Crystal River Manatee Festival 2023 – A Spectacular Celebration of the Ocean’s Gentlest Giants
Crystal River, Florida, is one of the few places in the world where you can still take to the sea and swim with the manatees.
It’s no surprise, then, that it’s home to one of the biggest festivals honoring our favorite floating friends. The Crystal River Manatee Festival 2023 is a bustling combination of live music, fine art and crafts, delicious food, and awesome activities.
Every year, Crystal River shuts down both sides of downtown Citrus Avenue to make room for the annual Manatee Festival. The festival runs from January 15-16th, 2023, so you’ll want to mark your calendar for this exciting weekend bash.
Here’s just some of what you can expect:
Marvelous Manatee Boat Tours
What’s better than an adventure on the water? An adventure on the water with manatees!
Climb aboard a boat and tour the coast near Crystal River. While the scenery is nice, we all know we’re really just here to see some manatees. So, be sure to bring your camera along! (Nothing like an adorable sea cow to generate an Instagram-like spike!)
Each boat tour is approximately 25-30 minutes of manatee-filled fun. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12, and free for kids five and under.
If possible, we recommend getting tickets for Saturday. If the wind picks up or the weather gets choppy, boat tours might be canceled for the entire day. But if you plan your tour for Saturday and it’s nixed for inclement weather, you still have another day (Sunday) as backup!
After all, you don’t want to miss this chance to see some manatees! For most folks, glimpsing these gentle giants will be the highlight of the Manatee Festival. (Makes sense.)
Guided Kings Bay Kayak Tours
This fun activity is a new addition to the Crystal River Manatee Festival this year!
Hop on a kayak for a fun, interactive tour of Kings Bay. Whether you’re a kayaking enthusiast or just want to see some wildlife, you’ll have a great time paddling away through the bay. Make sure to book tickets in advance to reserve your slot! This activity will fill up fast.
Live Music for Manatee Lovers
Take your pick of 4 different stages, each featuring different musical acts throughout the entire Manatee Festival! There’s certainly never a shortage of toe-tappin’ tunes here. The lineups are still being announced, so check in regularly close to the event and make sure you don’t miss out on some of Crystal River’s hottest groups!
Will any of them perform “Barbara Manatee” from Veggie Tales? We can only hope.
Kids Zone: Fun For The Smallest Manatees
The Manatee Festival caters to the kiddos, too!
Let them get their energy out on inflatable bouncy castles and slides, then get creative at the sand art station. You can also head to the dance floor together and show off those moves you learned on Tik Tok!
Ready for a screaming good time? Hook up to the giant trampoline (complete with a safety harness) and soar high into the sky!
To finish things off, no festival is complete without getting your face painted. The Kids Zone activities will have your kiddos smiling and laughing all weekend long.
Manatee Festival Munchies
If you’re anything like us, one of the best parts of any festival is the food, and the Crystal River Manatee Festival is no exception! With two food courts, you’ll be able to find just about whatever you’re craving. Choose from classic fair food stands and food trucks for options like crepes, shaved ice, lemonade, desserts, barbecue, lobster, pizza cones, kettle corn, ice cream, and more!
Thirsty? Head to their two onsite beer and wine gardens to relax, sip a refreshing drink, and people-watch in a laidback atmosphere.
Pay a Visit to the Local Vendors
After you’ve eaten and rubbed shoulders with the local manatees, you’ll want to head straight for the eclectic mix of local vendors. You never know what you’ll find!
Fine Art Walk: A Feast for the Eyes
You’ll find a whole array of paintings, fine jewelry, home décor, and novelties – many inspired by the ocean, ocean life, and of course, manatees. It’s the perfect place to find the next gorgeous thing to hang up in your home.
Vivacious Craft Vendors
Browse tons of aquatic-inspired arts and crafts, local honey, sunglasses, and other wearable accessories, as well as nesting dolls, jewelry, home décor, pottery, and much more. In this eclectic mix, you’re sure to find something that catches your eye. It’s a great place to window-shop and find your next favorite thing.
Hippie Village – It’s Groovy, Maaan!
Take a chill stroll through Hippie Village, a haven of Bohemian crafts and groovy entertainment; all served up with a healthy dose of ‘60s magic. Take your time drinking in the laidback atmosphere and funky vibes.
Sensational Downtown Shopping
Can’t get enough of the Crystal River Manatee Festival shopping scene? Luckily, you’ll already be right in the middle of downtown Crystal River, which means you’re surrounded by dozens of enchanting shops and eateries to discover! The Manatee Festival closes in the early evening, which gives you plenty of time to explore the city and enjoy local sights and local flavors. (Yum!)
Make it a Manatee-Filled Weekend
If you’re coming in from out of town for the festival, you have a few options for accommodations to complete your weekend. There are plenty of local hotels, as well as nearby RV campsites. A bit of camping is a great way to round out your weekend!
Whenever you book your stay, make sure to mention the festival!
Know Before You Go
Make sure you don’t bring any coolers, large bags, or backpacks into the Manatee Festival – you might be turned away at the entrance! Bringing pets is strongly discouraged, but if you have to bring your dog, make sure to keep your furry family member on a leash.
If you’re bringing kiddos and are concerned about losing track of them in the crowd, you can rest easy. The Crystal River Manatee Festival is dedicated to keeping everyone safe. At the entrance, you’ll find wristbands and Sharpies for parents to write their child’s name and emergency contact information on. Make sure your child wears the wristband all through the festival. That way, if they get lost, they’ll have an easy time finding their way back to you. With peace of mind like that, you can spend all day focusing on having a great time – and spotting as many manatees as possible!
Have you gotten to see a manatee up close? Leave a comment below to let us know!
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