34th Annual Florida Manatee Festival is March 27th & 28th in Crystal River

The Florida Manatee Festival returns to downtown Crystal River on Saturday and Sunday, March 27th & 28th!

The Florida Manatee Festival is consistently rated by attendees as one of the best outdoor events in Citrus County.  Despite the postponement of the 2021 festival, this year promises to continue that tradition with the return of many favorite attractions, along with a host of exciting new ones!

Featuring a wide selection of delicious cuisine choices, the Florida Manatee Festival is pleased to offer a tasty selection of delectable delights in two food courts. One will be located in Little Springs Park along with a beer and wine garden, the second will be located right near the main stage in Kings Bay Park with another beer and wine garden. New this year, we will also be offering hard seltzers!

Also new this year, $10 guided kayak tours will be offered at the festival through Hunter Springs Kayaks. Tour guides will take you on a 1-hour tour of the bay and Hunter Springs area giving a first hand glance at the beauty of our Nature Coast! You can book your time in advance online through the link on www.GoManateeFest.com.

Returning are manatee boat tours in partnership with META (Manatee Eco Tourism Association). Our participating local guides will take you to their favorite manatee watch spots for a chance to see our favorite floating friends up close!

Musical entertainment will be ongoing both days from four stages. The Main Stage at Kings Bay Park will feature local band Bad Luck Penny on Saturday from 10 A.M. to 12 P.M., followed by Gypsy Sparrow from 12:30 P.M. to 2:30 P.M., and headliner Stonegrey taking the stage at 3 P.M. to 5:30 P.M.

Sunday’s main stage entertainment will kick off with local favorite Barefoot Bob & the Hope from 10 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. followed by headline MoonFlower “Spirit of Santana” from 2 P.M. to 3:45 P.M. Moonflower is a tribute to the music of Santana performed by 5 musicians who's love for Santana and the music comes first!
Moonflower features Mark Barrios on guitar and vocals a long time and well respected guitarist in the Tampa Bay area. On keys is Brad Trumbull and vocals, Manny Betancourt on percussion and vocals, Howard Kleinfeld on bass and David Nunez on drums. The intent of Moonflower is to reproduce the sound, the feelings, and the excitement of the great music of Santana!

The Gazebo Stage at Little Springs Park is another entertainment stage. On Saturday, The Jojo and Jay Experience will be rocking from 10 A.M. – 2:30 P.M.. On Sunday we welcome Jeffrey Eckhoff Studios from 11 A.M. to 1 P.M. followed by the Lecanto Jazz Band from 1:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M.

Behind the large white Victorian house on N. Citrus Ave. that is home to the Heritage House, Hippie Village is back offering a chill stroll through themed vendors, food options and groovy music on the festival’s third stage sponsored by BubbaQue’s BBQ – Crystal River. Saturday’s entertainment will feature Rob Nichols from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. Rob Nichols grew up in the small farming town of Groveland, FL. He began singing Gospel songs in church and by the age of 5, was fascinated with the charm and charisma of Elvis Presley. He entered his first talent competition as a teenager and after that there was no turning back. He began his journey to Nashville and by the age of 21 he had become a published songwriter, member of BMI, and an experienced demo singer. Rob has played many of the venues on Music Row as well as the hundreds of Honky Tonks and Music Fests throughout the Southeast. He has shared the stage with some of County Music's Greatest including Diamond Rio, The Bellamy Brother's, Confederate Railroad, The Hank Williams Jr. Band, and the Judd's. On Sunday, back again this year, Palomino Blonde will take the stage from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. Originally a four-piece band based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Palomino Blonde is now a duo made up of an acoustic guitar and vocals covering everything from Alison Krause to Alice In Chains.

Additionally, more a vast array of fine art, craft, commercial and non-profit vendors will line the streets on both the north and south sides of downtown.  “Art in the Park” will be held in Crystal River’s beautiful Town Square, offering the perfect setting to browse and purchase an original piece of art for your home, business or as a wearable piece of jewelry that will be a treasure of special meaning forever.

For the kiddos, a Kids Zone will reside in King’s Bay Park with fun games, inflatables, face painting, carnival food and more! We are excited to welcome some fun entertainment to the kid’s zone this year! On Saturday, Magician/Comedian Todd Bogue will perform from 11 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.! Center Stage’s 2018 Magician of the Year, Todd has a unique combination of humor and magic that has amazed thousands of audiences all over Florida's East coast. On Sunday, the Nature Coast Dulcimer Players will perform from 1 P.M. to 3 P.M.

And of course, there will be more food, along with beer and wine gardens near both music stages and throughout the festival.  Top it all off with cool cars to drool over, compliments of the Citrus County Vettes & Camaros Club and the Nature Coast Mustangs.  With something to please everyone, the 34th Annual Florida Manatee Festival is the place to go!

For more information: www.GoManateeFest.com, www.facebook.com/FloridaManateeFestival, or 352-795-3149