Biscayne National Park’s Family Fun Fest Travels Back to the Renaissance

HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA – The Renaissance and Biscayne National Park may seem to have little in common, but this month’s Family Fun Fest aims to change that perception! On March 11, 2018, the park continues the 18th season of this multi-award winning event at the park’s Dante Fascell Visitor Center with A Biscayne Renaissance. Each themed event lends itself to creative costumes, and families are encouraged to dress up and add to the fun. Family Fun Fest Junior lets the toddlers (ages 5 and under) to join in with special activities designed just for them. The event is free and takes place from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.. Free transportation from downtown Homestead (and by extension, anywhere served by public transportation) is available aboard the Homestead National Parks Trolley, courtesy of the City of Homestead.

 Participants receive a passport which they get punched as they complete each of five activities. After collecting all five punches, kids earn a specially designed button to help them remember the lessons learned.

 The five activity stations are:

·         Arthur and Lancelot – Learn about the Joneses, a pioneering African-American family who took inspiration of the Knights of the Round Table tales.

·         Defending Coral Castles – How do sunscreens affect corals?

·         Gathering of the Royals – Can you locate the Kingfisher, the Queen Angelfish and other members of Biscayne’s royal family?

·         Armoring Yourself – How can you protect yourself from the sun AND also protect corals?

·         The Sword in the Stone – take a behind-the-scenes tour of the park’s archaeology lab and see rarely viewed artifacts from the park’s wrecks.

In addition to the 5 activity stations above, there will also be one activity station focusing on theme-related creative play for parents with toddlers. “The little guys will earn a button just like their older brothers and sisters, but with activities geared to their skill level,” said the program’s creator Yelitza Sepulveda. “Family Fun Fest Junior fills an important niche for parents looking for innovative educational opportunities for their children.”

Family Fun Fest is made possible through the generosity of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation through the Knight Arts Challenge, The Guerra Family Foundation, ClubOne Athletics, Dr. Charles Palminteri, Catherine Grady’s Allstate Agency and the Bobby Duryea Fund at the South Florida National Parks Trust, with additional support from the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves, the COAST Academy at Cutler Bay High School, Mary Katherine Futrell’s Girl Scout Gold Award Project, the South Florida Collections Management Center, and a host of dedicated volunteers.

The Dante Fascell Visitor Center is located at 9700 SW 328 Street, nine miles east of Homestead, Florida. Call 305-230-7275, extension 0 or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/bisc for more information. For regular updates from the park, “like” us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/BiscayneNPS and “follow” us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BiscayneNPS.