NAPLES, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spent Tuesday promoting Florida parks and venues for summer activities.
In Naples, DeSantis announced that Florida residents will be able to get into the state’s parks for free during the four-day Memorial Day weekend next month.
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Florida has nearly 200 state parks and thousands of miles of trails. The parks range from historic parks like the Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park in Flagler Beach, Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna, to natural springs like Silver Springs State Park in Marion County.
DeSantis said the state has invested more than $440 million in the state parks since 2019.
To find a state park near you, head to the Florida State Parks website.
Then in Tampa, DeSantis announced the return of the Florida Freedom Month sales tax holiday, which exempts sales taxes from recreation, outdoors goods and gear, and admission to sports, entertainment and cultural events in the state, as well as admission to Florida state parks.
Freedom Month will run through July. Purchases that will be exempt from sales tax include the following:
Boating and water activity supplies:
- Goggles and snorkels ($25 or less)
- Pool toys ($35 or less)
- Coolers, Life jackets, Paddles ($75 or less)
- Inflatable water tubes and floats, Wakeboards ($150 or less)
- Paddleboards, Surfboards ($300 or less)
- Canoes, Kayaks ($500 or less)
Fishing Supplies:
- Bait and Tackle ($5 or less for individual items, $10 or less for multiple items sold together)
- Tackle boxes ($30 or less)
- Reels, Rods ($75 or less)
Camping Supplies:
- Flashlights ($30 or less)
- Sleeping bags, Camping chairs ($50 or less)
- Tents ($200 or less)
Outdoor Supplies:
- Sunscreen ($15 or less)
- Water bottles ($30 or less)
- Bicycle helmets ($50 or less)
- Outdoor grills ($250 or less)
- Bicycles ($500 or less)
Admissions to events or performances scheduled to be held between July 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024:
- Live music events
- Live sporting events
- Movies to be shown in a movie theater
- Ballets
- Plays
- Fairs
- Festivals
Admissions purchased for any of the following:
- Museums, including annual passes
- State parks, including annual passes
- Season tickets for ballets, plays, music events, and musical theater performances
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