An idea that coalesced between three local watermen to share their love for the ocean and raise community awareness for Brevard’s coastal ecosystems will celebrate its third year this Saturday at Satellite Beach’s Pelican Park.
The Ocean Reef Beach Festival, hosted by founders Capt. Rodney Smith, president of Anglers for Conservation, James Smith, owner of Pure Ocean TV Productions and Mike Daniels, president of the Sebastian Inlet’s Surfrider Foundation, will offer a variety of marine-related educational presentations, activities for children, photography exhibits, food and beverage vendors, live entertainment and more. Admission is free.
“Our goal when founding this event was to allow beachgoers of all ages, whether surfers, fisherman, photographers, or just folks who enjoy the beauty of all that our beaches have to offer and opportunity to share knowledge and get together to celebrate a family- oriented, fun day out,” Smith said. “It has become of Florida’s fastest growing grass roots events.”
This year the event will again feature many of the area’s experts who will share information about the history of East Coast surfing, light and fly tackle fishing, how to shoot better nature and surf photography, all about our near shore reefs, habitats and invertebrates, and wildlife and bird conservation throughout the coast.
Not only will attendees have an opportunity to do indulge in some of the finest seafood chowders that will be featured for sale, created by chef’s of local restaurants at the “Slow-down Chowder Cook-off, youth of all ages will again get an opportunity to strap on a turtle shell and experience similar challenges a sea turtle may meet at the Sea Turtle Preservation Society’s turtle obstacle course.
More than 30 vendors will be in attendance, offering for sale everything from custom surfboards, jewelry, nautical treasures, photos and paintings—all just in time for Christmas shopping.
We hope to surpass an estimated more than 2,000 that attended the event last year and welcome those who share our passion for the ocean,” said Smith.
Source: www.floridatoday.com
