Sea Turtle Day Festival is Saturday, March 2 at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton.

The annual event at the 1801 N. Ocean Blvd. location will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the nature center’s web site.

There is free admission both to the event and for parking/shuttle – at Spanish River Park .

Kristin Child, the environmental program coordinator for the City of Boca Raton, said in a release, “last year, more than 3,500 people attended Sea Turtle Day, and we are expecting that number to increase this year.”

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

And, there is always the option to 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.

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, monitor 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 2019

WHERE: 1801 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 2

ADMISSION: Free for all ages (donations appreciated)

PARKING: Free parking/shuttle offered at Spanish River Park, 3001 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton. Shuttle stops will be located at the end of each half of the parking loops.  Shuttles should be available every 7 to 10 minutes.

SCHEDULE: 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 (Shipwreck Aquarium 2:45 p.m.) Animal encounters (Classroom 9 a.m.-4 p.m.) Art & Science Zone (Front Lawn 9 a.m.-4 p.m. – hand stamp required.)  Ashley Trail Guided Walks (Butterfly Garden, 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30 a.m., 1, 1:30, 2, 2:30 p.m.) Children’s Passport (Get passport at Welcome Center, collect stamps from the self-serve passport stations in the Exhibitor Loop, then return to Welcome Center for a prize.) Face Painting (Understory Level 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., hand stamp required.) Intracoastal Adventure Samplers (Try kayaks, paddle board with Island Water Sports. Sign up at the Activity Sales Tent – space limited to first come, first serve. $10 per person, ages 12 and up. Children 12-17 must sign-up and participate with an adult. Kayak 9:30, 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 3:30 p.m. Paddle board 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 2:30 p.m.) Meet & Greet Luna (Understory level 9:30, 10:30 a.m., 1:15, 2:15 and 3:15 p.m.) Sol Children Theater (Amphitheater 10, 10:45, 11:30 a.m., 12:45, 1:45, 2:30, 3:15 p.m.)

FOOD TRUCKS: Chick-fil-A, That Vegan Food Truck, Conch Shack, J&J Soul Food, Ragae Beets, Joe Snow, Reds Kitchen, Sidecar Kitchen.

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