A "living statute" and one of thousands of white butterflies interact with a family.
“Branson’s Ozark Mountain Christmas is one of the most unique Christmas celebrations in the Nation,” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center. “That uniqueness stems from not only the traditional Christmas spirit it honors, but the spectacular and unique nature of the attractions and activities it offers,” she continued.
A developing tradition of Ozark Mountain Christmas is the “White Flight.”It is a unique Christmas exhibit made up of thousands of white butterflies flying in a rain forest sparkling with thousands of lights, living angel statutes, colorful white and red poinsettias and filled with the sounds of beautiful holiday music. “It’s the butterfly version of a ‘White Christmas'” said Johnson.
“White Flight” is currently appearing for its fourth Christmas season in Branson at the Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure through January 15, 2011. Sarah Bolend, General Manager, said the thousands of white butterflies used in “White Flight” are comprised of about 20 different species of tropical white butterflies with the most common being the “Paper Kite Butterfly”, also commonly called the “Rice Paper Butterfly.”
Bolend has previously pointed out “that the butterflies used in all the exhibits at the Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure, including ‘White Flight,’ are shipped to them by air express in their chrysalis (cocoon) stage from tropical rain forests. They are released into the exhibit after the butterfly emerges from the cocoon and its wings dry where it lives out its average three week life span in a predator free environment.
Two of the many types of white butterflies in "White Flight," a Paper Kite and an Orange Tip.
In terms of the exhibit, she said the adventure starts in the attractions theatre with the viewing of a very well filmed, interesting and exciting 15 minute movie on the life of a rain forest butterfly. After the film the guests step from the theatre into the aviary where they interact, “up close and personal,” with thousands of butterflies. During “White Flight,” Nov. 1 through January 15, the butterflies are all colored white and provide a spectacular and unique display. Bolend said that from January 16 through the start of White Flight on November 1, the display is just as spectacular, but is composed of 50-60 species of different brightly colored butterflies.
Bolend also points out another unique feature of “White Flight.” In addition to the butterflies in the aviary, “White Flight” also includes the presentation of the centuries old art form of “living statutes” in the form of White Angels. As people walk through the exhibit and butterflies alight on and flutter around them, they present a picture of angelic beauty and tranquility, but if one watches closely, almost imperceptibly, the statutes slowly and subtly come to life. It might be just a change in the position of a head or the extension of a hand, but it’s fascinating to watch the ability of the artist playing the angels to interact with the guests.
In addition, the aviary is decorated with a number of poinsettias and other flowers and highlighted by a large poinsettia Christmas tree that provides an excellent place to take a picture. The whole “White Flight” experience, from the thousands of White Butterflies to the living angel statutes and beautiful music, is a unique Christmas experience that will be remembered for a lifetime.
For additional information about “White Flight” and the Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure, Ozark Mountain Christmas, or Branson shows, attractions or lodging please contact the Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services and sellers of Branson show and attraction tickets and lodging. BTC can be reached by calling 800-785-1550 or through its website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.