win the race!"
An award ceremony at 12:30 p.m. at the TDC will end the Rally, followed by the first mass butterfly release. Roughly 3,000 guests are expected to attend the festival, which will culminate with the second mass butterfly release at 2:30 p.m.
Many additional activities are also scheduled to take place during the free festival.
There will be Monarch butterfly tagging, live music, a children's recreation zone chock full of earth friendly activities, classes and demonstrations, and recycled arts and crafts. Food will be available courtesy of the Blue Mesa Grill and Wendy Krispin Catering.
While the festival is free, a $5 sponsorship will allow a child to spend the day at the TDC. For $15, the sponsor can be a part of the butterfly release, with room for 150 to participate in at the Butterfly House.
Fellows is excited about the Rally and the attention the Smart Cars will bring to the gardens.
"The TDC helps urban kids connect with nature and the environment. Our group of over 80 Smart Car owners is actively working to minimize our impact on the environment and help out where ever we can."
For additional information or to learn about event sponsorships, visit the Dallas Green Festival website here.
Already a member? Log in.
Forgot your password? Click here.