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Everglades Day
February 14, 2026, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Happy Valentine's Day from the Everglades! Join us this year for our annual Everglades Day event to celebrate the unique ecosystem of the Everglades. Enjoy outdoor recreational activities such as guided introductions to fishing and archery, or discover something new through guided tours and special exhibitor booths. This family-friendly event features fun for all!
Click here for the Facebook event link.
Activities
- Exhibitor tent - Stop by each booth to collect a special Wildlife Valentines Day card!
- Valentine's Station - Stop by the booth to write your own love letters to wildlife and decorate your own Valentine's themed bag. Each exhibitor will have their own valentine. Collect them all!
- Find a Heart Scavenger Hunt - Look for Heart-shaped leaves, rocks, lichen, anything naturally occurring! Take a picture and show it to the front desk in the visitor center to get a prize! One prize per group or family while supplies last!
- Archery - Try archery on our archery range to shoot with real bows and arrows. Learn how to shoot safely on a range.
- Stick it archery - Learn archery using a S.A.F.E archery equipped with special "stick-it" arrows (as opposed to the regular arrow points). This is a great first experience for all ages who prefer a lower draw weight.
- Fishing with Reel Fishing Charities (10:00 am - 1:00 pm) - All kids are welcome to take part in this fishing extravaganza! Kids will learn how to tie a hook, cast a rod, identify fish, and even take home their own rod and reel! While supplies last. At the Fishing Pier.
- Canoe and Kayak Rentals (all day) - Loxahatchee Canoeing is offering free rentals up to 30 minutes to paddle around the canal.
- Heron Now Pontoon Boat Ride - Take a relaxed ride on the Heron Now pontoon charter for $5-$10! Limited spaces available. First come, first serve at the Dock.
- LILA Tours (11:00 am - 2:30 pm, every 30 minutes) - take a tour on a golf cart of the only Everglades Living Laboratory with a scientist as they discuss the over 20 years of research conducted there to inform Everglades restoration! This facility is a partnership between the South Florida Water Management District, the Refuge, and the US Army Corp of Engineers. Sign up at the levee tower. Each tram seats 3 people.
- Touch a Truck (all day) - Do you love airboats, trucks, ag tractors, and skid steers?? Stop by, take a picture, even climb in (where permitted)!
- Rock climbing (all day) - must wear closed toe shoes.
- Axe Throwing (all day) - must wear closed toe shoes.
- Face Painting (all day) - located under the exhibitor tent.
- Take a picture with Puddles, the Blue Goose Mascot!
Speakers Series
Have seat under our Speakers Tent with our Speaker series!
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am Live music with Grant Livingston
- 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Falconry Demonstration - For this exciting demo, see how an experienced hunter uses their falcon in hunting!
- 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm pm Live Music with Grant Livingston
- 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Busch Wildlife - Animal Encounter!
- 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm FWC Python Capture Demo. This educational demo shows a real live python and how FWC contractors search for and handle these invasive reptiles.
Location and Parking
Location
The event is located at the main entrance of the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. 10216 Lee Rd, Boynton Beach, FL 33473 on US441, two miles south of Boynton Beach Blvd., and two miles north of Atlantic Ave. All activities are at the Lee Road Boat Ramp.
Parking
Parking is limited and carpooling is encouraged. You can park at the Visitor Center, Marsh Trail, or Pond Lily Pavilion.
An 8- seater shuttle tram will be making stops every few minutes.
Food Trucks
Enjoy a meal in the scenic everglades with our guest food trucks!
- Hook's Family Affair
- Awesome Empanadas
- Royal Palm Ice Cream Truck
Seating is available at the dining tent.
Pet walking and other recreational activities
Leave your pets at home!
While we love our pets and consider them family, this is not a pet friendly event. Service animals welcome. A service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy dogs are not service animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA. Click this link to learn more about the ADA and service animals.
Outside of the event, the Refuge has a specified pet walking trail. Click here to see pet walking regulations outside of Everglades Day. Failure to meet these regulations can result in a warning or fine from Law Enforcement.
Parts of Lee Road and Lee Road Boat Ramp limited to foot traffic.
Lee Road, past the Pond Lily Pavilion, will only be open to foot traffic and the designated tram shuttle from 5:00 am to 4:30 pm. Lee Rd and the Boat Ramp will reopen to all activities as usual after 4:30 pm.
General Refuge Information
See our website for information about our background, policies, mission, and regularly schedule events here: Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service