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SOUTHWEST FLORIDA – With the weather changing and holiday season quickly
approaching, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is
encouraging Floridians and visitors to step outside and into the beauty of one
of Florida’s 160 state parks and attend a holiday event. Hosting an array of
festive decorations and activities throughout the holiday season, state parks
are the perfect venue to enjoy the outdoors and celebrate the holidays.
“Holidays are about gathering with family and friends; there’s no better
place to rendezvous this season than a beautiful Florida state park,” said DEP
Florida State Parks Director Donald Forgione. “From visits with Santa to
decorations with millions of dazzling lights, Florida’s state parks are offering
endless opportunities for combining nature, quality time with others and
contagious holiday cheer.”
In light of the hassles that holidays bring, DEP emphasizes the upside of
taking a break at a Florida state park. Attending an event while spending time
in nature and releasing endorphins through physical activity will help relieve
stress and maintain a healthy balance during the busy holiday season. White
sandy beaches, vast open prairies, steep ravines, lush semi-tropical forests,
cultural sites, crystal clear lakes, or rivers and springs offer countless
landscapes for the ideal holiday reprieve.
Holiday events taking place at state parks in Southwest Florida include:
SANTA PAWS 5K RUN AND PET PARADE
Highlands Hammock State Park, Sebring
Saturday, December 11, 8:00 a.m.
Bring your whole family, including Fido, for
this fun event to benefit the Humane Society of Highlands County. Dress up your
pet and get your picture taken with Santa Paws. Pre-registration for the 5k run
is $20 day of race. Registration for the one mile Pet Parade is just $15
person/$25 per family on race day. Regular park entrance fees apply. For more
information, call (863) 386-6094.
TAMMERLIN CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Highlands Hammock State Park, Sebring
Saturday,
December 11, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
The Friends of Highlands Hammock host this
evening concert in the picnic area featuring a special Christmas concert with Tammerlin. Picnic baskets and coolers are welcome and refreshments will be
available at the Hammock Inn restaurant. Concert admission is $5 per person and
regular park entrance fee will be waived after 6:00 p.m. For more information,
call (863) 386-6094.
HOLIDAY MERMAID SHOW
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Spring Hill
Friday,
December 17 and Saturday, December 18, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Visitors are in
for a special holiday treat with a festive performance by the world famous
mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs. Regular park admission fees apply. For more
information, call (352) 592-5656.
CELEBRATION OF LIGHTS
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park,
Homosassa Springs
December 18-24 and 27, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
The park is decked out
for the holidays with thousands of twinkling lights and Christmas decorations
during this multi-evening event sponsored by the Friends of Homosassa Springs
Wildlife Park. Admission is a $2 donation for adults and $1 for children.
About Florida State Parks
Created in 1935 by the Florida Legislature, the
Florida State Park system has grown from eight to 160 parks in the last 75
years. Today, the Florida Park Service manages more than 700,000 acres of
Florida’s natural environment, including 100 miles of beaches, eight National
Historic Landmarks and 39 sites on the National Register of Historic Places.
Florida State Parks has been recognized by the National Recreation and Park
Association as the nation’s first and only two-time Gold Medal winner for the
nation’s best park service. For more information about Florida’s state parks,
visit www.FloridaStateParks.org.
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2012 State of Florida