For Hometown News
The Orange City Blue Spring Manatee Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26, and Sunday, Jan. 27, at Valentine Park in Orange City.
The festival partnered this year with the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. It will offer live entertainment with shows from local performers, and animal ambassadors from the zoo. There also will be loads of arts and crafts booths, kid's games and plenty of great food to create an enjoyable family experience.
Take the shuttle to Blue Spring State Park to see the magnificent manatees in their natural setting. Busses will transport festival guests throughout the day. Each bus will play a video about manatees supplied by the Save the Manatee Club. On any given day you typically will see 100 or more manatees by visiting the spring.
Entertainment includes Caerbonnag Rock and Roll Cover Band, Disc-Connected K-9 Frisbee Show, Leslye Gale from Magic 107.7 radio, the Karegan Wodz solo artist, Bellydance ETC, Bubba "Whoopass" Wilson and the Black Sheep with Jeff Howell from Real Radio 104.1, and Phoenix Country rock band. There will also be Walk on Water Balls, SPCA Adopt-a-Pet, Sand Sculpting, children's fingerprinting by V.I.P.S., rides, face painting, and over 100 arts and crafts booths to enjoy! The Florida Blood Centers Blood Mobile will be present for blood donations.
Valentine Park is along West French Avenue just off U.S. 17-92 in Orange City. From Interstate 4, take exit 114 and follow the signs.
To learn more go to themanateefestival.com.