News
Winter Is Coming!
By Gina McClain, Volunteer Specialist
One of my responsibilities (and enjoyments) is giving manatee presentations, in person and virtually, to many kinds of organizations: schools, libraries, and various and varied clubs. Recently, I stood with the members of the Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club as we honored the legacy and impact of Jimmy Buffett. I felt great humility and pride in being part of our organization, which has done so much for manatees. As I presented the status of the Florida Manatee to these wonderful and caring people, I was reminded of just how much work we still must do.
Mark your calendars! November is not only Manatee Awareness Month, but also when events pick up:
- 15th Annual Native Rhythms Fest: November 10–12 in Melbourne Beach. nativerhythmsfestival.com
- Indian River Lagoon Day: November 18 in Melbourne. facebook.com/events/480214224028380
- WaterFest 2023: November 18–19 in Englewood Beach. englewoodbeachwaterfest.com
In December, the manatees are in warm-water refugia, staying safe while we celebrate the holidays!
Happy New Year! We are back for our two largest events in January 2024:
- Florida Manatee Festival: January 13–14 in Crystal River. gomanateefest.com
- Blue Spring Manatee Festival: January 27–28 in Orange City. themanateefestival.com
Manatee season is nearly over, so enjoy some of these closing festivals in February 2024:
- ManateeFest 2024: February 3 in West Palm Beach. visitmanateelagoon.com/manateefest
- St. Pete Science Festival: February 10 in St. Petersburg. stpetescifest.org
- Nature Fest: February 24 in Fort Pierce.
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Late 2025 and early 2026 saw lots of engagement on bedrock environmental laws and exciting updates on state-level priorities to further manatee conservation.
