Culture and Conservation Collide at TurtleFest 2011
April 9, 2011 • Loggerhead Park • Juno Beach
The Eighth Annual TurtleFest: Exploring Cultural Conservation will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Loggerhead Marinelife Center and Loggerhead Park in Juno Beach. Hit bands B-Liminal, The Resolvers, Hit$how and Moska Project will take the stage while guests of all ages enjoy up-close encounters with threatened and endangered sea turtles. Focused on education appropriate for the entire family, the free-admission event will feature an all-new Global Village highlighting seven regions of the world, the sea turtles native to each, and the steps different countries are taking to promote ocean conservation.
The Resolvers are among the four bands playing at the free-admission event.
In between TurtleFest’s collection of live reggae, roots, surf and Latin music, conservation education will be front and center with presentations by Busch Wildlife, the Palm Beach Zoo, and Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s research and rehabilitation staff. Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s mascot “Fletch” will join with Rod Mast of Conservation International. Mast is the former president of the International Sea Turtle Society, serves as co-chair of the IUCN-SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group, and was the host of the XXIV Sea Turtle Symposium in San Jose, Costa Rica. He, like “Fletch,” has been known to dress up as a sea turtle on special occasions, traveling the world as “Mr. Leatherback.” Children and adults alike will enjoy interactions between the two characters.
Children and adults will enjoy interactions between “Mr. Leatherback” (pictured), and Loggerhead Marinelife Center mascot “Fletch.”
Also for kids, the festival’s pre-event is a Children’s Fun Run. Children up to 12 years old can participate in the race taking place at 5:15 p.m. on April 8th at Loggerhead Park and A-1-A. Upon entering the festival on April 9th, families will receive a treasure map guiding them through the event. Kids will be entered into a contest to win a real treasure chest and can also participate in bounce houses, gymnastics and an array of games.
Children will enjoy an action-packed day of activities at TurtleFest 2011, including up close interactions with endangered sea turtles.
New this year, TurtleFest will feature a dedicated art area featuring highly acclaimed marine-themed artists. Jupiter native Brittany Brett has designed the TurtleFest 2011 poster, depicting a loggerhead sea turtle illuminated by the moon, casting a shadow of Florida’s coastline and symbolizing the importance of the worldwide Lights Out Campaign during sea turtle nesting season. The growing list of artists whose work will also be featured in the festival includes Lynne Barletta, Carey Chen, sea turtle portrait painter Pamela Hoke, Mark Johnson, Amber Moran, featured sculptor Geoffrey Smith, ArtiGras 2011 commemorative artist Beth Williams, Mark Worden, and Thomas Ziffer. The festival will also include various craft shopping.
Jupiter native Brittany Brett designed the TurtleFest 2011 poster, depicting a loggerhead sea turtle illuminated by the moon, casting a shadow of Florida’s coastline and symbolizing the importance of the worldwide Lights Out Campaign during sea turtle nesting season.
TurtleFest is Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s largest annual “Friend”raiser, attracting 15,000 people each year. TurtleFest 2011 is brought to you by presenting sponsors Florida Power & Light Company, McDonald’s, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, PGA National Resort & Spa, and Waste Management. The hospitality tent is provided by Downtown at the Gardens and the Beverage Station is compliments of Blue Point Brewing Company. Palm Beach Post is a media sponsor. Community partners include Bill Barbosa Photography, Loggerhead Club & Marina, Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Palm Beach County Cultural Council, The Benjamin School, and the Town of Juno Beach.
To volunteer at the event or learn more, visit www.marinelife.org/turtlefest or call 561.627.8280.