Florida Manatee Festival

37th Annual Florida Manatee Festival

When: Saturday, Jan. 13, 9 am – 5 pm; and Sunday, Jan. 14, 9 am – 4 pm

Cost: $10 per person, age 12 and under free | SPECIAL: Get $5 off up to four entries on SUNDAY only with the Citrus County Chronicle coupon. Where: Downtown Crystal River, at the intersection of Citrus Avenue and U.S. 19, stretching up through the shops and restaurants of Heritage Village

and surrounding areas, down to the waterside area along Kings Bay. Parking: Free parking and shuttle buses will be offered from Crystal River High School (3195 Crystal River High Dr, Crystal River, FL 34428). Attendees are asked to use the school's entrances off Northeast 8th Street; handicap-accessible parking will be available off West Crystal Street. The entrance off Turkey Oak will be closed. Attendees are strongly encouraged to avoid parking downtown due to limited parking and for the safety of all festival goers. Boat Tours: Local boat captains through the Manatee Eco Tourism Association will offer boat tours on a first-come first-serve basis. Tickets are available for $15 for adults; $10 for children 6 – 12 years old; and children 5 and under free. The tickets are good only on the date purchased and are sold at the boat dock area near northwest Third Street (Kings Bay Park). Guided Kayak Tours: $15 guided kayak tours will be offered at the festival through Hunter Springs Kayaks. Tour guides will take you on a 1-hour tour of the bay and Hunter Springs area giving a first-hand glance at the beauty of our Nature Coast! You can book your time in advance online through the link on www.GoManateeFest.com. Community Color Project: Work alongside the Twistid Arts Artists to complete a beautiful community-driven mural at the Splash Pad by the Pump House in downtown Crystal River. Open to all ages! No cost to join, donations are appreciated to benefit the Twistid Arts Initiative. This hands-on experience will be available both Saturday, January 13th, and Sunday, January 14th, beginning at 10AM. Soccer Collies: Kids of all ages (and even adults) won’t want to miss this fun and exciting attraction as the Soccer Collies take on festival attendees once an hour beginning at 9:45 a.m. near the bandshell in Kings Bay Park. Participants will line up in a circle around the trained dogs as they use their skills to score “goals”, pushing the ball outside of the human goalie line. Do YOU have what it takes to take on the Soccer Collies? Three Sister’s Springs Tour: Bus rides to Three Sisters Springs and the new Friends of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Center will be available for festival goers for FREE during the festival hours. Attendees can catch the buses near the entry gate at the corner of 5th Street and NE 1st Avenue beginning at 9am both days. The last pickup is scheduled for 3:30pm. Event website:
www.gomanateefest.com or
www.facebook.com/FloridaManateeFestival
Chamber phone: 352-795-3149