Florida Bat Festival

The 8th Annual Florida Bat Festival offers an opportunity to view giant fruit bats and enjoy the great outdoors while learning about how beneficial bats are to Florida’s environment and ecosystems worldwide. Brian Pope, Director of Lubee Bat Conservancy, explains that the festival provides an opportunity to educate everyone on the importance of bats in a unique and exciting atmosphere. According to Brian, “we are the only festival in the southeast that offers a chance to view the diversity of fruit bat species while learning about the importance of bats here in Florida and all over the world. People get a chance to see giant fruit bats with a 6' wingspan eating a variety of fruits and vegetables while interacting with numerous enrichment toys, a truly unique sight." The festival offers fun opportunities for the whole family. Whether you are viewing live fruit bats, sitting in on an education presentation, or visiting a vendor’s booth, the festival offers relaxation and recreation. Each year the festival features free activities, including bat-themed craft activities and games for kids, educational exhibits, bouncy huts provided by Space Walk, presentations by bat experts, and the unique opportunity to see live fruit bats with 5 ft wingspans on exhibit in our Bat Zone.  The conservancy is not open to the general public on a regular basis, so this event provides a rare opportunity for wildlife lovers to see bats close-up. All proceeds of the festival help support bat conservation and education programs and promote the conservancy’s message to “Save Florida’s Night Life”. The festival will be held on the grounds of the conservancy, a 110-acre ranch, located at 1309 N.W. 192nd Avenue, Gainesville.

In 2011 we had the pleasure of presenting 29 exhibitors and vendors, including: Florida Bat Conservancy, Alachua Audubon Society, Wild Birds Unlimited, FL Native Plant Society, Santa Fe College, FL Speleological Society, FL Trails Association, UF Bat House, Fun 4 Gator Kids, Alternatives Global Marketplace, Pandion Systems, Occasional Bat, UF Society for Conservation Biology, LifeSouth Bloodmobile, and many others.

Admission is free, although donations are encouraged. For more information, please email us at batfest@lubee.org

Make sure to visit the BatZone to see Giant Fruit Bats with 5' wingspans!!!

There are plenty of things to do in the KidsZone - crafts, activities, games, and bouncy huts provided by Space Walk!!!