The Orange City Blue Springs Manatee Festival returns this weekend

The 38th Annual Blue Spring Manatee Festival returns to Orange City this weekend at Valentine Park.

The popular Blue Spring Manatee Festival will take place from 9 am to 5 pm this Saturday, January 28, and Sunday, January 29.

Highlights of this weekend festival include continuous entertainment for the whole family including an arts and crafts show with over 100 booths, live music, and a children's area with shows, face painting, sand sculpting, and games.

The festival will also include rock climbing, bungee jumping. a dog frisbee show and environmental conservation displays.

The main event is of course Manatee viewing, and the festival will be offering a free shuttle to visit the sea cows at Blue Spring State Park, a beautiful location nwell known for its manatee sightings.

The water at Blue Spring State Park is kept at a constant 72 degrees. The colder the outdoor temperature becomes, the more manatees visit the spring.

Already this year, the park has recorded over 700 manatee visits to the spring due in part to the cold start to the year.

The Manatee Festival is an important fundraiser for the Orange City community, with event proceeds going to Friends of Blue Spring State Park, local organizations and educational scholarships.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $2 for children 4 to 10.

Children 3 and under have free admission.

For more information, check out the festivals website.