[Floridastateparks] Florida State Parks E-Newsletter - May 4, 2011

Wed May 4 08:40:48 EDT 2011

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May 4, 2011 - Follow us on Twitter @FLStateParks

www.FloridaStateParks.org/enewsletter/<http://www.FloridaStateParks.org/enewsletter/>

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Country music artist John Anderson will perform at the Florida Folk Festival, Saturday, May 28 at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs, FL.

John Anderson to headline at Florida Folk Festival
~ Florida's music, dance, food, crafts and stories will be celebrated at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center in White Springs ~
John Anderson, country artist on the platinum-plus album, Seminole Wind, will be one of the featured performers on the evening of Saturday, May 28 at the Florida Folk Festival. His musical hits from the 1980s also include Wild and Blue, I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal, 1959 and Swingin'. Swingin' was the Song of Year in 1983 by the Country Music Association.
The 59th Annual Florida Folk Festival will be held Memorial Day weekend at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs. The family-friendly festival features Florida tradition and history shared through live music, interpretations, displays and food.
Since 1953, folk artists have gathered for Florida's premier heritage event, celebrating Florida's land, people and diverse culture with daily and nightly performances by native folk and roots artists; including national recording artists, songwriters and musicians of swing, folk, blues, gospel, country, Latin, jazz, bluegrass, Caribbean and zydeco.
The festival's more than 300 scheduled performances include Grammy Award-winning, Nashville recording artist, Billy Dean, who will perform Friday evening. Other performers include Ben Prestage, Sam Pacetti, the Aaron O'Rourke Trio, Ellen and Gary Bukstel, Frank Thomas, Jeanie Fitchen and hundreds more performing on 15 stages throughout the state park.
The Folklife Area will celebrate the diverse cultures of the state's coastal counties along the panhandle. Savor the flavors, sights and sounds of some of the oldest and newest cultural communities in Florida.
Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 1-877-6FL-FOLK (1-877-635-3655) through May 20. Advance tickets for adults are $20.00 per day or $40.00 for the weekend and children six to 16 are $4.00 (good for all three days). At the gate, tickets for adults will be $25.00 per day or $50.00 for the weekend and children six to 16 will be $5.00 (good for all three days). Children under six are admitted free.
For more information, visit www.FloridaFolkFestival.com<http://www.floridafolkfestival.com/>.

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A cannon drill is conducted at Fort Clinch State Park in Fernandina Beach.

May is Military Appreciation Month
~ Historic forts in state parks offer history lessons ~

To honor the current and former members of the armed forces, both chambers of the U.S. Congress recognize May as Military Appreciation Month, with the celebration ending with Memorial Day, a national holiday, on Monday, May 30.
The Florida Park Service supports veterans, current military personnel and their families and honors the sacrifices of members of the armed forces.

History buffs will appreciate the variety of preserved and restored historic forts found at state parks in Florida.

South of Tallahassee in St. Marks, the museum at San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/sanmarcos/default.cfm> displays pottery and tools unearthed near the original site of the fort built in 1679 and telling the stories of the Spanish explorers and others who occupied the fort over time.

Fort Clinch State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/fortclinch/default.cfm> in Fernandina Beach is one of the most well-preserved 19th century forts in America. This park will hold a Union Garrison and Encampment the weekend of May 7 and 8. Living historians re-create life at Fort Clinch during the Civil War. Activities may include black powder artillery demonstrations and marching drills, as well as soldiers and civilians taking up duty in the laundry, infirmary and kitchen. There is a candlelight viewing Saturday evening. $6.00 per vehicle, up to 8 people, plus $2 for each person entering the fort. Memorial Day weekend, the park will hold a World War II event, honoring the soldiers of that conflict. The event will feature military displays and memorabilia of the Allies, Axis and Homefront.

A memorial marks the site of the Civil War battle that took place in 1865 at the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/olusteebattlefield/default.cfm>. A visitor center shares historic information and artifacts year-round.

In St. Augustine, Fort Mose Historic State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/fortmose/default.cfm> marks the site of the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what is now the United States. Volunteers, dressed in period attire, will offer a glimpse into the past on Saturday, May 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. FREE.

In Inverness, Dade Battlefield Historic State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/dadebattlefield/default.cfm> commemorates the battle that started the Second Seminole War in 1835. A visitor center provides information and a video about the battle.

Fort Foster<http://www.floridastateparks.org/fortfoster/default.cfm> is a reconstructed fort that guards the bridge over the river at Hillsborough River State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/hillsboroughriver/default.cfm> north of Tampa. Ranger guided tours are offered on Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 11 a.m. This Second Seminole War fort offers a look at the 1830s.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/forttaylor/default.cfm> in Key West was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973. Built in the mid-1800s, this fort served in the Civil War and the Spanish-American War. Guided tours are available daily.

Florida's state parks provide discounts on the purchase of Annual Entrance Passes or free Annual Entrance Passes to those who currently serve or have served in the United States military branches, veterans with service related disabilities and surviving spouses of members of the U.S. military who have fallen in combat.

The discounted Florida State Parks Annual Entrance Pass is only available for purchase at any Florida State Park staffed ranger station. Learn more<http://www.floridastateparks.org/thingstoknow/annualpass.cfm>.

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Share your favorite state park in the Video Contest.

Florida State Parks Video Contest:
Share your real stories of [cid:image005.jpg at 01CC0A36.F7E42EA0]
~ We want to hear from you ~

During the month of May, make a video to show why Florida's state parks are the best! Your entry could win you a Family Annual Entrance Pass to Florida's state parks or a copy of the Florida State Parks...the Real Florida Passport.  Videos are limited to a minute or less. You may show your favorite park and/or favorite activities.  Be creative and have fun!
Learn more<http://www.floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/videocontest.cfm> about the contest rules and format. The deadline for delivery of the videos is 5 p.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, May 31, 2011. The top three videos will receive a Family Annual Entrance Pass and the top five will receive a copy of a Florida State Parks Passport.

Family Fun in May 2011

*         May 7 - Kid's Fishing Clinic at Lake Griffin State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/lakegriffin/default.cfm>, Fruitland Park

*         May 7 - Gulf Coast Triathlon at St. Andrews State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/standrews/default.cfm>, Panama City

*         May 7 - Spring Fest at Jonathan Dickinson State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/jonathandickinson/default.cfm>, Hobe Sound

*         May 13 & 14 - Bridge Day at the Beach at St. Andrews State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/standrews/default.cfm>, Panama City

*         May 14 - Family Arts Fun Day at Henderson Beach State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/hendersonbeach/default.cfm>, Destin

*         May 14 - Family Fun Fest at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/mikeroess/default.cfm>, Keystone Heights

*         May 14 - Wading Adventure at Don Pedro Island State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/donpedroisland/default.cfm>, Boca Grande

*         May 21 - Run for Wakulla Springs at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/wakullasprings/default.cfm>, Wakulla Springs

*         May 21 - Nature Fest at Lake Louisa State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/lakelouisa/default.cfm>, Clermont

*         May 27-29 - Florida Folk Festival<http://www.floridastateparks.org/folkfest> at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park<http://www.floridastateparks.org/stephenfoster>

Special Events around Florida
*         Northwest Florida<http://www.floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events-northwest.cfm>
*         Northeast Florida<http://www.floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events-northeast.cfm>
*         Central Florida<http://www.floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events-central.cfm>
*         Southwest Florida<http://www.floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events-southwest.cfm>
*         Southeast Florida<http://www.floridastateparks.org/thingstodo/events-southeast.cfm>

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[cid:image007.png at 01CC0A36.F7E42EA0]<http://twitter.com/flstatepar>

[cid:image008.png at 01CC0A36.F7E42EA0]<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Florida-State-Parks/768566755>

[cid:image009.jpg at 01CC0A36.F7E42EA0]<http://www.floridastateparks.org/>

The Department of Environmental Protection values your feedback as a customer. DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. is committed to continuously assessing and improving the level and quality of services provided to you. Please take a few minutes to comment on the quality of service you received. Simply click on this link to the DEP Customer Survey<http://survey.dep.state.fl.us/?refemail=Parks.Newsletter@dep.state.fl.us>. Thank you in advance for completing the survey.
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