7th Annual Florida Bat Festival 2011

Saturday October 29 2011, 10:00 - 4:00

at Lubee Bat Conservancy

1309 NW 192nd Ave, Gainesville, Florida, 32609.

The 7th Annual Florida Bat Festival offers an opportunity to view giant fruit bats and enjoy the great outdoors while learning about how beneficial bats are to Florida’s environment and ecosystems worldwide. Brian Pope, Director of Lubee Bat Conservancy, explains that the festival provides an opportunity to educate everyone on the importance of bats in a unique and exciting atmosphere. According to Brian, “we are the only festival in the southeast that offers a chance to view the diversity of fruit bat species while learning about the importance of bats here in Florida and all over the world. People get a chance to see giant fruit bats with a 6' wingspan eating a variety of fruits and vegetables while interacting with numerous enrichment toys, a truly unique sight." The festival offers fun opportunities for the whole family. Whether you are viewing live fruit bats, sitting in on an education presentation, or visiting a vendor’s booth, the festival offers relaxation and recreation. Each year the festival features free activities, including bat-themed craft activities and games for kids, educational exhibits, bouncy huts provided by Space Walk, presentations by bat experts, and the unique opportunity to see live fruit bats with 5 ft wingspans on exhibit in our Bat Zone. Vendors selling food and beverages, providing local environmental education information and selling “batty” merchandise (including bat houses), are spread across the beautiful grounds of the conservancy. Last year the festival welcomed over 2,300 guests, and attendance is expected to increase this year. The conservancy is not open to the general public on a regular basis, so this event provides a rare opportunity for wildlife lovers to see bats close-up. All proceeds of the festival help support bat conservation and education programs and promote the conservancy’s message to “Save Florida’s Night Life”. The festival will be held on the grounds of the conservancy, a 110-acre ranch, located at 1309 N.W. 192nd Avenue, Gainesville.

In 2010 we had the pleasure of presenting 27 exhibitors and vendors, including: Florida Bat Conservancy, Alachua Audubon Society, Wild Birds Unlimited, FL Native Plant Society, Santa Fe College, FL Speleological Society, FL Trails Association, UF Bat House, Fun 4 Gator Kids, Alternatives Global Marketplace, Pandion Systems, Occasional Bat, UF Society for Conservation Biology, LifeSouth Bloodmobile, and many others.

Admission is free, although donations are encouraged. For more information, please email us at batfest@lubee.org

Make sure to visit the BatZone to see Giant Fruit Bats with 5' wingspans!!!

There are plenty of things to do in the KidsZone - crafts, activities, games, and bouncy huts provided by Space Walk!!!

Space Walk ™

Directions to Lubee Bat Conservancy

Lubee is located approximately 9 miles north of Gainesville at 1309 NW 192nd Ave. Take NW 34th street over NW 13th st./HWY 441 past the highway patrol station until CR 231 forks off to the right. Follow CR231 for several miles, then turn right onto NW 192nd Ave. Lubee is ahead on your right. Please note that we are not open to the public all year round, only on the day of the festival. Visitors at other times are not permitted unless a tour has been arranged by appointment.

Disabled Access: YES

NO PETS ALLOWED

Children of all ages allowed

Honor Roll

Previous Florida Annual Bat Festival Sponsors and Partners:

Special Sponsors: Disney World Parks and Resorts U.S., PPI Construction Management, Florida Pest Control

Renaissance printing
Gainesville Health & Fitness
Earth Pets
Lowe’s
Hippodrome State Theater
O2B Kids
The Produce Distribution Center
The Garden Wholesale Produce
Grandiflora Nursery
Hatchett Creek Farms
Sweetwater Organic Coffee
Skate Station Funworks
Gator Mania
AMF Alley Katz Corner
Romano’s Macaroni Grill
Central Florida Office Plus
The Great Frame Up
Skate Station Funworks
Dampier’s Septic Tank
Sears Portrait Studio
Alternative’s Global Marketplace
Satchel’s
43^rd St. Breakfast and Deli
Wards

SEEKING CORPORATE SPONSORS and VENDORS 2011!

Satchel's Pizza granted us a community grant for $500 to help run Bat Fest'09.

Each year this event costs more to run than we are given in donations on the door or recive in sponsorship. It is a community education event we provide as a service to the general public - in particular local children. If you would like to help sponsor Bat Fest 2011, we would love local business sponsors and offer a range of sponsorship opportunities. Your name could appear in our program reaching an estimated 3,000 visitors! Please contact Brian Pope at bpope@lubee.org or call 352-485-1250 to get involved!