About 1,500 butterflies will take flight for the first time to the delight of hundreds of children at the 17th annual Friends of the Parks Butterfly Release. Free activities for children will be from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at Wilshire Trails Park along Pearl Nix Parkway in Gainesville. Events include face painting by Gainesville High School cheerleaders, butterfly dancers from Heather Wayne Dance Group, paper sailboat races in the creek, butterfly cookies for decorating and puppies to view from the humane society.