River Fest | May 3-4, 2008 | Marine Discovery Center

Download 2008 Vendor Form Here.

Don't miss the "Taste and Sounds"
of New Smyrna Beach

RiverFest 2008, May 3rd & 4th.
@ Marine Discovery Center
162 N Causeway, New Smyrna Beach, FL

Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 6pm.

Riverfest Means Family Fun

The Marine Discovery Center (MDC) announces Riverfest, a free celebration of the Indian River Lagoon with a taste of New Smyrna Beach, on May 3-4, 2008. This year’s Riverfest features local food, music, arts, kayaking activities and Eco-boat excursions. It will be held at the MDC headquarters, 162 N. Causeway, New Smyrna Beach. The fun-for-the-whole-family activities begin at 10:00 AM and winds down at 6:00 PM each day.

Now in its fifth year, Riverfest benefits the MDC and its mission to protect and restore the Florida Coastal Ecosystems through education, research and community stewardship. Many of the MDC 300 members and volunteers will be on hand to keep the Riverfest family fun going strong.

This marks the first year Riverfest’s aquatic fun festival takes place at MDC headquarters. In previous years the festival was at the downtown Riverside Park. The new location is nearby and still on the Indian River. The 700 feet of river frontage provides great views of the lagoon and direct river access.

Music from the Navy Jazz Band, local jazz bands and music makers will be capped off each afternoon with rock band performances. Food provided by 10 local restaurants offers a high quality “taste of New Smyrna.” Big top tents provide a sheltered place with river breezes to listen, eat, drink and watch the events unfold. The Mosquito Lagoon Paddlers will demonstrate their kayaking skills, a children’s “bouncing” activities fun center also enlivens the event, along with marine science demonstrations and hourly Pontoon Boat Ecotours. The Coast Guard will have its rescue vessel dockside for tours, and the Beach Patrol will be honored for their service to the community. Riverfest arts and crafts shoppers will not be disappointed as 25 plus vendors offer handmade wares.

There is no entry charge for the public event, which drew an estimated 5,000 patrons in 2007. The free event is made possible by major Riverfest supporters including the Waverly Property Group, Boston Whaler, Bright House Networks, Budweiser and the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority.

MDC Executive Director Fielding Cooley said that without the affiliation agreement with the City of New Smyrna Beach, none of the Riverfest or other MDC community environmental education activities would be possible. “We owe all of our good works in behalf of the Indian River Lagoon ecological community to the support of our community’s friends and neighbors. Without that support there would be no MDC ecological restoration work or programs for school children,” Cooley said.

FEATURED SPONSORS:
Waverly Property Group
Boston Whaler
Bright House Networks
Budweiser
Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority

For more information contact:

Fielding E. Cooley, Ph.D, Executive Director
Marine Discovery Center
162 N. Causeway
New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32169
386.428.4828