INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute will host its annual National Estuaries Day (NED) Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Harbor Branch campus, located at 5600 US1 North in Fort Pierce.
Event admission is free and open to the public.
“We encourage the community to join us in celebrating the Indian River Lagoon, a natural treasure in our own backyard,” said Jim Masterson, Ph.D., director of the Harbor Branch Ocean Discovery Center.
“We have designed this event to welcome the public to our campus for some family-friendly fun and to increase awareness about the lagoon and our related research.”
Activities for this family event include informative presentations from Harbor Branch researchers, kids’ entertainment, live organism displays, hands-on exploration stations, arts and crafts, games, bounce house and more.
Concessions and a Harbor Branch Shrimp Boil will be available for purchase, as well as eco-boat tours ($10 per person, space is limited. First public boat trip scheduled for 11 am).
The Smithsonian Marine Station will be hosting an NED festival simultaneously at Museum Pointe Park, located at 414 Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce.
A free shuttle service will transport guests between the two locations.
Guests can visit the St. Lucie County Aquarium and Regional History Center, while enjoying kids’ activities, live entertainment, concessions, “Meet the Smithsonian Scientist” stations and more.
Boat tour tickets will also be available for purchase ($10, space is limited). Visitors are encouraged to visit both Harbor Branch and Smithsonian celebrations.
National Estuaries Day is an annual nationwide celebration of America’s estuaries — the vibrant coastal areas where rivers meet the sea.
Celebrated on the last Saturday in September, National Estuaries Day is a great opportunity to learn more about these important ecosystems and how citizens can help to protect them.
The Harbor Branch NED Celebration is sponsored by the Harbor Branch Foundation and Thomas P. Kiernan, CFP/EdwardJones.
For more information about the event, call 772-242-2280 or visit www.hboi.fau.edu