April 30, 2014 Florida State Parks Newsletter

Florida Department of Environmental Protection sent this bulletin at 04/30/2014 03:45 PM EDT

Owl in a tree at Oscar Scherer State Park

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

April 30, 2014 Newsletter

62nd Annual Florida Folk Festival Taking Place Memorial Day Weekend

~Join in all the fun that the Florida Folk Festival has to offer.~   

JJ Grey with his guitar.
JJ Grey with his guitar.

Family and friends are invited to join us at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park for the 62nd Annual Florida Folk Festival during Memorial Day weekend. Beginning Friday, May 23 at 8 am, visitors can enjoy wonderful music, delight in tasty food and pay tribute to Florida’s land, people and diverse cultural heritage. Ranked as one of the top 20 festivals in the southeast, the Florida Folk Festival offers a wide array of performers including JJ Grey and Mofro, Frank Thomas, Ben Prestage, Willie Green and many more.

During the Florida Folk Festival, visitors will be able to sit with the masters who keep cultural traditions alive. During the festival's jam sessions, demonstrations and workshops, visitors can try their hand at playing mandolin, telling stories or making pine needle baskets. Chances to collect family history, square dance and learn about native plants and animal species will also be available. Anyone interested in shopping is welcome to visit with Florida’s traditional and contemporary craftsmen. After shopping, dine on collard greens and cornbread, chicken pilau and hoppin’ john, shrimp gumbo, barbecue, curries, gyros and lime fizzes. As the sun sets, visitors can listen to the sounds of concerts by moonlight or dance the night away at the Heritage Stage.

Advanced tickets are $5 for children ages 6 to 16 for all three days. Adults can pay $25 for one day admission or attend the festival for all three days for only $50. Children under 6 can attend for free. Tickets at the gate for adults are $30 for one day and $60 for the entire weekend. Camping is not offered during the festival. Visit the Suwannee Valley website for information on nearby campgrounds, cabins and motels.

For more information, please call 1-877-635-3655 or visit the Florida Folk Festival website.
 

Help a Child Discover Nature at Kids to Parks Day

~Bring a child to the annual nationwide day of play.~

Two children play on the beach.

Two children play on the beach.

Celebrate Kids to Parks Day on Saturday, May 17 by taking a child to a park to explore nature. As an annual nationwide day of play organized by the National Park Trust, Kids to Parks Day encourages children across the country to go out and experience parks and their environments. The National Park Trust’s mascot, Buddy Bison, is sending out a message to children and their families to “explore outdoors, the parks are yours!”

The initiative for Kids to Parks Day is also designed to assist teachers in introducing parks and public lands to their students and their families. The day offers children from all communities the opportunity to participate in environmental education and provides health and wellness through outdoor recreation. Last year, more than 139,000 people participated in the nationwide effort to promote parks and wellness.

More than 14,000 people have pledged to go to a park on May 17, and that number keeps growing. Go to Kids to Parks and take the pledge to take your kids to one of Florida’s 171 state parks. There you can also find activity guides, an adventure book, outdoor experts, parks for kids and Buddy Bison’s tips to help you plan out your day. Kids can also visit Buddy Bison for fun ideas and games for their outdoor day.

Click here to view all of our parks that have playgrounds.

May is National Bike Month

~Celebrate the benefits of bicycling at Florida State Parks and Trails throughout May.~   

Bicyclists ride on a paved trail.
Bicyclists ride on a paved trail.

Sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists, National Bike Month is celebrated all throughout America during May. First established in 1956, National Bike Month offers an opportunity to showcase the benefits of bicycling and encourages avid bicyclists and non-bicyclists to get outside and ride a bike. Biking not only preserves personal health, but also promotes health for the environment.

The most important day of National Bike Month is Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 16. Statistics show that more than half of the United States population lives within five miles of their workplace and with interests in healthy, sustainable and economic transportation options increasing, the number of bicycle commuters has grown 47 percent in 11 years.

During the month, bikers can participate in the National Bike Challenge, which unites bicyclists and encourages new riders to take part. It serves as a free and easy way to personally challenge yourself, colleagues or community to ride more often and allows you to compete on a local, state and national level. Last year, more than 30,000 bikers rode almost 19 million miles in the 2nd annual National Bike Challenge. The goal for 2014 set by the League of American Bicyclists is aimed for 50,000 riders and more than 30 million miles of pedaling between May 1 and September 30.

Whether you choose to pedal alone, with a friend or with your community, you can sign up and join the more than 12,000 riders already signed up for the event at the National Bike Challenge homepage.

Click here to view all of our parks that offer bicycling as a recreational opportunity.
 
 

Special Events Happening in May

Upcoming Special Events

Other Important News

    Mobile App for Smartphones Plan your state park adventures using the new Pocket Ranger® app for your smartphone.The FREE Florida State Parks Pocket Ranger® mobile app is available now on iTunes, Android Market and PocketRanger.com.

     

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