Space Coast Waterfest Splashes Into Palm Bay Saturday

By  //  April 30, 2012

Something for everyone

Free kaaying tours of he Turkey Creek Sanctuary will be available at the Space Coast Waterfest in Palm Bay on Saturday. (Shutterstock image)

BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – Free kayak tours of the unique Turkey Creek Sanctuary will be offered Saturday at the Space Coast Waterfest in Palm Bay.

Visitors will be able to reach out and touch some of nature’s marine life and learn about their habitats, or just relax and enjoy live music, food and friendships at the event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Goode Park, 1300 Bianca Drive in Palm Bay.

The Space Coast Waterfest is hosted by the city of Palm Bay, along with Brevard County, Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, Blu Water Pools, Wade Trim, Bayfront Community Redevelopment Agency and the Friends of Turkey Creek.

The event which is free and open to the public and features live music, children’s activities, environmental display vendors, complimentary kayak rentals,safety and informational demonstrations, animal “touch tanks,” food vendors, and a speaker’s panel.

Live music will be provided all day featuring Pilgrims Journey, Harvey Wheeler, Bits and Pieces, Joe Haile and Leonard Jenkins.

There will be water slides, bounce houses and more than 20 different environmental display vendors, many showcasing children’s activities.

Complimentary kayak rentals and paddle board demonstrations courtesy of the BCRA, Palm Bay Marina and Florida Outdoor Centers will give participants an opportunity to explore the Turkey Creek Sanctuary.

The Brevard County Fire Department will be giving demonstrations with its fire boat from 1 to 2 p.m. and the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will perform free boat safety inspections.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be on hand and bringing some local gator friends.

A speaker’s panel at the event will include Diane Barile, Brevard County Historian; Oil Johnson of the Turkey Creek Sanctuary; Jody Palmer of the Brevard Zoo, Kathy Hill with the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program; Matt Culver of Brevard County Boating and Waterways; Marc Virgillo with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; Greg Johnson from Elite Anglers and Captain Rodney Smith.

The speakers will be discussing everything from the history of Brevard County to fishing equipment maintenance, fishing tricks, spoil islands and much more.

Local food vendors will serve a variety of food and beverages and there also will be raffles and giveaways all day, in addition to a casting competition hosted by Elite Anglers, dance demonstrations by the Caribbean Dance group of Brevard.

 For more information, call 321-953-8996.

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