The 14th annual Sea Turtle Day Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 7 at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center at 1801 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton.

Entertainment on Turtle Day is spread out across Gumbo Limbo’s 20 acres, that provide refuge to a variety of plants and animals – some rare or endangered.

Activities planned include: Live animal presentations, Face painting, Aquarium feedings, Guided nature tours, Kids activities, Exhibitor booths, Food and drink.

Persons can also walk the boardwalk, view tropical and native fish in the many aquariums, or relax in the butterfly garden. There is also the opportunity to check in on the sea turtle rehabilitation facility’s patients.

There is free admission to the event – but not for the parking.

Parking for the event will be at Spanish River Park. The price for parking in the park is $20 (cars, motor scooters, motorbikes, motorcycles, 10 passenger or less vans).

There will be free shuttles back-and-forth from Spanish River Park to Gumbo Limbo, leaving every 15 minutes.

The Nature Center, in a cooperative with the City of Boca Raton, Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District, FAU and Friends of Gumbo Limbo, monitors over 800 turtle nests a year – within a five mile span of the popular A1A attraction. It releases more than 9,000 stranded sea turtle hatchlings each nesting season.

IF YOU GO 

WHO: Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

WHAT: Sea Turtle Day Festival 2020

WHERE: 1801 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 7

ADMISSION: Free for all ages (donations appreciated)

PARKING/SHUTTLE: At Spanish River Park, 3001 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton. The price for Spanish River parking is free for Boca Raton residents with a beach parking pass, or $20 (cars, motor scooters, motorbikes, motorcycles, 10 passenger or less vans); $65 (other motor vehicles). There will be a free shuttle back-and-forth to Gumbo Limbo. Shuttle stops will be located throughout the park.  Shuttles should be available every 15 minutes.

ANIMAL FEEDINGS – Aquariums (Marngrove 11:15 a.m., Coral Reef 12:15 p.m., Nearshore Reef 1:15 p.m., Shipwreck 2:15 p.m.) Gopher Tortoise (Gopher Tortoise Enclosure 10:15 a.m.) Sea Turtle Enrichment (Mangrove Aquarium 2:45 p.m.)

DISCOVERY SESSIONS: Activity Walk-thru (9-10 a.m.) Plankton and Health of our Ocean (10-10:15 a.m.), Life under the Sand (10:30-10:45 a.m.), Creatures of the Hammock (11-11:15 a.m.), Show and Shell (11:30-11:45), Plankton and the Health of our Ocean (1-1:15 p.m.), Life under the Sand (1:30-1:45 p.m.), Creatures of the Hammock (2-2:15 p.m.), Show and Shell (2:30-2:45 p.m.)

EXHIBITORS: 4Ocean, ANGARI Foundation, At Wits End, Audubon Society of the Evereglades, Ben J. Hicks, Boca Raton Children’s Science Explorium, Boca Raton Ocean Rescue, Boca Raton Office of Sustainability, Boca Raton Public Library, Boca Raton Sea Turtle Conservation & Research, Boca Raton Utility Services, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Bus, Daggerwing Nature Center, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Atlantic University Sea Turtle Lab, Florida Atlantic University Elasmo Lab, Florida Native Plant Society, Force-E SCUBA Center, Friends of Gumbo Limbo, FWC, Gumbo Limbo Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility, Island Water Sports, Loggerhead Marinelife, Manatee Lagoon, Marine Education Initiative, Miami-Dade Sea Turtle Conservation, Museum of Discovery & Science, National Save the Sea Turtle Foundation, North American Butterfly Association, NSU-Broward County Sea Turtle Convervation, River Center, Sandoway Discovery Center, Sierra Club Laxahatchee Group, Sea Turtle Oversight Protection, Surfrider Foundation Palm Beach County, Sustainscape, The Reef Institute, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

FACE PAINTING: Face Painting by Purple People Painter Parlor between the aquariums (9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.)

FOOD TRUCKS: Tropical Oasis Express, Tropical Slips, Nabati Super Foods, Outside the Box Food, Inspir-Asain

HYDRATION STATIONS: The City of Boca Raton’s Mobile Aqua Refreshment Station, Water coolers located along the Ashley Trail on the way to the Chiki and in the dining area, Water fountains with bottle fillers are in the Nature Center

NO DROP OFF/PICK-UP: Drop offs/pick-ups are not allowed in front Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. Persons may be dropped off/picked up at Red Reef West parking lot, 1400 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton

NO ATM: There is no ATM machine at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

CONTACT: 561.544.8605

ONLINE: gumbolimbo.org