FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Olabisi Slade Cox 407.246.2213 or Orlando Wetlands Park 407.568.1706
Orlando Wetlands Park Festival
Orlando, FL (October 16, 2008) - Come and enjoy the 10th Annual Orlando Wetlands Park Festival on Saturday, February 7, 2009, from 9am-3pm at the Fort Christmas Historical Park. The Wetlands is a 1,650 acre world renowned example of Wetlands Engineering providing an oasis for flora, fauna, and feathered friends near the Ft. Christmas Park in Christmas, Florida.
The Orlando Wetlands Park represents the world's first large scale wetlands treatment system. This wetland treatment system is a series of impoundments, which were planted with many different species of aquatic plants. These impoundments are now treatment marshes that polish excess nutrients from the reclaimed wastewater before it is discharged to the St Johns River. The water that is sent to the St Johns River is cleaner than the water within the river. So in a sense, the Wetlands are serving to help cleanup the St Johns River.
On February 7, 2009, come and experience this unique Wetland Treatment System with the entire family. The events will originate at the Fort Christmas Historical Park. Event co-sponsor, the Orange Audubon Society, will lead guided birdwatching excursions and expert-guided nature photo shoots. The Florida Native Plant Society will lead native plant identification hikes and wilderness hikes will also be available by the Florida Trail Association. Expert wildlife photographers Vinny Colucci of North Carolina and Milton Heiberg of Orlando will be leading photo expeditions. For those who like to sit and ride, guided bus tours will travel along the wetland berms, giving riders a chance to experience first hand, Florida's wild wetlands.
In addition to the numerous guided tours, there will be bird banding and mist-netting demonstrations, tree giveaways, door prizes and live folk music. Featured in the various wildlife shows, many different live animals will be present such as alligators, snakes, birds of prey and many others. Also the City's Families, Parks and Recreation Division will be giving away free backyard trees to each family. Food will be available for purchase.
There will be many interactive children's activities (like the Out-On-A-Limb kids tree climbing, rock climbing wall, horseback riding, hay rides and games), so bring the whole family and invite your friends and neighbors to this fun, free, educational festival. Bring your cameras, off-road bikes or sturdy hiking shoes, and prepare for an adventure in the wilderness. Free admission and free door prizes! For more information call the Orlando Wetlands Park at 407. 568.1706.
Event Sponsor: Post, Buckley, Schuh and Jernigan, Inc.
Directions:
To attend the Festival, take S.R. 50 to Christmas, Florida. Turn north onto 420, Ft. Christmas Rd and travel 2 miles to the Fort Christmas Historical Park. The address is 1300 Fort Christmas Road, Christmas, Florida 32709.
