By Wilma Allen
The Wild Amelia Nature Festival’s signature event, Eco-Expo, will take place May 18 at Main Beach Park this year, alongside Nassau County’s special “Opening of the Beaches” celebration. Together, these free events offer a full day of fun, educational and entertaining events for the whole family.
The popular annual Eco-Expo, now in its 15th year, is presented by the non-profit Keep Nassau Beautiful and focuses on local wildlife, ecology, and the preservation of our natural resources. It offers a wide range of activities, environmental experts and educators, critters, and hands-on experiences.
The most popular exhibits are the Center for Wildlife Education, Kids Niche activities, and animals, says Lynda Bell, Keep Nassau Beautiful Executive Director. Making appearances will be raptors, snakes, turtles, terrapins, bats, and a very popular raccoon – Crystal. Also, new exhibitors include the Rattlesnake Conservancy and Marine Mammals.
Meanwhile, there will be live music all day, a Kids Zone, Touch-a-Truck, bounce houses, a water slide, seven food trucks, a beer garden and much more. Plus, you can enjoy sun, sand, surf, and volleyball at the beach, and watch skateboarders compete at the neighboring skatepark.
Eco-Expo is the grand finale of the week-long Wild Amelia Nature Festival, which kicks off Friday, May 10 with a ticketed sunset cruise hosted by Amelia River Cruises. Lots of people and organizations will be represented at various times and locations throughout the week. You can sign up for talks on native birds, bats and plants, kayak excursions, hikes at Fort Clinch and walks at Egans Creek. You can register for the Isle of 8K beach run, an electric bike tour, or join a community cleanup. Also, check out baby goat yoga, stand-up paddle and boat tours. The list goes on and on.
Nassau County libraries, The Book Loft, and Story & Song Bookstore Bistro will have free Wild Storytime events for kids throughout the week starting May 13. If you love garden parties, reserve your spot at Cocktails for the Gardens, a fundraiser for Keep Nassau Beautiful to be held at Main Beach Friday evening, May 17.
Many of these events are offered through Nassau County’s “Opening of the Beaches” bash which celebrates Nassau County’s 200th anniversary with support from the Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau. With anniversaries in mind, stop by the Nassau Vision 2025 tent at the Expo and share your thoughts about county growth and development in the future.
There is detailed information on times, locations and ticket prices, if any, for all the events at KeepNassauBeautiful.org/festival, and nassaufl2050.com/bicentennial.
