Big Waters’ Wild About Nature Festival is Back

March 19, 2025 | Sarasota

Presented by Big Waters Land Trust, the Wild About Nature Festival returns on Saturday, April 5, 2025! This celebrated annual community event will take place from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the not-for-profit land trust’s Bay Preserve headquarters located at 400 Palmetto Avenue, Osprey, 34229.

With an exhibitor line-up featuring over twenty-five different local environmental and youth-serving organizations, this free children’s festival brings the community together for a fun-filled day of nature-based activities and exploration. All festival activities are free and meant to get kids outside and excited about nature. Activities include tree climbing, nature printing, native plant planting, animal encounters, face-painting, crafts, games, and more! Multiple food trucks will also be onsite including Bonanno’s Bagels, Clean Plate Club SRQ, Currywurst, The Empanada Girl, Blended Bonanza, and Kona Ice. And, a Wild About Nature first, Big Waters is thrilled to welcome The Garbage-Men band for a special live performance! Teaching sustainability through music, The Garbage-Men promote recycling, reuse, and community service by playing music on instruments made from recycled and repurposed materials. They will perform from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm during the event.

“I say this every year, but this year’s festival is going to bigger and better than ever before,” comments Sam Valentin, Big Water’s director of marketing and events. “And it’s true! We have some really great new organizations joining us including the Sidewalk Science Center with daytime astronomy, longtime favorite activities like kayaking with Get Up and Go Kayaking, plus special performances and fun guest appearances. There’s something for everyone at Wild About Nature and though technically it’s a children’s festival, it’s a great time for nature lovers of all ages!”

Registration is not required for this free community event but Big Waters requests people RVSP through Facebook event. All parking is offsite at First Baptist Church of Osprey, Victory Baptist Church, the historic Osprey Library, and Evie’s on the Bay. Limited accessible parking is available on site. Those attempting to enter the Bay Preserve parking lot will be re-routed unless a parking permit is shown. A school bus will run on a loop to transport guests between the event space and parking areas. More details can be found on Big Waters’ Wild About Nature Facebook event page.

To sponsor the 2025 Wild About Nature Festival, visit bigwaterslandtrust.org/wildaboutnature.