Come celebrate the First American Born Naturalist, William Bartram, at the 14th Annual Bartram Bash on Saturday, April 14th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Alpine Groves Park, 2060 State Road 13, Switzerland, Florida. This family-friendly event is free, open to the public, and will feature “Skin & Bones” performing a live Old Florida Hoedown, music by Tommy Bledsoe, educational booths, kid’s games and activities, yoga in the park, Stetson Kennedy Award presentations, a William Bartram reenactor, and an 8 a.m. bird walk with St. Johns County Audubon President, Jean Rolke.
“A naturalist is essentially someone who studies or is an expert in natural history,” explained AyoLane Halusky, Park Naturalist for St. Johns County’s Parks and Recreation Department. “It’s an honor to celebrate the birthday of our country’s first naturalist, William Bartram, at this fun, family-friendly annual event.”
ABOUT BARTRAM BASH
William Bartram (1739-1823) was America’s first native-born naturalist. Along with his father John, who was appointed the King’s Botanist, the two explored along the St. Marys and St. Johns Rivers in 1776. William later returned to Florida and established a plantation along the east side of the St. Johns River in Florence Cove. Honoring William’s love of nature and April birthday, the annual Bartram Bash was created and held at Alpine Groves Park. The 55-acre St. Johns County Park was part of the 1770’s plantation of Swiss immigrant Frances Philip Fatio. Today, the park features an outdoor pavilion, playground, picnic tables, fishing pier, historic structures from the 1800s, butterfly gardens, kayak launch, and paved nature trails.
This event is free. For more information regarding event details, contact AyoLane Halusky at 904.209.0348 or ahalusky@sjcfl.us.