The Sierra Club Suwannee-St. Johns Group will hold the Florida State Parks Love Fest on Saturday and Sunday, April 5-6, at five area state parks as they celebrate Florida’s natural spaces with a call to protect them.

Events will take place at Paynes Prairie State Park, Suwannee River State Park, O’Leno State Park, Manatee Springs State Park and Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park.  

With guided hikes, picnics, and community activities, the festival highlights the importance of preserving public lands while urging state leaders to protect them from development threats.

Florida State Parks Love Fest Events

• Saturday, April 5 | 10 a.m. – noon – Paynes Prairie State Park (Bolen Bluff Trail, Micanopy) – A guided 2.7-mile hike with views of wild horses, bison, and migratory birds. RSVP by going to: https://bit.ly/PaynesPrairieLoveFest
• Saturday, April 5 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Suwannee River State Park (Live Oak) – A Suwannee River Trail Walk followed by a riverside picnic and BBQ. RSVP by going to: https://bit.ly/SuwanneeRiverLoveFest
• Sunday, April 6 | 10 a.m. – noon – O’Leno State Park (High Springs) – A guided hike led by Maria Feidler of the Florida Trails Association.
• Sunday, April 6 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Manatee Springs State Park (Chiefland) – A picnic under the Catfish Pavilion at this scenic spring. RSVP by going to: https://bit.ly/ManateeSpringsLoveFest
• Sunday, April 6 | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park (High Springs) – Hosted by UF’s Student Association, Public Interest Communications Student Association (PICSA) and #UNLITTER, this event celebrates the pristine beauty of the springs. RSVP by going to: https://bit.ly/BlueSpringLoveFest