November 20, 2014 Florida State Parks Newsletter

Florida Department of Environmental Protection November 20, 2014 Newsletter Celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 27 ~Spend Thanksgiving in a Florida State Park with family and friends.~    A turkey at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. On the last Thursday in November of each year, families throughout the United States join together for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Florida Park Service would like to remind everyone that most of Florida’s state parks will be open on Thanksgiving Day.The Florida Park Service invites family and friends to plan a park picnic with Thanksgiving food as everyone enjoys the fall air. After you have finished your Thanksgiving meal, enjoy the recreational opportunities offered at Florida’s state parks. Most of Florida’s state parks will be open during their regular hours of 8:00 a.m. to sunset. The Florida Park Service encourages visitors to call ahead or check the Florida State Parks Website to ensure the park they wish to attend is open. See below parks that will be open, but will not be offering all regular services: De Leon Springs State Park in De Leon Springs - Sugarmill Restaurant closed  Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna - No cave tours Fort George Island Cultural State Park in Jacksonville - Ribault Clubhouse closed Gamble Plantation Historic State Park in Ellenton - Mansion closed Gasparilla Island State Park in Boca Grande - Lighthouse museum closed Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park in Cross Creek - No guided tours See below the parks that will be closed on Thanksgiving day: Constitution Convention Museum State Park in Port St. Joe Forest Capital Museum State Park in Perry John Gorrie Museum State Park in Apalachicola Orman House Historic State Park in Apalachicola San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park in St. Marks The Barnacle Historic State Park in Coconut Grove Ybor City Museum State Park in Tampa On behalf of the Florida Park Service and Florida State Parks, we wish you a happy Thanksgiving.     Upcoming Holiday Events in December Fri. Dec. 5 -  26th Annual Camellia Christmas from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park in Tallahassee Fri. Dec. 5 to Wed. Dec. 31 - Festival of Lights at 9:00 p.m. nightly at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs (excludes Christmas Day) Sat. Dec. 6 and Sun. Dec. 7 - Union Holiday Encampment from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sat. and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Sunday at Fort Clinch State Park in Fernandina Beach Sat. Dec. 6 - Winter Sunrise Canoe Tour from 6:15 to 9:30 a.m. at Ichetucknee Springs State Park in Fort White Sat. Dec. 6 - A Cracker Christmas from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Silver Springs State Park in Ocala Sat. Dec. 6 - Lignumvitae Key Christmas from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Parkin Islamorada Sat. Dec. 6 - Christmas on the Florida Frontier from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Dade Battlefield Historic State Park in Bushnell Fri. Dec. 12 to Sun. Dec. 14 - Santa Over The Rainbow from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon Fri. Dec. 12 and Sat. Dec. 13 - The Candlelight Experience from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Fort Foster State Historic Site in Thonotosassa Sat. Dec. 13 - Junior League 5K Reindeer Race and 1 Mile Santa Shuffle from 9:00 to 11:00 at St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Fri. Dec. 19 to Fri. Dec. 26 - Celebration of Lights from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Homosassa (excludes Christmas Day) Fri. Dec. 19 to Sun. Dec. 21 - Santa Over The Rainbow from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon Sat. Dec. 20 - Christmas Candlelight Tour and Open House from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Eden Gardens State Parkin Santa Rosa Beach Sun. Dec. 21 - Chanukah at The Barnacle from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Barnacle Historic State Park in Coconut Grove Fri. Dec. 26 and Sat. Dec. 27 - Santa Over The Rainbow from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Rainbow Springs State Parkin Dunnellon (Lights only) Upcoming Special Events View List of Events in the Northwest Region View List of Events in the Northeast Region View List of Events in the Central Region View List of Events in the Southwest Region View List of Events in the Southeast Region Other Important News Mobile App for Smartphones Plan your state park adventures using the new Pocket Ranger® app for your smartphone.The FREE Florida State Parks Pocket Ranger® mobile app is available now on iTunes, Android Market and PocketRanger.com.

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