36th Annual Florida Manatee Festival

Description

The Florida Manatee Festival returns for its 36th year to the manatee capital of the world, downtown Crystal River, on Saturday and Sunday, January 14th & 15th! Presented by The Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, we are pleased to welcome Bailey Electric & Signs as our presenting sponsor for the second year in a row. 

The Florida Manatee Festival is consistently rated by attendees as one of the best outdoor events in Citrus County! Featuring a wide selection of delicious cuisine choices, the Florida Manatee Festival is pleased to offer a tasty selection of delectable delights at the food court right near the main stage in Kings Bay Park along with a beer and wine garden. 

Back this year, guided kayak tours will be offered at the festival for a nominal fee with Hunter Springs Kayaks! Tour guides will take you on a 1-hour tour of the bay and Hunter Springs area giving a firsthand glance at the beauty of our Nature Coast! Also returning are manatee boat tours! Participating local guides with M.E.T.A. (Manatee Eco Tourism Association) will take you to their favorite manatee watch spots for a chance to see our favorite floating friends up close without getting in the water! Boat tours can be purchased at the festival for only $10 for adults, $5 children aged 6 -12, and free for children 5 and under. 

Musical entertainment will be ongoing on both days from two stages. The Main Stage at Kings Bay Park will feature music all weekend long with headliner, nationally acclaimed Fleetwood Mac cover band, Fleetwood Max on Saturday! Additional entertainment can be found in Hippie Village at Heritage House on Citrus Avenue. A full lineup with days and times can be found on our website, updates will be made as the entertainment is booked! Additionally, a vast array of fine art, craft, commercial and non-profit vendors will line the streets on both the north and south sides of downtown. 

“Art in the Park” will be held in Crystal River’s beautiful Town Square, offering the perfect setting to browse and purchase an original piece of art for your home, business or as a wearable piece of jewelry that will be a treasure of special meaning forever. For the kiddos, a Kids Zone and fun activities will span throughout the festival. Some of the activities the Florida Manatee festival has been known to host includes inflatables, face painting, a human catapult, human waterwheel, carnival food and more! For the adults, there will be more food, along with beer and wine gardens near the main music stage and throughout the festival. 

With something to please everyone, the 36th Annual Florida Manatee Festival is the place to go! 

For more information: www.GoManateeFest.com, www.facebook.com/FloridaManateeFestival, or 352-795-3149.

What: 36th Annual Florida Manatee Festival
When: Saturday, Jan. 14, 9 am – 5 pm; and Sunday, Jan. 15, 9 am – 4 pm
Cost: $5 per person, age 12 and under free
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 at the former Crystal River Mall at 1801 NW U.S. 19 (approximately one mile north of the event) with free shuttle buses to the event. Handicap-accessible buses will be available for transportation.
Boat Tours: Local boat captains will offer boat tours on a first-come basis. Tickets are available on site for $10 for adults; $5 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: Local guides will take you on a 1-hour guided kayak tours of the bay with Hunter Springs Kayaks.