In Juno Beach, spring doesn’t officially begin until Loggerhead Marinelife Center hosts its annual sea turtles party, TurtleFest. Scheduled for Saturday, March 19 at Loggerhead Park, the thirteenth annual sea turtle party’s theme, “Slide Over the Sea,” hints at the interconnectivity of not just our seas, but influences from land as well.
With more than 10,000 expected visitors to make the trek to Juno Beach for TurtleFest, this daylong event is one of the year’s largest conservation-themed events in Palm Beach County. Running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., TurtleFest 2016 will feature educational presentations, shopping, live entertainment, and interaction with rehabilitating sea turtles at LMC’s turtle yard. To demonstrate the interconnectivity of the world’s oceans and waterways, LMC’s World Ocean pavilion host a series of activities for children to partake, including an interactive wet lab, a mock sea turtle rescue, fishing target practice, a junior veterinary lab, and more. The PNC Grow Up Great Lagoon area will include a number of activities for the smallest turtles of the group. From children’s story time and a designated play area to early learning feel station and arts and crafts; the activities are designed to be fun and educational.
Live music acts start with two performances from the next generation of entertainers when the Performing Arts Academy of Jupiter takes the stage from 10:15-10:45 a.m., followed by a performance from the Maltz Jupiter Theatre’s Conservatory of Performing Arts 11-11:30 a.m. The live entertainment kicks it into high gear with Mike Mineo at 11:45 a.m.; the Samantha Russell Band at 1 p.m.; Chain Reaction at 2:30 p.m.; and Erasmith closing things down from 4:30-6 p.m.
And as always, there will be plenty of carnival-type activities to get the kids moving. Keeping to this year’s theme, there will be a massive slide for kids to ride, while a rock-climbing wall will test there dexterity, an inflatable obstacle course will test their physical and mental brawn, and carnival games to test their luck.
- TurtleFest is a free event held at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center and surrounding Loggerhead Park.
- Festivities will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Parking will be tight, so FPL has arranged for free parking and shuttle service at its headquarters in Juno Beach: [600-644] Universe Blvd., North Palm Beach, FL 33408. Click here for a map.
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