Wednesday, February 13, 2008

The Third Annual River Celebration Offers Ecology, Music, and Sweat at the Walter Jones Historical Park

  to be held on March 29

The third annual River Celebration Day will be held Saturday, March 29, at the Walter Jones Historical Park located at 11964 Mandarin Road.  This free event is sponsored by the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society, the St. Johns Riverkeeper, and the City of
Jacksonville Parks Department.  

Activities will begin at 7:30 a.m. with the inaugural Mandarin Biathlon for the benefit of the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society, a kayak and foot race between Walter Jones Historical Park and Mandarin Park sponsored by McCall Service, 1st Place Sports, and Black Creek Outfitters.  

Events will also include live music by the Ashley Gang Band and the Palm Valley String
Band, storytelling by historical re-enactors, free kayaking by Black Creek Outfitters, refreshments for sale by Firehouse Subs, and nature programs by the St Johns Riverkeeper and the Florida Native Plant Society.  

From 11:00 a.m. – 3 p.m., boat rides to the Maple Leaf shipwreck site, which include an ecological talk, will be available for a suggested donation of $10 for adults, $5 for children, or $20 per family.  Additionally, the 1875 farmhouse will be open for viewing.  

For more information, please call the museum at 268-0784 or visit www.mandarinmuseum.net.  

Find out more about the biathlon at 1st Place Sports or go to www.1stplacesports.com/biathlon.htm.