Weekend Best Bet: Holiday Reflections at the Lake

Lake Manatee State Park hosts first annual holiday family event.

By Jessica Salmond
| 2:54 p.m. December 11, 2015

The event includes a flashlight night walk, where attendees can admire the 12 Days of Christmas displays at Lake Manatee State Park. Courtesy photo by Rosalie Coddington.

East County
Neighbors

Looking for something a little different to do with the family this weekend?

Try night geocaching at Lake Manatee State Park.

Saturday, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19, the park is hosting a family-friendly event, “Holiday Reflections on the Lake.” The event will collect donations for the Myakka City Foundation and for Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue.

In addition to night geocaching, families and individuals can take a self-guided night walk, make children’s crafts and take photos with Santa. Attendees are asked to bring their own flashlights for geocaching and the night walk.

The night walk will take hikers around the 12 Days of Christmas display at the park.

The park held the first event Saturday, Dec. 5. Carol Ohlendorf, a Panther Ridge resident and event volunteer, said 95 people attended and the park collected 256 cans of pet food for Nate’s Honor.

The event has no entry fee; attendees are asked to bring either an unwrapped toy or canned food item for the Myakka City Foundation or Pedigree or Science Diet brands of wet puppy food or Fancy Feast wet cat food for Nate’s Honor. Cash donations can also be made in lieu of item donations.