Everglades Day Set For Feb. 8

“Everglades Then & Now” is the theme for the 15th annual Everglades Day Festival at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, which will take place Saturday, Feb. 8 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.

Speakers, workshops and guided activities will highlight the 2014 theme, including Reinaldo Becerra, a representative from the Seminole Nation, and James Currie from Birding Adventures on the Discovery Channel.

Participants are invited to join in this free family event and outdoor education festival. The food truck center, with tables and tents, is the day’s only cost.

Learn about the Everglades during guided nature walks where you can observe wading birds and more. Enjoy wildlife presentations, nature walks, live music, guest speakers, more than 30 exhibitors, canoeing, kids fishing, walking tours and Animal Olympics.

Edward Mercer and Liz Barraco will show live pythons, Rolf Olson will conduct archery workshops for children, Butch Wilson will attend from the Clewiston Museum, Clive Pinnock of “Raptor Chapter” will be showing live birds, Howard Bernstein will provide a historical perspective of marsh wildflowers, and there will be live animal presentations from the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, the Palm Beach Zoo and the Treasure Coast Animal Hospital. Music will be provided by Roadside Revue.

Spanish and Creole speaking translators will be available, as well as a free handicapped accessible van.

The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach off State Road 7) is located two miles south of Boynton Beach Blvd. Parking is available at Monte’s Packaging a half mile south of the entrance with a shuttle to the refuge. For more info., contact the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge at (561) 734-8303.