BINGO!
Please come out and join us for Great Food, Great Prizes, and all for a GREAT Cause!
Every Wednesday night at 6:30, we have Bingo at Riverwalk Pizzeria in Orange City! This terrific restaurant and brewery is located at 1070 S. Volusia Ave.
Bingo cards are only $1 cash per card and all proceeds go to Blue Spring State Park.
We play 4 games with various terrific prizes and would love to see you come out to this family friendly event!
Blue Spring Paint Out and Family Picnic: A Day of Art and Nature
This event is a wonderful opportunity for families and the community to experience Plein Air art in the beautiful surroundings of Blue Spring State Park.
Event Details
When: Saturday, April 27th
Where: Blue Spring State Park
Address: 2100 W. French Ave., Orange City, FL
Time: 9:00 AM ā 4:00 PM
Activities:
Over 20 artists will be painting in the beautiful setting of Blue Spring and the St. Johns River, surrounded by nature and history. Thank you to all the artists who registered! We are so excited to see you create your art in our park!
Thank you to all who registered for the Plein Air class. It is now fully booked! Please gather by the Thursby House at 11 am to participate in the class. Park guests can watch as the art students learn from a Master!
But thatās not all!
Hereās what else we have planned for the day:
ā¢ Family Picnic: Bring a blanket and enjoy a picnic lunch with family and friends. There are also picnic tables, pavilions, and grills if you would like to BBQ.
ā¢ Tour the historic Thursby House: take a self-guided tour to see and learn the history of this beautiful place that is now one of the most iconic parts of Blue Spring State Park.
ā¢ Guided Scrub Jay Hike: Join us for a guided scrub jay hike at 10:00 AM.
ā¢ Art Table: We will have an art table set up for children of all ages. Feel free to let your creative juices flow!
ā¢ Silent Auction: Cast your bid for amazing pieces of donated artwork. The auction begins at 9:00 A.M. and will close at 3:00 PM with the winners to be announced at 3:15 PM.
ā¢ Food: Donāt miss out on delicious food and refreshing beverages! The Outpost (near the lower parking lot) will be open, serving a variety of tasty treats and ice-cold beer and soft drinks.
ā¢ Shop: The Friends of Blue Spring will be on hand to offer you our selection of T-shirts, key chains, totes, travel mugs and hand sewn manatees.
ā¢ Meet Ranger Blu! Blu, the parkās manatee mascot, will be available for photos throughout the day.
Park Entrance Fees: While the event is free for guests, the regular park entrance fees must be paid at the entrance.
Special thanks to: West Volusia Artists, Art Studio 308, The Museum of Art - Deland and the Deltona Art Club.
We look forward to seeing you soon for a day of art, nature, community, and culinary delights!
LEAVE YOUR MARK AT BLUE SPRING STATE PARK
Our brick pathway is a terrific way to share memories, memorials, gratitude, and appreciation!
Thank you all for your support!
All of the bricks are along the walkway leading to the Thursby House to showcase your amazing tributes and messages!
Please complete your brick purchase by April 30, 2024 to ensure your brick will be installed by June 1st.
Your purchase/donation really makes a difference as all proceeds benefit the park.
Please keep your brick message appropriate for public viewing.
Adopt-A-ManateeĀ® in Partnership with Save the Manatee Club
The Friends have teamed up with Save the Manatee Club to offer you a special opportunity! When you symbolically adopt a real living manatee through this link, you not only support the efforts of the Club, you also support us, the Friends of Blue Spring State Park!
Tracked Chair Now Available
Mobility challenged guests can experience the scenic trails in Blue Spring State Park using an all-terrain chair. The chair is FREE, but reservations are required.
Please use the link below to make your reservation!
There are multiple trails where the chair can be taken. Some trails thread through palmetto patches, pine scrub or oak hammocks. Other trails follow gentle curves under the canopy of large oak trees.
It's common to see deer along the trails and occasionally one can see (from a distance), wild hogs, a variety of small mammals or even a bear.
We hope to see you on the trails!
Closures at Blue Spring State Park
Effective April 2024: In-water activities are closed while we stabilize the shoreline at Blue Spring State Park. This closure includes swimming, snorkeling, tubing, diving, and paddling in the spring run and spring head. Boat tours and paddling are only allowed in the St. Johns River. Visitors are asked to adhere to all posted signs and avoid closed areas when visiting the park.
Why are we conducting the shoreline stabilization?
The stabilization project is necessary because the flow of water from the first magnitude spring has created an undercut along the shoreline. Undercuts can be dangerous for wildlife, recreation, and important artifacts.
While the stabilization project is underway, other improvements including an upgraded manatee release area, an improved swimming platform, and a new boardwalk along the spring run to the spring head will also be constructed.
Blue Spring Adventures will maintain their St. Johns River Nature Cruise, along with paddleboard, canoe, kayak, and bicycle rentals during the closure.
Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and park events.
We hope to welcome you back to being in and on Blue Spring in April of 2025.
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The Headspring - April 2024
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
LOCATION:
2100 W. French Ave
Orange City, FL 32763
HOURS:
The park is open from 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year.
ADMISSION FEES:
Admission: $6 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.
$4 Single Occupant Vehicle.
$2 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.
RESTRICTIONS:
Please note that the spring run is closed every year from November to March for Manatee Season.
In 2024, the spring run is closed from April to October for restoration and improvement projects.
If you have additional questions, please check out Florida State Park - Blue Spring for additional information
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