Catherine’s Butterfly Party: 10th anniversary of Connecticut’s largest single-day pet adoption event

The Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary® is proud to announce the return of Catherine’s Butterfly Party on Saturday, June 6, 2026, marking the 10th anniversary of Connecticut’s largest single-day pet adoption event and one of the region’s most beloved free family festivals.

Held from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Fairfield Hills Campus (3 Primrose Street, Newtown, CT), this free family festival with mega pet adoption event honors the legacy of Catherine Violet Hubbard, a first grader who lost her life in the Sandy Hook tragedy and whose extraordinary love for animals continues to inspire compassion across the country.

This milestone year also marks the launch of “Bring Love Home – From Newtown to Your Town,” a national campaign supporting more than 100 animal shelters and rescue organizations across all 50 states. Supported by the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), the initiative aims to increase visibility, adoptions, fostering, volunteerism, and community support for animals in need nationwide.

The campaign comes at a critical time, with an estimated 5.8 million cats and dogs entering U.S. shelters each year, leaving many rescue organizations overwhelmed by overcrowding, staffing shortages, and increasing demand for care.

Originally created to commemorate Catherine’s birthday and celebrate her love for all animals, Catherine’s Butterfly Party has grown into Connecticut’s largest single-day pet adoption event. Held annually at the Fairfield Hills Campus in Newtown, the free family festival now welcomes more than 12,000 guests each year while helping over 1,000 animals find loving homes over the past decade.

The June 6 event in Connecticut will serve as the culminating celebration of the national campaign and will be livestreamed on the sanctuary’s Instagram, connecting Newtown’s message of compassion with communities across the country.

“This tenth year feels especially meaningful because it reflects how Catherine’s love has continued to grow and ripple outward,” said Jennifer Hubbard, founder and president of the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary and Catherine’s mother. “What began as a way to honor Catherine near her birthday has become a powerful reminder that kindness creates community, and that together, we can bring love home for animals everywhere.”

This year’s Catherine’s Butterfly Party in Newtown will feature:

• Mega Pet Adoption Event
  28 animal rescue organizations and more than 200 adoptable animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, horses, and more.
• Educational Animal Encounters
  Wildlife, farm animal, amphibian and reptile ambassador presentations led by top rehabilitators and conservationists in the state, plus K-9 military dog demonstrations. 
• Family Festival Fun
  Face painting, vendors, food trucks, live music, entertainment, and activities for all ages.

The event remains free to the public and participating rescues, thanks to the support of generous sponsors, allowing animal welfare organizations to focus on what matters most: finding safe, loving homes for animals in need.

For those unable to attend Catherine’s Butterfly Party due to distance, the public is encouraged to support animal welfare organizations in their own communities by adopting, fostering, volunteering, donating, or sharing animals in need of homes.

Catherine’s Butterfly Party Admission is free for all ages.

For more information about Catherine’s Butterfly Party and the national Bring Love Home campaign, visit CVHFoundation.org

About the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary:

Created in 2013, the sanctuary honors the life and legacy of Catherine Violet Hubbard, a six-year-old victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. Inspired by Catherine’s love for animals and the natural world, the sanctuary brings its mission of keeping animals safe in homes and native habitats to life through humane educational programs, free to low-cost workshops, conservation initiatives, pet rescue collaboration and services to help older adults in federally funded housing keep and care for their pets.

2025 & 2026 Gold Stevie® Award: Non-Profit of the Year

2026 Gold Stevie® Award: Catherine’s Butterfly Party – Community Impact Event 

2026 Gold Stevie® Award: Catherine’s Butterfly Party – Community Engagement Event 

2026 Acquisition International Award: Most Compassionate Animal Sanctuary – USA Non-Profit

Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary

8 Commerce Road, Newtown, CT 06470

www.cvhfoundation.org