Wednesday, May 16, 2007 Jacksonville, Fla.
The City of Jacksonville Department of Parks, Recreation, Entertainment and Conservation will host the second annual JaxParks…Get Out There! festival May 19-27 featuring nine fun-filled days of free activities and entertainment.
JaxParks... Get Out There! will feature five Family Fun Day events and a series of activities called Short Stops that offer the opportunity to experience abbreviated versions of environmental education and recreation programs throughout the week. Family Fun Day events include the city's fourth annual Jax Sports Fest and the Celebrate the River, Explore the Timucuan Trail State and National Parks and Kids Kampus Survivor events.
A highlight of the week will be the popular Spring Music Festival scheduled for Saturday, May 26 at 6 p.m. Entitled Music Meets Movies, the event will feature actor, comedian and singer Jim Belushi and The Sacred Hearts Band, followed by the animated film "Hoodwinked" with Belushi as the voice of the woodsman.
JaxParks…Get Out There! is a collaboration with the National Park Service, Florida Park Service, Jacksonville and the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau, WTEV CBS 47, WAWS FOX 30 and the Department of Parks, Recreation, Entertainment and Conservation.
A complete schedule of events is listed below. For more information, visit www.jaxparks.com or call 630-CITY.
Saturday, May 19
- Kick off and Celebrate the River events
o 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
o Walter Jones Historical Park, 11964 Mandarin Road
o Join the St. Johns Riverkeeper and the Mandarin Historical Society in a celebration of the history and ecology of the St. Johns River. Activities include nature programs, native plants workshops, historical reenactments, kids' games, food, musical entertainment and boat rides down the river. Free kayaking and canoeing provided by Black Creek Outfitters.
- Jax Sports Fest
o 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
o Fletcher Morgan Park, 6736 Beach Blvd.
Adolph Wurn Park, 2115 Dean Road
Cuba Hunter Gymnasium, 3620 Bedford Road
o This fun event offers a taste of sports in Jacksonville. A variety of sports clinics will be led by local and celebrity athletes including Evan Cruz and members of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The first 300 people will receive a free Jax Sports Fest commemorative t-shirt.
o Jax Sports Fest Clinics schedule:
§ 9-10:30 a.m. (Softball/Baseball at Fletcher Morgan Park)
§ 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Football/Cheerleading at Adolph Wurn Park)
§ 1- 2:30 p.m. (Soccer/Agilities at Adolph Wurn Park)
§ 3 - 4:30 p.m. (Basketball at Cuba Hunter Gymnasium)
- Explore the Timucuan Trail State and National Parks
o 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (last boat tour departs at 12:30 p.m.)
o Ribault Club, Fort George Island Cultural State Park, 11241 Fort George Road
o Preservation Project Jacksonville, the National Park Service, the Florida Park Service and The Nature Conservancy are partnering to host this environmental-focused event. Activities include boat tours of Fort George River and Machaba Balu Preserve and educational programs that focus on the rich history of the Talbot Islands State Park, Fort George Island and Kingsley Plantation.
o Please note that the boat tours and educational seminars are offered on a first come, first served basis due to limited space. Boat tour schedule:
§ 10:30 a.m.
§ 11:30 a.m.
§ 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 20
- Kids Kampus Survivor
o 1 - 4 p.m.
o Kids Kampus at Metropolitan Park, 1410 Gator Bowl Blvd.
o This exciting event is designed with young children in mind. Youngsters 12 and under can have fun participating in a variety of obstacle courses and other age-appropriate competitions.
o Events include:
§ Fireman's Flee
§ Water Bucket Brigade
§ The Egg Roll
§ River Crossing
§ Tire Traverse
§ Rubber Road
§ Gorge Crossing
§ Animal Safari
§ Buried Treasure
Saturday, May 19 – Friday, May 25: JaxParks... Get Out There! Short Stops:
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve
- Battles for the Bluff
o Sunday, May 20, 11 a.m., 1, 2 and 3 p.m.
o Historic weapons demonstrations presented by Timucuan Preserve staff in period dress.
o Fort Caroline National Memorial, 12713 Ft. Caroline Road, (904) 641-7155
- An Island on the Edge
o Sunday, May 20, 2 p.m.
o This is an intricate look into the events leading up to the plantation period and beyond with discussions about the political climate of the time and how it shaped the lives of plantation owners and slaves.
o Kingsley Plantation grounds, 11676 Palmetto Ave., (904) 251-3537
- Clash of Cultures
o Monday, May 21 through Saturday, May 26
o 10 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.
o Timucuan Preserve staff present historical programs highlighting the clash of cultures of the Timucua, French and Spanish who settled in the area.
o Fort Caroline National Memorial, 12713 Ft. Caroline Road, (904) 641-7155
- Battles for the Bluff
o Sunday, May 27, 11 a.m., 1, 2 and 3 p.m.
o Historic weapons demonstrations presented by Timucuan Preserve staff in period dress.
o Fort Caroline National Memorial, 12713 Ft. Caroline Road, (904) 641-7155
- An Island on the Edge
o Sunday, May 27, 2 p.m.
o An intricate look into the events leading up to the plantation period and beyond with discussions about the political climate of the time and how it shaped the lives of plantation owners and slaves.
o Kingsley Plantation grounds, 11676 Palmetto Ave., (904) 251-3537
Urban Activities
- Explore the Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum
o Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
o Monday, May 22 – Friday, May 25, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
o Plan an adventure of learning and discovery with a visit to the LaVilla Museum, where Jacksonville's African-American history comes to life through the permanent exhibit "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing." Enjoy a special animatronics salute to LaVilla's native sons, JamesWeldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson, and visit the "Through Our Eyes 2007" local artists' exhibit in the museum gallery.
o 829 N. Davis St., corner of State and Davis streets in downtown, (904) 632-5555
- Department of Parks, Recreation, Entertainment and Conservation Short Stops: A Test Drive of Our Programs
o Try a free session or more of these classes:
§ Pilates – McGirts Creek Community Center
§ Aerobics – Forestview Community Center
§ Taekwondo –Kennedy Community Center
§ Art/Pottery – Murray Hill Art Center
§ Ballet – Cuba Hunter Community Center
§ Hip Hop Dance – Balis Community Center
Environmental Education
- Marsh Mammals
o Saturday, May 19, 11 a.m.–noon
o Walter Jones Historical Park, 11964 Mandarin Road
- Waterway Wildlife
o Saturday, May 19, noon –1 p.m.
o Walter Jones Historical Park, 11964 Mandarin Road
- Trail Walk and Talk
o Monday, May 21, 9–10 a.m.
o Sal Taylor Creek Preserve, 5873 Nathan Hale Road
- If Trees Could Talk
o Monday, May 21, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
o Camp Milton Historic Preserve, 1175 Halsema Road N.
- Florida's Ancient Animals
o Monday, May 21, 1–2 p.m.
o Camp Milton Historic Preserve, 1175 Halsema Road N.
- Trail Walk and Talk
o Monday, May 21, 2:30–3:30 p.m.
o Camp Milton Historic Preserve, 1175 Halsema Road N.
- Outdoor Observations
o Friday, May 25, 8–9 a.m.
o Castaway Island Preserve, 2885 San Pablo Road S.
- Outdoor Observations
o Wednesday, May 23, 10–11 a.m.
o Blue Cypress Park, 4012 University Blvd. N.
- Florida's Ancient Animals
o Wednesday, May 23, 1–2 p.m.
o Castaway Island Preserve, 2885 San Pablo Road S.
- Salt Marsh Ecosystem
o Wednesday, May 23, 3–4 p.m.
o Castaway Island Preserve, 2885 San Pablo Road S.
- Trail Walk and Talk
o Thursday, May 24, 9–10 a.m.
o McGirts Creek Regional Park, 8425 118th St.
- Wildflower Walk
o Thursday, May 24, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
o Sal Taylor Creek Preserve, 5873 Nathan Hale Road
- Insect Investigations
o Thursday, May 24, 2:30–3:30 p.m.
o Camp Milton Historic Preserve, 1175 Halsema Road N.
- Story time Science
o Friday, May 25, 10–10:45 a.m.
o Castaway Island Preserve, 2885 San Pablo Road S.
- Wildlife of Northeast Florida
o Friday, May 25, 11 a.m.–noon
o Castaway Island Preserve, 2885 San Pablo Road S.
- Outdoor Observations
o Friday, May 25, 2–3 p.m.
o Cuba Hunter Park, 3520 Bedford Road
Saturday, May 26
- Spring Music Festival: Music Meets Movies
o Gates open at 6 p.m., entertainment begins at 7:30 p.m.
o Featuring Jim Belushi and The Sacred Hearts Band followed by the animated film, "Hoodwinked" with Jim Belushi as the voice of the Woodsman (Rated PG)
o Metropolitan Park, 4110 Gator Bowl Blvd.