Hi, if we haven’t met, my name is Kristin Rubin and I am an OSFR board member, but more than that, I’m a person who wants to make a difference!
Winter is quickly turning to spring and we all know it is that time again, festivals are back after a long winter’s rest and ready to spring to life for new beginnings and opportunities to be with friends, nature and give a helping hand, so get ready to join us on this journey to learn, give and teach.
Our Santa Fe River is all about education, stewardship, and advocacy for the Santa Fe River and tributaries. The following events include all of these objectives. The upcoming events give us an opportunity to reach so many young, old and in between and I’m asking everyone to just give a few hours to help. Thank you for all you do already.
Saturday, March 16 is the 5th Annual Clean River Revival with Current Problems. OSFR will have a booth at 1st Magnitude Brewery from 12pm-5pm. Volunteers are wanted. 1220 SE Veitch St. Gainesville, FL. More details about the clean-up coming down the pike via Rhonda Long. Stay tuned.
Saturday, March 23 RiverFest Plant hike, 
Floodplain Forest & Swamp with Dr. Colette Jacono, Ph.D., @ Gilchrist Co. Santa Fe River Park at Hwy Bridge on Santa Fe River. $25.00 per person, which includes one ticket to RiverFest which is Sunday March 31st. This is a most incredible experience, do not miss this opportunity to get a bird’s eye view of nature meets mankind. The marvels of nature are endless. Santa Fe River Park, State Road 47 & Santa Fe River, Fort White, FL
Saturday, March 30 – RiverFest Paddle & Springs Hop with Lars Andersen @ Hwy 27 Bridge (boat ramp) at Santa Fe River. Take a guided tour, led by Master Naturalist Lars Andersen, of some of the most famous crystal clear springs. The five hour trip will explore a nine-mile section of Santa Fe River, from Hwy 27 to Hwy 47. More information in OSFR calendar.
Sunday, March 31 – RiverFest wraps up with an afternoon of family fun and fellowship with live
music by the Deviljays and our 9th Annual Songwriting Contest. There will be food & drinks, face painting, a silent auction, a mermaid photo booth and a live mermaid. 1:00pm -7:00pm. $10 pp, under 12 free
Volunteers Needed Email Rhonda Longmermaidspring@gmail.com (for RiverFest)
Saturday, April 6 is the day to reserve for the famous Springs Celebration in conjunction with
the 12th annual O’Leno State Park Chili Cookoff. Make sure you mark your calendar to taste delicious chili and see the park, an exquisite jewel right in our backyard, just one of the great festivals celebrating the springs this season. 8am-3pm. O’Leno State Park, 410 SE O’Leno Park Rd. High Springs, FL 32643
festivals celebrating the springs this season.
Saturday, April 13 is the 10th year Four Rivers Audubon has hosted Alligator Lake Spring Festival, with Florida Fish and Wildlife partnering. There will be fun activities including a fishing derby, kayaking adventure, and Kitty Carroll with her great raptor program featuring birds of our neighborhood, North Florida, 10am-3pm. Alligator Lake Park, 420 SE Alligator Glen, Lake City, FL 32025
Sunday, April 14 is Spring into Action, an Earth Day Celebration at Santa Fe College 
Teaching Zoo to inspire people of all ages to become stewards of the community and the land, because when you get down to the nitty gritty, we all know we share this beautiful place we call Earth, so we must care for it too. Volunteers are 8am-3pm, visitors 9am-3pm. Santa Fe Teaching Zoo, 3000 NW 83rd St. Gainesville, FL 32606
Please join OSFR, whether as a much-needed volunteer or steward and become a member. Join our journey, our mission.
Email me at kristin.rubin@oursantaferiver.org
