10th Annual Wild Amelia Nature Fest: A special celebration

JKMbrooks@comcast.net

May 9, 2016 7:20 a.m.

From a sea turtle release to foot-stomping music, the 10th annual Wild Amelia Nature Festival, set for May 20-22, has a lot to offer to island residents and visitors alike and will be a blend of popular components from past festivals and some new offerings designed to make this 10th anniversary festival a very special celebration.

The 10th annual Wild Amelia Nature Festival, to be held at venues on and around Amelia Island, will be held from Friday, May 20-Sunday, May 22, 2016, and will once again feature ecotours, exhibits for adults and children, a sea turtle release, a silent auction, a Zoo photo safari, live music, and encounters with live critters for nature lovers of all ages. Visit www.wildamelia.com for details. Photos--Kayak Amelia staff and Kathy Brooks

As in the past, the Festival offers ecotours—hikes and bike, boat, golf cart, and segway trips—throughout the three-day period. Again this year, the Festival offers a relaxing sunset fundraiser cruise on the Amelia River on Friday evening with munchies and refreshments for the guests. Additionally, there will be a very unique offering at the Jacksonvile Zoo and Gardens during the Festival. On early Sunday morning, the Zoo will host a nature photography shoot behind the scenes at the Zoo led by professional photographers and zoo docents and a brunch for the hungry photographers.

The slate of Saturday’s Festival activities includes more ecotours and a huge Expo at the Atlantic Avenue Recreation Center from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. This Expo will feature exhibits from nonprofit nature and conservation groups, as well as “green, sustainable” businesses in the community. New exhibitors will join old friends: the SeaMobile from Panacea, Florida, will bring live critters to amaze all the guests and a real mermaid will be on hand to share her magic with the children.

Again this year there will be a special “Passport Program” for children: they will be invited to find the answers to a number of questions about the Festival’s mascot –the shark— and will receive a prize when they have done so. Music by Laid Back and refreshments will add to the day. For the shopper in all of us, a spectacular silent auction—ranging from items for children to excursions like a daytrip to Cumberland Island—will be ongoing until 3 p.m. At 3:30 p.m., the winners of the 8th annual Wild Amelia Nature Photography Contest will be announced as the Expo begins to wind down. Sunday will dawn with Sunrise Yoga on the beach and continue with other ecotours.

There is something for everyone at the 10th annual Wild Amelia Nature Festival, a celebration of nature the whole family can enjoy. Registration for events is ongoing. For more information, or to register for any events requiring registration, please visit www.wildamelia.com.

COME JOIN THE WILD BUNCH THIS MAY! TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE AT WILD AMELIA!