Butterfly Ball supports Pismo State Beach Monarch Grove restoration
– The Central Coast State Parks Association (CCSPA) will host its 5th Annual Butterfly Ball gala fundraiser on Oct. 12 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Octagon Barn, located at 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo. The event celebrates the return of western monarch butterflies to the Central Coast.
This year’s gala will feature conservation leader Julie Packard as one of the awardees. The evening will include performances, fine dining, a silent auction, and conservation awards. Attendees are encouraged to dress in green and gold to support the western monarch butterfly habitat and environmental education in San Luis Obispo State Parks.
The event will include appetizers, wine, beer, beverages, fine dining, a performance by RAD American Dance, an award ceremony, a silent auction, live music, and dancing. Tickets are available at https://centralcoastparks.org/butterfly-ball/. Individual tickets are priced at $125 through Aug. 31 and $150 afterward. Tables for 10 are available for $1,500, including two additional bottles of wine.
Julie Packard, the founding executive director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, will receive The John Laird Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Senator John Laird. Packard’s work has inspired millions to protect oceans and natural environments. She also serves on the Parks Forward Commission, which aims to transform State Parks management and ensure the sustainability of natural and cultural resources.
Proceeds from the event will support the restoration of the Pismo State Beach Monarch Grove, which provides habitat for California’s second-highest population of overwintering western monarchs and educates around 100,000 visitors annually. The Grove, listed by the Xerces Society as one of California’s “most in need of protection and management,” requires immediate restoration work.
The Central Coast State Parks Association (CCSPA), in partnership with California State Parks in San Luis Obispo County, supports educational programming and conservation projects to promote public awareness and stewardship of natural resources and cultural heritage. For more information, visit centralcoastparks.org.
