A MARIPOSA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT DRESSED THE PART FOR THE BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL LAST FRIDAY. GAZETTE PHOTO BY JILL BALLINGER The weather couldn’t have been more perfect last weekend as the Mariposa Butterfly Festival drew thousands of people to downtown Mariposa for a weekend filled with fun, music, food, shopping and, of course, butterflies.

Festivities kicked off on Friday night with the butterfly hat contest and a Taste of Mariposa. Early Saturday morning, town was buzzing with activity even before the parade began. Events continued throughout the day, and there was no shortage of people to enjoy them.

Organizers were thrilled with the turnout and the economic boost it provided. Jeanette Phillips, co-chairman of the event told the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, “We filled the town. Hotels were full, restaurants were running out of food.” She said planning for 2011 is already beginning. “We’re building on the event for next year.”

Her colleague, Dell Knell said on Tuesday, “Once again the Mariposa merchants and the community in general hosted a wonderful event in Mariposa.”

The parade was the largest in festival history, featuring, among other things, Mariposa County’s new fleet of fire engines. Parade winners are as follows: Little Miss Butterfly and Captain Caterpillar, floats and sweepstakes; Bill Shelton, equestrian; Mariposa Jeep Club, vehicles; Mariposa County High School Grizzly Band, performance group; Joshua Holmes and Tina Rios, special group; Acorn Cooperative Preschool, individual group; and Mariposa Bears Youth Football cheerleaders, banners.