Description

The Florida Manatee Festival returns for its 38th year to the manatee capital of the world, downtown Crystal River, on Saturday and Sunday, January 18th & 19th! Produced by The Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, we are pleased to welcome Coast to Coast Heating & Air Conditioning as our presenting sponsor. 

The Florida Manatee Festival is consistently rated by attendees as the best outdoor event 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 Paddle Tails! Tour guides will take you on a 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 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 $15 for adults, $10 children aged 4 -12, and free for children 3 and under. 

Don't miss the free shuttle and entry into the world renowned Three Sisters Springs! In partnership with the Friends of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Complex,  City of Crystal River, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, you can take a free shuttle right from the Florida Manatee Festival to Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge's open house at Three Sisters Springs and the refuge Visitor Center!  Fun and informative programs will be held throughout the weekend at both the Three Sisters Springs property and the refuge Visitor Center. Buses will run on Saturday from 9 am - 3:30 pm and Sunday from 9 am - 2:30 pm with pickup and drop off located near the entry gate on 5th Street.

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 a double dose of Classic Rock from our headliner "Smokin’" a Tribute to Boston and "Forever Foreigner", a Tribute to Foreigner. 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 38th Annual Florida Manatee Festival is the place to go! 

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

What: 38th Annual Florida Manatee Festival
When: Saturday, Jan. 18, 9 am – 5 pm; and Sunday, Jan. 19, 9 am – 4 pm
Cost: $10 per person, age 12 and under free. Grab a Citrus County Chronicle - Weekend Edition - for up to $5-off up to 4 adult entries SUNDAY ONLY for Citrus County Day!
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 Crystal River High School AND the West Citrus Government Bldg (The DMV) 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 $15 for adults; $10 for children 4 – 12 years old; and children 3 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 guided kayak tours of the bay with Paddle Tails.