Duval Times

The Third Annual 7 Creeks Fest is set to take place on March 9, offering visitors a variety of outdoor activities to celebrate the 7 Creeks Recreation Area. The event will feature guided hikes focusing on native plants, wildflowers, nature photography, archaeology, birds, geocaching, and history. According to the announcement, rangers from JaxParks and the National Park Service’s Timucuan Preserve will be leading the hikes, along with experts from various organizations.

One of the highlights of the festival will be activities such as kayaking at Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park, canoeing at Cedar Point, and guided bike rides at Cedar Point Preserve. Additionally, visitors can participate in dip netting with rangers, a prescribed fire demonstration, and a camping clinic with Timucuan Preserve rangers.

At Betz-Tiger Point Preserve’s Edwards Creek Trailhead, there will be a fishing heritage presentation focusing on the lifeways and fishing traditions of African American and indigenous peoples, along with a Junior Ranger Angler Fishing Clinic for children ages 6 to 16.

The festival will also include a selfie scavenger hunt at North Florida Land Trust’s Bogey Creek Preserve. A full list of scheduled activities and registration information can be found on the festival's website.

Sponsors for the event include W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, Inc., Geosyntec Consultants, JAXPORT, and Visit Jacksonville, among others. The event's partners include Timucuan Parks Foundation, the City of Jacksonville, Florida State Parks, and North Florida Land Trust.

The 7 Creeks Recreation Area, spanning 5,600 acres in northeast Jacksonville, offers visitors more than 30 miles of trails and waterways to explore. This special outdoor destination was made possible through the collaboration of park agencies and nonprofits working together to expand recreational opportunities for park visitors.

In addition to the festival activities, visitors can learn more about the organizations involved in preserving and promoting Jacksonville's natural areas. Timucuan Parks Foundation, North Florida Land Trust, City of Jacksonville Parks, Recreation and Community Services, Florida State Parks, National Park Service, and Visit Jacksonville all play a vital role in maintaining and enhancing the quality of outdoor spaces in the region.

For more information about the festival and the organizations involved, visit the respective websites.