Experiences : Annual Events
Experience some of our iconic campus events for family fun and interactive, engaging marine science education. Events are listed in chronological order.
You may not know it, but Florida has been invaded! On Feb. 24, join us to raise awareness of invasive species in south Florida during our Invasive Species Awareness Day Removal Event from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Participants will join LMC staff as we conduct a hands-on invasive plant removal project after a brief presentation on Invasive Species of south Florida. All necessary tools and supplies are provided; long-sleeves, pants and hat strongly suggested. RSVPs required to reservations@marinelife.org.
Date: February 24, 2018
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Join LMC staff from 11 a.m. -2 p.m. for a Girl Scout Patch Program especially catered to sea turtle lovers! This event is $10/scout and includes all activities and materials needed to earn the Girl Scouts Love Sea Turtles patch (patch included). Our Girl Scout program caters to Girl Scouts on varied merit badge levels. Scouts will learn about the biology of sea turtles, the challenges they face and current conservation efforts as well as have a first-hand look at our current patients. RSVPs required to reservations@marinelife.org.
Date: April 15, 2018
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Cost: $10 per scout; chaperones and troop leaders free
Loggerhead Marinelife Center will host its 15th Annual TurtleFest on Saturday, March 24, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Over 10,000 guests will join together at TurtleFest 2018 at the free-admission event which focuses on promoting conservation through up close interactions with threatened and endangered sea turtles, as well as music, art, shopping, educational presentations, games, and other activities. Returning this year is the World Ocean pavilion, which features educational and fun activities focused on water conservation.
Date: March 24, 2018
Time: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Join LMC for an Earth Day celebration on April 14th from 8:30 am – 12 pm! LMC’s Blue Friend Society and Education staff are offering special activities for a chance for you to show how you go BLUE for the oceans and our planet. A beach clean-up hosted by the Blue Friends Society will be held at 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. and will be followed by sea turtle-approved activities! Crafts include a composting lesson with a seedling of your own to take home, creating monofilament recycling bins, and recycled material artwork. Looking for more? Join our educational ambassador for sea turtles, Dr. Logger, for the Dr. Logger Show at 11am. Dr. Logger and “Bob” the sea turtle will teach you about the life of a sea turtle by addressing various topics: threats, nesting, anatomy, and what you can do to help. This event is FREE and all ages are welcome to join us as we celebrate our blue planet.
Date: April 14, 2018
Summer programming is back at LMC! June marks the return of our popular summer programs and we need you to help us kick off the season! Come check out this year’s summer program offerings by visiting us on Saturday, May 19, 2018 for our Summer Programming Showcase event. Our regularly scheduled programs will be jam-packed in one day and offered for FREE from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for children of all ages. Take a peek into our Junior Marine Biologist summer camp room and take advantage of the Early-Bird registration prices returning for on-campus guests only (up to $45 in savings per camper*), plus information on all 2018 seasonal offerings including Turtle Walks, Hatchling Releases and Biologist Beach Walks! See you there!
Date: May 19, 2018
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Did you know that the world’s oceans contains 97% of the water found on earth? Come help us celebrate the beauty of our blue planet at our annual World Ocean’s Day event on Saturday, June 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.! Guests will enjoy FREE behind-the-gate Turtle Yard tours, interactive children’s games and activities, and learn the many ways everyone can help keep our ocean clean, blue and trash-free. Don’t think you can make a difference? Think again! This year we will be offering one free reusable bag to each guest as a reminder that every individual has the power to positively impact the environment. Remember – Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet! We hope to see you there!
Date: June 9, 2018
Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
If we can’t beat them, let’s eat them! The lionfish, Pterois volitans, a native of the Western Pacific Ocean, is a predator that is flourishing in coastal waters of the U.S. Southeast and the Caribbean. Our annual Lionfish Festival, in partnership with Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), features a culinary competition, free lionfish tastings, filet demonstrations and festival fun for the whole family.
Date: August 5, 2018
Time: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Winter programming is back at LMC! October marks the return of our popular winter programs and we need you to help us kick off the season! Come check out this year’s winter program offerings by visiting us on Saturday, September 29, 2018 for our Winter Program Showcase event. Our regularly scheduled winter programs will be jam-packed in one day and offered for FREE from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for children of all ages. Programs include: Mommy & Me Paint, Guided Tours, Dr. Logger Show, Jr. Vet Lab plus information on all 2018-2019 seasonal offerings! For more information and to check out the exciting event program schedule, visit www.marinelife.org/showcase. See you there!
Date: TBA
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Our annual “spook-tacular” Halloween event is on Saturday, October 20 and is sure to be a blast for the entire family! Bring your ghouls and goblins Trick-or-Treating with our sea turtle patients and make your own reusable trick-or-treat bag! Then, peek into the Haunted Hospital, experiment with our mad scientists in the Mad Science Lab, and swim around our center through the Scary Seas to explore the weird and wonderful mysteries of the deep. A costume parade will be held at noon and 2:30 p.m. to show off all the spirited costumes. Don’t forget the Halloween-inspired crafts and face painting to get you in the Turtleween spirit!
Date: October 20, 2018
Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
FREE
Looking for a fun, family-friendly alternative to Black Friday? Come celebrate Black Friday the BLUE way and enjoy free programming, crafts and marine conservation education from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 23. Our mascot, Fletch, will be making festive appearances throughout the day and our most popular programs will be offered FREE, including Jr. Vet Lab, Dr. Logger’s interactive children’s show, and tours behind the gates of our Turtle Yard. Families will have the opportunity to give thanks to our ocean by participating in cleanup activities and learn fun ways to respect and give back to the environment. Free sea turtle-approved, responsible gift wrapping is available with each purchase from our Gift Store! This event won’t be one to miss, so mark your calendars for this fun and festive annual event.
Date: November 23, 2018
Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. cleanup activities