Celebrate the splendor of the natural environment of southwest Florida by attending the 17th Annual Charlotte Harbor Nature Festival on November 19 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The free event will be held at Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean RD/SR 776 in Port Charlotte.

Enjoy the day exploring and learning about the natural environment of southwest Florida through activities and exhibits for people of all ages, including nature exhibits, local artists and the Mote Marine Laboratory mobile exhibit. Mote's exhibit includes a hands-on touch tank of animals found in our local estuaries. The Children's Discovery Zone will be packed with games and activities.

The Charlotte Harbor Nature Festival is a regional family-friendly celebration where people can learn about topics affecting our natural environment. This is accomplished through a wide variety of activities for both adults and children, which include guided walks and wagon rides in Tippecanoe Environmental Park, hands-on activities, exhibits and vendors, music, a Children's Discovery Zone and more.

• Still Friends, a local five-piece band, will perform at 11 a.m.
• Three guided walks will be offered:
• 10:30 am — Birding with Stu and Louise Lewis
• 12:00 pm — Plants of Tippecanoe with Al Squires and Denny Girard
• 1:30 pm — General Ecology with Jim Knoy
• Wagon rides begin at 10:30, 11:15, 12:00, 1:00, 1:45 and 2:30. The wagon rides are limited to 20 people per group.
• The first 100 children will receive their very own fishing pole donated by Fish Florida. The children must be between 4 and 14 years of age, able to read and cast after instruction, and complete a short class and demonstration led by Charlotte County Parks & Natural Resources Dept. If a child received this gift at an earlier festival, please leave these for those who haven't received one.
• If they are ready for release, Peace River Butterfly Society will release monarchs at 1 p.m. Learn more from them at their booth in the Children's Discovery Zone.
• A CHNEP 2017 calendar and a tote bag featuring art donated by Linda Soderquist will be given (one per group) to visitors who stop at the entrance tent.

CHNEP sends a very special thanks to these generous sponsors:

• Eagle ($2,500+): Charlotte County Community Services, Mosaic, Tents & Events
• Florida Panther ($1,000+): Charlotte Sun, Fish Florida, WGCU Public Media
• Osprey ($500+): City of Punta Gorda, Friends of Charlotte Harbor Estuary, Lemon Bay Conservancy, Mote Marine Laboratory, Peace River Audubon Society
• Sea Turtle ($250+): Coastal Wildlife Club, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte-North Port Association of Realtors
• Dolphin ($100+): Charlotte County Utilities, Linda Soderquist, Maximized Living, Waste Management