Big and small can't wait to see the manatee

There’s nothing like a festival to put the famed sea cow in the spotlight.

Chronicle file photo

Visitors to last year’s Manatee Festival in Crystal River range in age from the young at heart to the youngest generation.

Chronicle file photo

Visitors to last year’s Manatee Festival in Crystal River range in age from the young at heart to the youngest generation.

Along the historic streets of Crystal River, from the city’s gazebo to its shoreline, the two-day Florida Manatee Festival offers the most comprehensive and  entertaining exhibits dedicated to the West Indian manatee.

Hosted by the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, the Crystal River Rotary Club and the city of Crystal River, this year’s salute to the manatee features fun, food, entertainment, boat rides and about everything you imagine that can be painted, sculpted, woven, etched or embroidered in the likeness of the celebrated manatee.

The festival will kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday and ends at 5 p.m. Sunday’s festivities begin at 9 a.m. with the festival officially coming to an end at 4 p.m.

Each day includes continuous entertainment, fine art exhibitors, children’s games, a manatee education area, manatee boat tours, a beer and wine garden, numerous craft vendors and food vendors aiming to please any palate.

To ease the parking situation, a shuttle service is being provided at Crystal River Mall.

For $1 per person round-trip, park in the mall’s parking lot, beat the traffic and get dropped off at the festival entrance gate.

Entry into the festival is $3 per person with children under 12 admitted free. For information, call 352-795-3149 or visit www.citruscountychamber.com.

Boat ride tour tickets:
 Visitors wishing to purchase tickets for boat rides on King’s Bay to see the manatees should plan to come early to assure availability. Tickets can only be purchased by the boat dock off N.W. 3rd Street. Tickets must be purchased the day of use.

Three Sisters open:
 An open house at the Three Sisters Springs property will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21. Admission and parking are free. All parking will be in the lot at the King’s Bay Shopping Center behind the former Sonic drive-in.