By Amy Dunlap

The 2026 Nashville Fair marked the fifth year of the Butterfly Exhibit, a collaborative effort between UT-TSU Extension and the Master Gardeners of Davidson County. Since its introduction in 2022, the exhibit has grown into an established educational attraction, providing fairgoers with an opportunity to observe live butterflies up close while learning about pollinator conservation and the importance of creating suitable habitats.

This year's exhibit was made possible through the contributions of 51 Master Gardener volunteers, who assisted with setup, daily operations, butterfly care, educational activities, and teardown. Over the course of the fair, volunteers welcomed visitors into the enclosure, answered questions about butterflies and their host plants, and shared practical ways homeowners can support pollinators in their own landscapes.

The exhibit has undergone considerable improvements since its inaugural year. Originally housed in a dark mesh enclosure with limited lighting and temperature control, it now features a large white tent equipped with supplemental lighting and heating to better accommodate the butterflies' environmental needs. These improvements have contributed to healthier butterflies and increased activity throughout the exhibit. Our continued partnership with Idlewild Butterfly Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, has also helped improve butterfly sourcing, care, and habitat planning. The exhibit featured three butterfly species: monarchs, painted ladies, and red admirals. Seasonal availability of butterflies is more limited in September. At the end of the fair the butterflies are released at the demo gardens, where they have habitat readily available.

One of the highlights of the 2026 exhibit was the expansion of our children's educational activities. This year featured five different butterfly-themed crafts, our largest selection to date. These hands-on activities provided opportunities for younger visitors to learn about butterfly biology, life cycles, and conservation while engaging with Master Gardener volunteers. The craft station continues to be an important component of the exhibit, particularly for families with young children.

Educational signage throughout the exhibit also introduced visitors to pollinator biology, native host plants, and the challenges facing butterfly populations. In recent years, we have expanded our educational materials to include some Spanish translations, helping make information accessible to a wider audience.

We are also grateful for the continued support of Gardens of Babylon, which generously donates pollinator-friendly plants each year. Following the fair, these plants are sold to benefit the Master Gardener program, typically generating $300–$500 in fundraising revenue.

Beyond the butterflies themselves, the exhibit serves as an important opportunity to introduce residents to Extension and the Master Gardener program. With approximately 20,000 visitors passing through the expo hall during the fair, the exhibit allows our volunteers to connect with audiences who may be unfamiliar with Extension's educational resources. Several current Master Gardeners first learned about the program through their experiences at the exhibit.

A sincere thank-you to all 51 Master Gardeners who contributed to the 2026 Butterfly Exhibit. Coordinating an exhibit of this size requires considerable time, flexibility, and teamwork. Its continued success reflects the commitment of our volunteers to horticultural education and community outreach.