76º

Check out manatees, live music, vendors at Florida Manatee Festival

2-day event celebrates manatees, local businesses

(WKMG)

CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. – Hang out in the manatee capital of the world this weekend for a two-day festival.

The Florida Manatee Festival is back Saturday and Sunday in downtown Crystal River.

Recommended Videos



From guided kayak tours to live music and “Art in the Park,” there’s something to enjoy for everyone if you’re willing to make a bit of a trip.

[RELATED: Biggest events, festivals coming to Central Florida in 2024]

The tours give an immersive look at the bay and Hunter Springs area “giving a firsthand glance at the beauty of our Nature Coast,” according to the event website.

There will also be free shuttles to Three Sisters Springs and the Friends of Crystal River Wildlife Refuge visitor center.

“World-famous Three Sisters Springs is the perfect setting to view the majestic manatee in its natural environment without getting your feet wet! Hundreds of manatees flock to the springs every year during Manatee Season as refuge from the cold, utilizing the springs’ consistent 72-degree waters to regulate their body temperature at a healthy level,” event organizers said.

For people looking for live music, there will be performances on four stages all weekend, including a Jimmy Buffet Tribute.

As part of “Art in the Park,” there will dozens of vendors for art, jewelry, home décor and more.

Click here for more info.


You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below:


Recommended Videos