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A Newsletter of Florida State Parks | #FLStateParks |
Purchase Your Tickets Now for the
Florida Folk Festival
 Stephen Foster Folk Culture
Center State Park invites you to the 64th Annual Florida Folk
Festival on the banks of the historic Suwannee River. The festival will be held
on Memorial Day weekend, May 27 – 29.
Since 1953, this event has payed
tribute to Florida’s land, people and diverse cultural heritage. Named a “Top
20 Event” in the Southeast, this festival has activities for everyone. There
will be over 300 performances on multiple stages. This year’s lineup features
Arlo Guthrie, Jim Stafford, Billy Dean, John McEuen, Les Dudek, Frank Thomas,
The Lee Boys, Ben Prestage, Mark Johnson & Emory Lester, Papaloko &
Loray Mistik, The WillowWacks, Rebecca Zapen & Friends, Brother Brother and Chloe
Channell. Visitors may also participate in a jam session, take a workshop or
enjoy local eats and merchandise from various vendors.
Advance tickets for the
Florida Folk Festival are $25 per day or $50 for the weekend for adults
and $30 per day or $60 for the weekend at the gate. Children under six
years of age are admitted free. Ticket prices for children between
the ages of six and 16 are $5 for the weekend.
Camping and lodging are available at Suwannee River State Park and O’Leno State
Park, among other off-site options. Visit www.FloridaFolkFestival.com for more information.
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This month at State Parks, Trails and Historic Sites |
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
The Florida State Parks YouTube channel features and promotes fun things to see and do at our state parks. Videos have themes revolving
around Florida State Parks and trails and are made by park rangers, visitors and volunteers.
Subscribe to our channel and be the first to view videos and get updates from Florida State Parks.
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Annual
Kids to Parks Day
Kids
to Parks Day is 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 environment. The
day offers children the opportunity to participate in
environmental education and provides health and wellness through outdoor
recreation.
Visit any Florida State Park to participate!
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May is National Bike Month
National Bike Month showcases the many
benefits of bicycling such as saving money, preserving your health and explore the outdoors. Visit our activities page to find state parks and trails where bicycling is popular.
Bike enthusiasts can see just why Florida was voted
"Best Trails State" in 2008 by American Trails. Click here to find a trail
near you!
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May is National
Photography Month
Now, more than ever, pictures connect us to moments we have experienced and allow us to relive them again in our memory.
Congratulations to March's #PhotoContest winner, Janneke Case. Her photo, "Wood Storks in Reflection" was taken at Little Manatee River State Park in Wimauma, Florida.
Submit your photos and vote for the winner of the April contest. You could be next month's winner!
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May 8th is
Mother's Day
"Youth fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship
fall; A mother's secret hope outlives them all." - Oliver Wendell Holmes
Mother's Day is a great time to honor and show appreciation to the mothers in our lives. What better way to share this day than to visit a Florida State Park with the greatest mother of all time, Mother Nature.
Share
your visits, photos and historic moments with us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest
and Instagram by
using #FLStateParks.
We’d love to see your photos!
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Military Appreciation Month
Florida's State Parks join with others to honor our current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Learn about free and discounted Annual Entrance passes here.
When you visit a State Park in May, remember to share your photos with us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram by using #FLStateParks. We'd love to see your photos!
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Events in May |
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Woofstock
The Barnacle Historic State Park, Coconut Grove
Sunday, May 1, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Barnacle hosts this special event, which will include dogs with pet tricks, a pet/owner look-alike contest, K-9 officer demonstration, animal blessing, adoptions and more. There will be live music by Lenny Batista from noon to 3 p.m. All dogs must be well-behaved and on a hand-held leash that does not exceed six feet in length. Admission is free for kids and $2 for adults. For parking and eligibility criteria, click here.
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Lake Louisa Nature Fest
Lake Louisa State Park, Clermont
Saturday, May 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Nature Fest is sponsored by the Friends of Lake Louisa State Park, Inc. and features wildlife exhibits, living history exhibits, children's activities, guided hikes, tram tours and more. So be sure to come out and enjoy all that Nature Fest has to offer. The event is free with regular admission fee of $5 per vehicle, up to eight people.
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22nd Annual Tour of Gardens
Alfred B Maclay Gardens State Park, Tallahassee
Saturday, May 14 (all day)
You are invited to attend the 22nd Annual Tour of Gardens. This tour is a fundraising event that begins with a breakfast at 9 a.m. along with a silent auction. Participants will be given maps and directions for a self-paced tour of private home gardens in Tallahassee. The event will display diverse garden styles and solutions to common landscape design challenges. Admission is $25 per person in advance or $30 the day of the event.
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Annual Free Kids Fishing Clinic
Fort Clinch State Park, Fernandina Beach
Saturday, May 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Join us for the Annual Free Kids Fishing Clinic. Kids learn how to be responsible anglers, tie knots, practice casting and more. Participants receive a free rod and reel and get to go fishing on the Fort Clinch Pier. Bait is provided, however, all parents/guardians must attend.
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Stargazing in the Garden
Eden Gardens State Park, Santa Rosa Beach
Friday, May 28, 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Volunteers from the Northwest Florida Astronomy Association will set up several telescopes for public viewing of star clusters, planets and galaxies. They will also answer questions about the night sky. All ages are invited to enjoy an evening of star gazing. The park will close at 7:41 p.m. All those attending the event should arrive prior to this time. Bring a picnic basket, blankets and chairs to enjoy the Dark Sky with us. Admission is free with park entry. $4 per vehicle, up to eight people **This event is weather permitting**
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Get Your Annual Pass Today
Shop our online
store at Shop.FloridaStateParks.org for annual passes,
passports, shirts, water bottles, backpacks and more.
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Gift Cards Are Now Available
Give the gift of sleeping under the stars in Florida State Parks! Florida State Parks offers Gift Cards which can be used to make reservations for camping and cabins at participating Florida State Parks.
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What's Available This Weekend?
Are you looking for a
cool place to camp this weekend? Visit ReserveAmerica.com
and click on our new camping this weekend feature
to find state park campgrounds with open campsites for the
weekend!
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Mobile App for Smartphones
Plan your
state park adventures using the 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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The Real Florida Passport
The Real Florida Passport is your perfect
companion while visiting Florida State Parks! The Pioneer Edition contains 56 pages of fun
facts, space to make notes and so much more. Order your Passport today and visit a park
near you!
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Limited Edition FSP Tumbler
Tumblers keep
your drinks hot or cold on the go, and with the Florida State Parks Limited Edition design you
can take a little of your favorite state parks wherever your adventure leads.
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