Departments



Articles

Less

Announcements: It`s Time for the Annual Spring Bazaar!
March 2nd, 2013

Announcements: Pasta Clam Dinner to Benefit CK Community Relief Fund 3/8
March 2nd, 2013

Announcements: Local Rivers May Reach Flood Stages this Weekend, Activating Idle-speed, No-wake Zones
March 2nd, 2013

Obituaries: Bernard Kleiber
March 1st, 2013

Obituaries: Bonnie Ann Smith White
March 1st, 2013

Arts and Entertainment: March Workshops at the Cedar Key Arts Center
March 1st, 2013

News: MICROBURST IN CEDAR KEY - IMMEDIATE CLEAN UP
February 28th, 2013

Cedar Key Woman`s Club: CKWC Members Take Home Blue Ribbons at Gainesville District 5 Arts Competition
February 28th, 2013

Announcements: Friends Annual Meeting and Refuge Open House
February 27th, 2013

Arts and Entertainment: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - FULL OF OUR MULTITALENTED CEDAR KEY FOLK!
February 27th, 2013

Law Enforcement News: Levy County Arrest Report 2/25/2013
February 26th, 2013

Arts and Entertainment: Mosaic Marvels and Textile Treasures Show at the CKAC
February 26th, 2013

Public Notices: CITY OF CEDAR KEY PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
February 25th, 2013

Obituaries: Melinda Cowles Barbour
February 25th, 2013

Announcements: Hidden Coast Paddling Festival Comes to Cedar Key October 2013
February 24th, 2013

More

Hidden Coast Paddling Festival Comes to Cedar Key October 2013

Hidden Coast Paddling Festival Comes to Cedar Key October 2013

by Carol McQueen, Executive Director, Levy County Visitors’ Bureau

The Hidden Coast Paddling Festival has become a celebrated event along our Gulf communities and Cedar Key is in line to host the fourth annual festival October 4-6. After the community of Suwannee made a smashing success of the 2012 Hidden Coast Paddling Festival with a theme of `Celebrate Wildlife in the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge` everyone wants in. The proof was in the initial planning meeting.


Willing partners filled the meeting room at the FWC Senator George Kirkpatrick Marine Lab - from government agencies and local businesses, to people with a passion for paddling and outdoor enthusiasts -- your neighbors. Each and every one hopes to entice eager paddlers to the culturally and environmentally-rich paddling venue of historic Cedar Key and the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge.


Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Liz Sparks, Recreation Planner, facilitated the meeting. Armed with her Wildlife-focused Festival Planning Toolkit, which lists all necessary steps in planning, among others: logistics, promotions, sponsors, tour guides, vendors, entertainment, and most important, volunteers, the festival began to take on form.

Focusing on wildlife as last year`s festival did can help increase sustainable tourism as gleaned from the 2012 SCORP (State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan) which reveals that wildlife viewing is the second most popular outdoor activity for visitors to Florida (visiting the beach is number one). Wildlife viewing is a major component of tourism revenue and brings an estimated 3 billion dollars annually to Florida`s economy. The vast public lands along the Big Bend coast sustain abundant species of wildlife and holding a wildlife-focused festival is a responsible way to entice visitors and benefit local communities.


To continue the success of the annual festival the group of volunteer partners are looking for more individuals like themselves who want to bring fame, friendly folks, and a flotilla of kayaks to the Old-Florida-flavored fishing village in October.


Do you have expertise, interest, or experience that might add to the success of the 2013 Hidden Coast Paddling Festival? A few hours of your time a month until the festival comes to town would help immensely.

The next planning meeting is February 27th from 9:00 until noon at the FWC Marine Lab 11350 SW 153 Court, Cedar Key. If you`re able to help the community effort in any way, call Pam at 352/493-0238, x223.

Click for printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

 

 

© 2013
Cedar Key News

cedarkeynews@gmail.com