October 1, 2014 Florida State Parks Newsletter

Florida Department of Environmental Protection sent this bulletin at 10/01/2014 01:20 PM EDT

Fall colors in Florida State Parks

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.~   

A man rides a bike at Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
A visitor rides a bike on a trail at Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

The Florida Park Service always promotes health and wellness through recreational activities. During Greenways and Trails Month, state park and trail visitors are encouraged to visit trails throughout Florida. Florida is home to nine state trails, including the 110-mile Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, which is comprised of its own eight trails and recreation areas.

Trail-related activities throughout the state include nature hikes, after-hours walks, biking festivities and nature-based walks. If you are unable to make it to a specific event, think about coordinating your own event. Gather friends or family members and go for a hike. One good location is Falling Waters State Park where you can view the butterfly garden and the waterfall. Biking is another great way to stay in shape and discover the beauty of Florida’s state parks. A good location for this is the Camp Murphy Off-road Bicycle Trail System at Jonathan Dickinson State Park is a nine-mile network of mountain bike trails, ranging from beginner loops to the experts only “Black Diamond.”

See a list of trail-related activities below:

  • Fri. Oct. 3 – Topsail Nature Hike at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach from 10 to 11 a.m.

  • Fri. Oct. 3 – Moon Over the Mounds at Crystal River Archaeological State Park in Crystal River at 8 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.

  • Sat. Oct. 4 – Ocala Mountain Bike Assocation's Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day at Cross Florida Greenway – Santos Bike Trails East in Ocala from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

  • Sat. Oct. 4 – Camp Helen History Tour at Camp Helen State Park in Panama City Beach from 10 to 10:45 a.m.

  • Sun. Oct. 5 – Discover the Birds of Anastasia at Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

  • Tues. Oct. 7 – Full Moon Beach Stroll at Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach in Flagler Beach at 6 p.m.

  • Sat. Oct. 11 – Medicinal Plant Walk at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park in Wakulla Springs from 9 to 10 a.m.

  • Sat. Oct. 11 – Fire and Flowers Walk at Crystal River Preserve State Park in Crystal River from 9 to 11 a.m.

  • Sat. Oct. 11 – Run for the Treasure 5K & 10K Run at St. Andrews State Park in Panama City at 7:30, 8 and 9 a.m.

  • Sat. Oct. 11 – Stray Cat Strut – Decrease the Stray Cat Population at Cross Florida Greenway – SR 200 to CR 484 in Ocala from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

  • Sat. Oct. 18 – Friends of Lake Louisa State Park’s Equine Obstacle Trail Challenge at Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont from 7 a.m. to 3 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 – Third Saturday Photo Challenge at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park in Palm Coast from 8 a.m. to sunset.

  • Sun. Oct. 19 – South Walton Community Council’s Back to Nature Festival at Topsail State Park in Santa Rosa Beach from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

  • Fri. Oct. 24 and Sat. Oct. 25 – Haunted Hayride and Trail at Dade Battlefield Historic State Park in Bushnell from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

  • Fri. Oct. 24 and Sat. Oct. 25 – Haunted Trails at Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey from 8 to 10 p.m.

  • Sat. Oct. 25 – 3K/6K Costume Run at Ravine Gardens State Park in Palatka at 8 a.m.

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    Cooler Weather Calls for Fall Events

    ~Celebrate the beauty of fall at Florida State Parks.~

    A scarecrow in the gardens at Maclay Gardens State Park.

    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 Park on 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 at Highlands 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 Park in 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 at Edward 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
    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 in Florida

    A map of the Coast to Coast Connector.
     
     
    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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