20th Annual Suwannee Springfest, March 17-20, 2016
While not technically/officially/yet in our Visit Natural North Florida region, the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park offers some events that draw from our 11-county region, as well as from the southeast U.S. The music begins at noon on Thursday and continues until Sunday evening. Featured artists include John Prine, Brandi Carlile and the Del …
William Bartram Heritage Day, 3/5/16, Hawthorne, FL
An invitation from the organizers: “Join us for an exciting day planned at Little Orange Creek Nature Park in Hawthorne at the 4th Annual William Bartram Day. The event will feature William Bartram in costume and first person giving a fascinating talk for both adults and children. Live music, native plant sales, storytelling, booths …
9th Annual Winter Fine Arts Fair, March 4-6, Town of Tioga, Alachua County
The 2016 event kicks off Friday, March 4 at 5PM with dance, music and over 120 exhibiting artists. Expect to see paintings, sculpture and all forms of fine art. There will also be a Kids’ Zone, with activities for the younger set. The show is open 10AM to 5PM on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is …
The Mackerel Are Coming! The Mackerel Are Coming!
Word is that the pods of bait fish that both Spanish and king mackerel love and follow are now north of Tampa Bay and heading towards our Big Bend/Natural North Florida waters. That means, that by the middle of March, the “bite” should be hot and heavy at places like Seahorse Reef at …
15th Annual Steinhatchee Community Fishing Tournament, 3/12/16
I’ve always enjoyed fishing the Steinhatchee Community Tournament. It occurs at a great time of year, and anglers typically find lots of species, lots of action, and have lots of fun! I can’t fish this year. I’ll be representing Visit Natural North Florida at Canoecopia in Madison, Wisconsin (probably in the cold and snow!) with …
2016 Trout Madness at Steinhatchee’s Sea Hag Marina Ends 3/31
There’s just one more month to enter and win the Sea Hag Marina’s February/March Trout Madness Contest! Just catch a big trout, have it weighed and photographed back at the marina by an employee, and be eligible to win a $100 Sea Hag Gift Certificate. There’s no entry fee, and you can enter once a …
“Let’s Speak Fish” With Capt. Danny Allen, Swamp Head Brewery, Gainesville, 3/9/16
This should be an interesting program, featuring Capt. Danny Allen (Southern Salt Charters), veteran Cedar Key guide. It’s presented by (and at) Swamp Head Brewery. A very special guest will be Capt. Leiza Fitzgerald, CCA-Florida STAR Tournament Director. Expect to learn about the CCA, the STAR Tournament, and especially about fishing for redfish on Florida’s …
Bradford County, Florida’s 2016 County Fair, March 8-13
Attracting 15 to 20,000 visitors from several adjacent counties, the Bradford County Fair has all the usual family-oriented fun and games, but also some good old-fashioned “county fair” events and activities. Exhibits include agriculture, crafts and animal husbandry. Fair Schedule and Directions Tuesday March 8 5:00 – 11:00 pm Ribbon …
Cedar Key’s Shell Mound, a “Sea Kayaker’s Playground”
While the town of Cedar Key is 24-miles off the beaten path, at the western (Gulf) end of SR24, Shell Mound is a bit farther! “The Shell Mound Unit of Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge is adjacent to Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. This unique feature was created by archaic period Eastern Woodland Indian cultures …
Small Town Escape: Follow That Dream Down Highway 40 to Yankeetown, Florida
If you’re driving north or south on US19/98 and find yourself in the village of Inglis, near the highway’s intersection with the Withlacoochee River, be sure to turn west on SR40, locally known as “Follow That Dream Parkway”. Yes, Elvis was there in 1961 filming Follow That Dream, one of his most successful movies, putting …