Annual Wakulla Wildlife Festival to be Held April 3-5, 2008 

What began as a welcome back for songbird celebration has grown into a three-day celebration of Wakulla County’s natural environment and rich heritage.  The annual Wakulla Wildlife Festival will be held April 3-5, 2008.  Although many premium guided tours visit significant natural and cultural sites throughout the area, Wakulla Springs State Park remains the hub of the festival.

In addition to premium guided tours on Thursday through Saturday, April 3-5, the Wakulla Wildlife Festival is again sponsoring Art on the Terrace at Wakulla Springs Lodge, Friday from 6:30 pm -9:30 pm and Saturday from 9:00am – 3:00pm.  The hard-working folks of a not-so-distant past will appear in a new segment entitled Living History Demonstrations on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

{sidebar id=1}These activities are free with park admission, as are ten shows and programs at Wakulla Springs State Park on Saturday between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm.  Among these is a presentation regarding common butterflies that thrive in the Florida Panhandle, a discussion about pitcher plants, a return of the popular Bird of Prey and Reptile shows produced by the Center for Wildlife Education at Georgia Southern University, and a cave diver’s view of the largest submerged cave system in the United States.

Musicians celebrating the natural environment include Sammy Tedder’s live environmental jazz performance during the Art on the Terrace and silent auction on Friday evening, April 4th.  And for festival goers who will mingle on the green outside the bathhouse at Wakulla Springs State Park, bluegrass musicians with City Limits and Coon Bottom Creek will perform between 10:30 am. and 2:30 pm. on Saturday, April 5th.

Participants are urged to pre-register by March 28 for the popular premium guided tours.  Information is available at www.WakullaWildlifeFestival.org or by calling (850)926-0700. 

Artists Salute Heritage and the Environment at the Wakulla Wildlife Festival

Potters, painters, sculptors, and musicians will participate in the annual Wakulla Wildlife Festival at Wakulla Springs State Park Friday evening April 4th and during the festival on Saturday April 5th.  Enjoy a wide variety of artistic expression emphasizing the natural and cultural highlights of the region including shell carvings, museum replicas, photo art, watercolors, wildlife sculpture and more.

Sammy Tedder will perform during the Art Opening on Friday evening, April 4th from 6:30pm – 9:30 pm. Tedder’s saxophone and bamboo flutes improvise on nature’s themes.  His most recent CD, the soundtrack to the movie The Apalachicola River:  An American Treasure was the last in a series of recordings that take their cues from nature:  storms, frogs, the songs of the pines and the soothing flow of water.  Thanks to Gulf State Community Bank’s support, festival goers are able to enjoy Sammy’s live presentation.

Visitors participating in the festival’s free shows and programs on Saturday, April 5, on the green at the Wakulla Springs State Park can dance or enjoy lunch to the bluegrass music of City Limits and Coon Bottom Creek courtesy of Wakulla Bank’s generosity.  They’ll play between 10:30 am and 2:30 pm.

Premium guided tours (fees vary) throughout Wakulla County on Thursday, April 3 through Saturday, April 5 will bring visitors up close to emerging spring life, heritage sites and natural wonders. Log on to www.WakullaWildlifeFestival.org for a listing of all 28 for-fee tours and all Saturday activities.
The deadline to pre-register for all guided tours is March 28.  Please call (850)926-0700 to register.

Overnight Accommodations 

Make a reservation directly with Wakulla Springs State Park and Lodge (850) 926-0700 to stay in one of the historic twenty-seven guest rooms, or call The Inn at Wildwood Resort (850) 926-4455 (www.theinnatwildwood.com ), a nature-based hotel and golf retreat, to enjoy your festival getaway!

You can also stay at the newly built Best Western Wakulla Inn & Suites , located at 3292 Coastal Highway (Hwy. 98) in Crawfordville, Florida.  Call them to make your reservations at (850)926-3737 or visit them on the web by clicking here.

The Sweet Magnolia Inn, located in quaint St. Marks, Florida, is a locally owned bed and breakfast with a selection of beautifully decorated rooms for you to choose from.  Call them at 1-800-779-5214 or locally at (850)925-7670, or visit them on the web at www.sweetmagnolia.com . 

Guests can also stay at The Landing Motel in Panacea, Florida.  They can be reached at (850)984-0180. 

Written by :

mkwestmark

 

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