Spring is coming and with it so is Butterfly Season at Kidspace Children’s Museum that started Friday in Pasadena.
The annual event at the museum, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., is a colorful celebration of butterflies and pollinator insects and their role in the Southern California ecosystem.
“For 30 years, Kidspace has been welcoming spring in the most delightful way, with Butterfly Season,” museum CEO Lisa Clements said in a statement. “We invite families to engage with nature on our outdoor campus, learn about the vital role of conservation, and find joy in the colors and exuberance of springtime.”
To launch Butterfly Season, the museum joined other cultural institutions for ArtNight Pasadena on Friday from 6 to 10 p.m., when Kidspace opened its doors for a free community evening of art and play. Eventgoers of all ages helped Kidspace paint an enduring community mural in collaboration with Studio Tutto.
Butterfly Season also brings back “Los Trompos,” an interactive art installation designed by Héctor Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena. Brightly colored structures inspired by vintage Mexican toy tops invite guests to hop on and spin together. The installation symbolizes the cultural and geographical links between California and Mexico — connections that organizers said are deeply connected with monarch butterfly’s migratory journey.
“Los Trompos reminds us of the shared histories and vibrant cultures that define our region,” said Clements. “Like the monarch butterfly, it’s a beautiful metaphor for cultural and geographic connections between Southern California and Mexico.”
The “Los Trompos” exhibit was first commissioned by the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
A kaleidoscope of butterflies filled Roberts Pavilion, showcasing a new interpretation of artist Christopher Lutter’s handmade monarch butterflies crafted from upcycled waste-stream materials.
“These butterflies are a reminder of the impact of human behavior on wild creatures, and they symbolize the power of transformation and hope,” according to the museum.
Visitors can immerse themselves in nature through hands-on art and science activities:
- Bug safaris — Kidspace provides a magnifying glass and some tips as participants search for eggs, caterpillars, and adult insects around campus.
- Fantasy flutter-by-play — Dress up like a butterfly, climb into a “chrysalis,” and take flight on the flutter path.
- Create a critter — Shape creatures out of clay to take home.
- Flower showers — Grab a watering can and learn about what plants butterflies and other pollinators rely on while helping the flowers grow.
Tickets are available at kidspacemuseum.org. Access to Butterfly Season is included with museum general admission and free for members through May 19.
