by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
We are standing at the threshold of summer. Kids are starting summer break next week and soon parents will be hearing those dreaded words: “I’m bored.” Jacksonville and the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau, CBS 47, Fox 30 and JaxParks are giving parents the tools they need to combat the summer sloth with the 2007 JaxParks… Get Out There! Festival. Beginning this Saturday, families are invited to participate in this free 9-day fun-fest, which will feature numerous events at some of Jacksonville’s best parks.
On Saturday, May 19th, Mayor Peyton himself will kick off the week-long event with an address at Walter Jones Historical Park (11964 Mandarin Road) at 9 am, followed by “Celebrate the River,” an up- close and personal look at the history and ecology of the St. Johns. Activities include nature programs, workshops, reenactments and free kayaking and canoeing courtesy of Black Creek Outfitters. The event will be from 9:30 am to 4 pm. Meanwhile, across town at Fort George Island Cultural State Park (11241 Ft. George Road E.), families can “Explore the Timucuan Trail State and National Parks”. This environmentally-focused event will feature boat tours of the Fort George River and Machaba Balu Preserve and educational seminars about the Talbot Islands State Park, Fort George Island and Kingsley Plantation. If getting up and getting moving is more your thing, Saturday is also the day of the Jax Sports Fest, an annual event that gives people a chance to try out a new sport (or two). From 9 am to 10:30 pm, Fletcher Morgan Park (6736 Beach Blvd.) will host softball and baseball clinics. Football and cheerleading workshops will be held at Adolph Wurn Park (2115 Dean Road) from 11 am until 12:30 pm, followed by a soccer/agilities clinic from 1 pm until 2:30 pm. Over at the Cuba Hunter Gymnasium (3620 Bedford Road), folks can learn to shoot some hoops from 3 pm until 4:30 pm. If free classes weren’t enough to motivate you to head to the Jax Sports Fest, the first 300 people will receive a free t-shirt commemorating the event.
The younger kids get their chance to celebrate on Sunday, May 20th, when Survivor comes to Kids Kampus (1410 Gator Bowl Blvd.). Kids 12 and under will have a blast participating in obstacle courses and other age-appropriate competitions. From 1 pm until 4 pm, the little “castaways” take on events like Tire Traverse, Buried Treasure, the Egg Roll, River Crossing and more.
From Monday the 6th until Sunday the 27th, people can check out what our parks have to offer with “Short Stops,” a variety of short recreational and educational programs presented throughout the week at parks all around town. From Monday to Friday at 2 pm, Kingsley Plantation (11676 Palmetto Ave.) will host “An Island on the Edge,” a look at the events leading up to the plantation period and beyond with discussions about the political climate of the time and how it shaped the lives of plantation owners and slaves. Visitors of the Fort Caroline National Memorial (12713 Ft. Caroline Road) can also pick up a history lesson with “Clash of Cultures,” a look at the interactions between the Timucua Indians, French, and Spanish, which takes place Monday through Friday at 10 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm. Other notable “Short Stops” events include “Wee Workshop- Searching for Signs of Spring” at Camp Tomahawk Park (8419 San Ardo Road- registration required: 573-2498), “Eagle Watch” at Ringhaver Park and Ortega Stream Valley (5198 118th St.) and a “Guided Nature Hike Into Fire Adapted Ecosystems” at Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park (13802 Pumpkin Hill Road- registration also required: 251-2320).
For more information on these and other “Short Stops” events, head over to www.jaxkids.org/Departments/Parks+and+Recreation/Recreation+Activities/JPGOT+-+Short+Stops.htm.
Rounding out the JaxParks… Get Out There! Festival’s main event is the ever popular Spring Music Festival at Metro Park (4110 Gator Bowl Blvd). This year’s theme, “Music Meets Movies” brings bona fide superstar Jim Belushi to the River City. Belushi and his Sacred Hearts Band will perform at 7:30 pm followed by a screening of Belushi’s animated flick Hoodwinked, where the TV and film star lends his voice to the Woodsman, an aspiring actor with a thick Bavarian accent who gets caught up in the drama of Little Red Riding Hood’s fateful trek to Grandma’s house. Blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged for general seating, so arrive early to get a prime spot (gates open at 6 pm). Outside food will not be permitted, but plenty of vendors will be on hand selling the usual festival goodies.
The JaxParks... Get Out There! Festival is a wonderful way for kids of all ages to experience what our massive parks program has to offer. With plenty of exciting activities for the whole family offered completely free of charge, there is no excuse for spending the week indoors. Get out there!
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