Special Events for Rainbow Springs State Park

• SANTA OVER THE RAINBOW
  Date: December 11, 12 & 13, 2009. 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
  Description: Friends of Rainbow Springs will once again bring Santa Clause to Dunnellon. Bring a child or become a child yourself for this one of a kind experience. Walk through the wonderland of lights that decorate the headsprings area of Rainbow Springs State Park. See Mr. and Mrs. Clause come up the Rainbow River on a lighted boat and head towards their cottage where pictures are taken. Visit with Santa’s elves and listen to carols. Visit the Friends of Rainbow Springs; see the real Mr. and Mrs. Clause during their Florida stay and feel the magic of the season! Gates open at sunset and close at 8:30p.m.
  
  Fees: Regular park admisison.
  Contact: For more information, call 352-465-8539.
  
  
• GUIDED BIRD WALK
  Date: Saturday, December 12th, 2009. 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.
  Description: Meet in the Rainbow Springs State Park parking lot at 8:00 am to carpool to the Nature Trail meadow and forest paths. Woodpeckers are commonly seen in the tall pine trees and Eastern Towhees call from the underbrush in this diverse habitat. Approximately two hours in length. People attending are requested to bring binoculars and birding books if they have them. Regular $2.00 admission applies. Call 352-465-8555 for more information.
  
  Fees: The fee is $2.00 park admission.
  Contact: For more information, call 352-465-8555.
  
  
• SANTA OVER THE RAINBOW
  Date: December 18, 19 & 20, 2009. 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
  Description: Friends of Rainbow Springs will once again bring Santa Clause to Dunnellon. Bring a child or become a child yourself for this one of a kind experience. Walk through the wonderland of lights that decorate the headsprings area of Rainbow Springs State Park. See Mr. and Mrs. Clause come up the Rainbow River on a lighted boat and head towards their cottage where pictures are taken. Visit with Santa’s elves and listen to carols. Visit the Friends of Rainbow Springs; see the real Mr. and Mrs. Clause during their Florida stay and feel the magic of the season! Gates open at sunset and close at 8:30p.m.
  
  Fees: Regular park admission.
  Contact: For more information, call 352-465-8539.
  
  
• LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS
  Date: December 26 & 27, 2009. 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
  Description: Walk through the wonderland of lights that decorate the headsprings area of Rainbow Springs State Park.
  
  Fees: Regular park admission.
  Contact: For more information, call 352-465-8539.
  
  
• INTRODUCTION TO BIRDING
  Date: Wednesday, January 6th, 2010. 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Meet in the Rainbow Springs State Park Conference Room.
  Description: INTRODUCTION TO BIRDING COURSES
  For Beginning Birders
  
  Each course will include one and ½ hour of in-house instruction, a 15 minute break, and a one hour birding walk. The fee will be $10 and each class will be limited to 15 people. Visitors can register by leaving their name, address, phone number and email at Rainbow Springs 352-465-8555 and the instructor will call back if there are any questions. The course will cover an introduction to birding, comparison and use of field guides and binoculars and where to locate them, what characteristics are important to know in the identification of local birds and the course will close with a bird walk around the Rainbow Springs State Park headsprings. Participants are requested to bring field guides and binoculars if they have them and should bring a beverage and/or snack to the course.
  
  Fees: The fee is $10.00 plus $2.00 park admission.
  Contact: For more information, call 352-465-8555.
  
  
• INTRODUCTION TO BIRDING
  Date: Saturday, January 9th, 2010. 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Meet in the Rainbow Springs State Park Conference Room.
  Description: INTRODUCTION TO BIRDING COURSES
  For Beginning Birders
  
  Each course will include one and ½ hour of in-house instruction, a 15 minute break, and a one hour birding walk. The fee will be $10 and each class will be limited to 15 people. Visitors can register by leaving their name, address, phone number and email at Rainbow Springs 352-465-8555 and the instructor will call back if there are any questions. The course will cover an introduction to birding, comparison and use of field guides and binoculars and where to locate them, what characteristics are important to know in the identification of local birds and the course will close with a bird walk around the Rainbow Springs State Park headsprings. Participants are requested to bring field guides and binoculars if they have them and should bring a beverage and/or snack to the course.
  
  Fees: The fee is $10.00 plus $2.00 park admission.
  Contact: For more information, call 352-465-8555.
  
  
• GUIDED BIRD WALK
  Date: Saturday, January 16th, 2010. 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.
  Description: This two-hour walk will be held on the third Saturday due to the Bird Course held on the second Saturday. Meet at the Rainbow Springs State Park Visitor Center at 8:00 am. The headsprings and upper picnic area will be our focus as we search for species that winter in the park. People attending are requested to bring binoculars and birding books if they have them. Regular $2.00 admission applies. Call 352-465-8555 for more information.
  
  Fees: The fee is $2.00 park admission.
  Contact: For more information, call 352-465-8555.
  
  
• GUIDED BIRD WALK
  Date: Saturday, February 13th, 2010. 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.
  Description: Meet at the Rainbow Springs State Park Tuber Entrance on 180th Avenue (off CR 484) at 8:00 am. Our two-hour tour will include an open meadow area, paths through the pine woods and the boardwalk to the Rainbow River that provides an exit for tubers who take the tram to the Rainbow Springs Campground to begin their float down the Rainbow River. People attending are requested to bring binoculars and birding books if they have them. Regular $2.00 admission applies. Call 352-465-8555 for more information.
  
  Fees: The fee is $2.00 park admission.
  Contact: For more information, call 352-465-8555.
  
  
• CRACKER DAYS AND NATIVE PLANT SALE
  Date: Saturday and Sunday, February 27 & 28, 2010. 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
  Description: Come to Rainbow Springs State Park to experience a whip cracking good time! See first hand Florida’s history with the original Florida Cracker lifestyle. Come see an expansive group of Cracker time period exhibitors. Be amazed at some of the arts like spinning yarn, making clothes, grinding corn, making butter, chopping wood, making usable home items and many more unique arts. Visit a Cracker Cow Camp and a Trapper Camp. Learn how to make fire from flint. See exhibitors in period costumes. Come browse booths and purchase unique gifts. While you’re enjoying the beautiful headsprings of the Rainbow River take time to listen to the music or some very interesting talks about the Cracker period of Florida History. Visit Cracker Weekend to celebrate Florida history and culture with the sponsors Friends of Rainbow Sprigs and Rainbow Springs State Park.
  
  Fees: Regular park admission.
  Contact: For more information, call 352-465-8539.
  
  
• SPRING ART SHOW
  Date: Saturday and Sunday, March 6 & 7, 2010. 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
  Description: Visitors are welcome come browse some of the best local artist’s work. Handmade jewelry, digitally re-enhanced photography, and paintings of all kinds will be on display for two days at the headsprings of the beautiful Rainbow River. Visitors can bring a picnic or purchase snacks from the snack bar and make a day of enjoying the beautiful scenery and fabulous artwork during the wonderful spring season.
  
  Fees: Regular park admission.
  Contact: For more information, call 352-465-8539.
  
  
• GUIDED BIRD WALK
  Date: Saturday, March 13th, 2010. 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.
  Description: Meet at the Rainbow Springs State Park Visitor Center at 8:00 am. Our tour of the headspring area and boardwalk will be in search of the early migrants returning to the park and those searching for berries and insects on their way northward. People attending are requested to bring binoculars and birding books if they have them. Regular $2.00 admission applies. Call 352-465-8555 for more information.
  
  Fees: The fee is $2.00 park admission.
  Contact: For more information, call 352-465-8555.
  
  
• GUIDED BIRD WALK
  Date: Saturday, April 10th, 2010. 7:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.
  Description: Meet in the Rainbow Springs State Park parking lot at 7:30 am, a great place to search for migratory warblers, vireos and tanagers looking for food and a resting spot on their way north. People attending are requested to bring binoculars and birding books if they have them. People attending are requested to bring binoculars and birding books if they have them. Regular $2.00 admission applies. Call 352-465-8555 for more information.
  
  Fees: The fee is $2.00 park admission.
  Contact: For more information, call 352-465-8555.
  
  
• NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION WEEK
  Date: April 11th through April 17th, 2010.
  Description: Rainbow Springs State Park will celebrate National Environmental Education Week. On Wednesday, April 14th a Ranger Guided Canoe Tour will be led down the beautiful Rainbow River at 10:00 a.m. Please call 352-465-8555 for RSVP and information. Join Park Staff and Volunteers to listen to local music with an important environmental message during Music on the Grounds, an open mic and coffee house event on April 17th after sunset! Bring your coffee mug for free coffee, an instrument if you have one for open mic, some environmental poetry, or just your love for the outdoors and music. For National Environmental Education Week experts will be on hand during the event to answer questions, distribute information, and speak briefly on environmental issues. This event takes place after sunset with regular park admission. Music on the Grounds is a monthly event sponsored by the Friends of Rainbow Springs State Park. Come and experience the message music can make.
  
  Fees: Regular park admission.
  Contact: For more information, call 352-465-8539.
  
  

Rainbow Springs State Park Ranger Programs

• GUIDED CANOE/KAYAK TRIPS
  2nd Wednesday of every month. 10:00 a.m. Bring a friend and enjoy the beautiful Rainbow River! Meet a park ranger at the canoe dock at the headsprings or day use section of the park. $2.00 entrance fee per person. The trip is about one mile downriver and back. Round trip takes about 2.5 hours. A $25 deposit with driver's license is required for rental. Rentals are $10/hour. RSVP is necessary.
  
  Call (352) 465-8555 for more details.
• GUIDED SNORKELING TRIPS
  1st & 3rd Wednesday, May - October. 9:00 a.m. Follow a guide from the headspring park’s canoe-kayak dock to the headsprings boundary and back, swimming upriver about 1700 feet. A safety boat follows. A lecture teaches about the ecology of the springs. RSVP Necessary. This event is free with standard park admission.
  
  Call (352) 465-8555 for more details.
• GUIDED GARDEN WALKS
  1st and 3rd Saturday, Nov. - April. 11:00 a.m. Enjoy a guided walk through the beautiful gardens and headspring area. Meet on the veranda and learn about the interesting history of the park, as well as some of the plants and animals that call it home. The walk is on uneven brick walkways and lasts 30 to 45 minutes. $2.00 per person park entrance fee. No RSVP necessary.
  
  Call (352) 465-8555 for more details.
• CAMPFIRE/CAMPING PROGRAM
  Most Saturday nights. For campers only. Check with the campground personnel for details.
  
  Call 352-465-8550 for more details.
• MUSIC ON THE GROUNDS
  Every 3rd Saturday of each month. Join the Park Staff and Volunteers along with your neighbors every 3rd Saturday of each month (excluding December) after sunset. Bring a chair, a mug, a musical instrument, some poetry, or your love of music for an evening with local talented artists. This event is sponsored by the Friends of Rainbow Springs State Park and ticket prices for this “after sunset” event are $2.00 for adults $1.00 for youth ages 12-17 and children under 12 are free. There is a different musical host each month and the open mic is first come first serve with a starting limit of 2 songs. Because this is an after sunset event starting times will vary. Call 352-465-8539 for more details.
  
  Call 352-465-8539 for more details.