| Florida Department of Environmental Protection | October 1, 2014 Newsletter |
October is Greenways and Trails Month
~Take a hike, bike, walk or run at a Florida State Park or trail.~
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Cooler Weather Calls for Fall Events
~Celebrate the beauty of fall at Florida State Parks.~
A musical scarecrow in the gardens at Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park. | The weather is becoming cooler in parts of Florida and the smells and sounds of October means visitors to Florida’s state parks can enjoy fall activities. Campfires, pumpkins and the colors of fall make October a beautiful month to spend time in a Florida state park, which offers an array of events for adults and children. Classic films, campfires, haunted hay and tram rides, fall festivals and Halloween events are sure to keep you entertained. Gather your family and friends and participate in the fun and scary events available statewide.
Taking place during the entire month of October, Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park invites visitors to view the scarecrows displayed throughout the park as part of their Scarecrows in the Gardens event. Public voting for the best scarecrows will take place until Oct. 10. The winners chosen by the judges’ panel have received tickets to the 5th Annual Moon Over Maclay jazz concert on Oct. 5, 2014.
Please see a list of events throughout October below:
Wed. Oct. 1 through Fri. Oct. 31 – Scarecrows in the Gardens at Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park in Tallahassee from 8 a.m. to sunset.
Wed. Oct. 1 – Eden’s Vintage Florida Film Series – Featured Movie: Cocoon (1985) at Eden Gardens State Park in Santa Rosa Beach from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 4 – Campfire Cooking Program at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Parkon St. George Island from 5 to 7 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 4 – 8th Annual Oktoberfest: All GM Car Show at Silver Springs State Park in Ocala from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 4 – Fall Wildflower/Butterfly Walk at Dade Battlefield Historic State Park in Bushnell from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 4 – Annual Haunted Hike and Costume Ball at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park in Keystone Heights from 7 to 11 p.m.
Wed. Oct. 15 – Eden’s Vintage Florida Film Series – Featured Movie: The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) at Eden Gardens State Park in Santa Rosa Beach from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 17 – Phantoms in the Forest – Spooky Tales at Silver Springs State Park in Ocala from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 18 – 6th Annual Family Pumpkin Festival at Big Shoals State Park in White Spring from 4 to 7 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 18 – Incredible Autumn Wildflowers at Ichetucknee Springs State Park in Fort White from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 18 – Halloween Candle Light Tour at Gamble Plantation Historic State Park in Ellenton from 7 to 9 p.m.
Sun. Oct. 19 – Owl-O-Ween – Owl Festival and Bird Costume Contest at The Barnacle Historic State Park in Coconut Grove from 12 to 4 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 24 – Campfire and Music at Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont from 7 to 9 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 24 and Sat. Oct. 25 – Haunted Hayride & Trail at Dade Battlefield Historic State Park in Bushnell from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 24 and Sat. Oct. 25 – 2nd Annual Haunted Hammock Halloween Event atHighlands Hammock State Park in Sebring from 5:30 to 10 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 24 and Sat. Oct. 25 – Haunted Trails at Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey from 8 to 10 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 24 and Sat. Oct. 25 – Haunted Tram Rides at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs State Park in Homosassa from 6 to 11 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 24 and Sat. Oct. 25 – 22nd Annual Haunted Woods Event at Hillsborough River State Park in Thonotosassa from 6 to 10 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 25 – Freaky Fall Festival at Savannas Preserve State Park in Port St. Lucie from 4 to 9 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 25 – 59th Annual Florida Forest Festival at Forest Capital Museum State Park in Perry from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 25 – Creature from the Blues Lagoon Music Night at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park in Wakulla Springs from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 25 – 3rd Annual Tomoka Fest at Tomoka State Park in Ormond Beach from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 25 – 3K/6K Costume Run at Ravine Gardens State Park in Palatka at 8 a.m.
Sat. Oct. 25 – Haunted Trails at De Leon Springs State Park in De Leon Springs from 7 to 9 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 25 – Haunted Hayride and Enchanted Forest at Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Wed. Oct. 29 – Eden’s Vintage Florida Film Series – Featured Movie: Frogs (1972) at Eden Gardens State Park in Santa Rosa Beach from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Thu. Oct. 30 and Fri. Oct. 31 – Halloween in the Park at Crystal River Preserve State Parkin Crystal River from 7 to 10 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 31 – Kids’ Trick or Treat at Silver Springs State Park in Ocala from 3 to 5 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 31 – Creature Feature 2014, Part 1 – The Creature Walks Among Us Film atEdward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park in Wakulla Springs from 7 to 9 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 31 – Haunted Tram Ride – Halloween Night Only at Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
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The Coast to Coast Connector Summit is October 1
~Learn about the progress of the 275-mile long multi-use trail at the summit.~
A map of the Coast to Coast Connector in Florida. | The Coast to Coast Connector was formed in an effort to provide a safe and continuous multi-use trail, which ranges from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic through Central Florida. Estimated to be 275 miles long, the Coast to Coast Connector has more than 200 miles of the trail developed and opened to the public or funded for completion. The trail connects nine Florida counties and 16 paved, multi-use trails. The Connector already includes two of the state’s most popular trails, the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail and the West Orange Trail. Both trails have previously fueled the economic transformation of communities, including Dunedin and Winter Garden.
The Connector has become a major priority within the Florida Greenways and Trails System Plan and there are many benefits to investing in the trail. Private business occupancy rates have increased and nearly 75 percent of Florida’s 87 million visitors are participating in nature-based activities.
Today, Florida visitors and community members have joined trail users, planners, managers and elected officials at the inaugural Coast to Coast Connector Summit in Winter Garden, Florida. Participants learned about the future of the Connector and became linked to some of Central Florida’s most significant natural resource areas. Participants also learned about previous user experience, local impacts, future construction and ways to further the completion of the Connector.
A map of the Coast to Coast Connector. |
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More Events in October
Upcoming Special Events
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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