May is wrapping up, and the activities are in full swing! This weekend brings live music down at the Dock, sunrise yoga by the river, butterflies in flight, and a meet-and-greet with some seriously cool raptors. Rain is in the mix again, so keep an eye on the radar, but don’t let a few clouds keep you home. There’s fun to be had rain or shine.

Lowe Mill

This is the kick-off for the world’s longest-running cigar music box festival! The show will open with John Nickel, and then 5 O’Clock Charlie and Otis Walker will have you enjoying some great music! The concert is free; donations are requested to benefit the Microwave Dave Music Education Foundation.

Hays Nature Preserve

Start your Saturday morning with a peaceful stretch alongside the Flint River at Hays Nature Preserve. Green Team hosts free outdoor yoga sessions every Saturday in May and June, welcoming families and yogis of all experience levels to their mats for an hour of movement and mindfulness. The natural setting adds something special to the practice — there's nothing quite like holding tree pose while actually surrounded by trees, with the sound of flowing water in the background.

Huntsville Botanical Gardens

There's something truly magical about holding a delicate butterfly in your hands and watching it take flight into a lush garden habitat. At the Purdy Butterfly House, families can participate in a guided butterfly release that combines hands-on conservation with unforgettable photo opportunities. The experience begins with an educational presentation about butterfly life cycles and habitats, helping kids ages 3 and up understand the important role these pollinators play in our ecosystem. Then comes the best part: each participant gets to gently release a live butterfly into the climate-controlled conservatory, where hundreds of native and tropical species flutter among flowering plants.

Orion Amphitheater

Experience the amazing raptors! This is a live and interactive experience you will not want to miss! You can get close to some extremely beautiful birds. Learn through storytelling and up close encounters about our feathered friends and how to share our world with them.

📝 Before You Head Out:

It’s another wet one on the way. Showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast all weekend long with temperatures hanging in the high 70s to low 80s. Pack the rain jacket alongside the picnic blanket, keep an eye on the radar, and have a backup plan or two ready for the outdoor stuff.

If you make it out to any of these events, come say hi! I’ll be the dad at the raptor meet-and-greet, doing my best to look brave while my daughter holds a full-on conversation with a hawk, totally convinced it understands every word.

Happy adventuring,

Ryan 🚀