Guest speakers, songs and outdoor activities will be featured at the 7th Annual Marion County Springs Festival, which is being held Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Silver River State Park. On Sunday, Sept. 21, several guided hikes and paddling trips are planned.
On Saturday a variety of experts will speak about Florida’s aquifer system, as well as Florida’s springs and springs protection. Speakers include Fay Baird, a senior hydrologist with Pandion Systems; Connie Bersok, administrator of Florida Springs Initiative; Sandra Friend, expert hiker and author of Genuine Florida; Robert Knight, Ph.D., an environmental scientist with Wetland Solutions, Inc.; Harley Means, a geologist with Florida Geological Survey; and Tom Scott, assistant state geologist with Florida Geological Survey. Jimmy Brooks, a senior community affairs coordinator with the Southwest Florida Water Management District, will be present to answer questions and give presentations.
In addition to the guest speakers, the festival will have dozens of interactive booths. The District’s booth will feature the “Know Where It Flows” campaign, which centers around stormwater runoff, and Marion County water quality improvement projects.
The festival will also offer a variety of other educational and entertainment opportunities including water-wise landscaping tips, arts and crafts vendors, guided boat trips on the Silver River, hiking, horse-drawn trolley rides, a photography contest, live bands and the “SpringSong” contest.
Admission is one dollar. Silver River State Park is located east of Ocala on State Road 35 a half mile south of the Silver Springs attraction.
To take part in some of Sunday’s hikes or paddling trips, you must register in advance. For more information about these activities, as well as Saturday’s festivities, please visit the festival web site at www.springsfest.org or contact the Silver River State Park at (352) 236-7148.