Wildlife and Scrub Jay Festival Takes Flight Feb. 22

Posted On: January 17, 2025

Take a walk on the wild side as Lyonia Environmental Center (LEC) presents the annual Wildlife Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. This year, the festival will be combined with the Scrub Jay Festival.

The festival will feature Florida wildlife presentations, environmental displays, kids’ activities, and guided hikes and eco-buggy tours of Lyonia Preserve. An early-bird hike will kick off the day at 9 a.m. Admission is free, and food will be available for purchase from food trucks.

The 360-acre preserve is home to a variety of mammals, including bobcats, raccoons, armadillos, opossums, rabbits and foxes. Reptiles include gopher tortoises, six-lined race runners and a variety of snakes. More than 70 species of birds, including the threatened Florida scrub jay, also live in the preserve.

Hikers are advised to wear closed-toe shoes, bring water, and be prepared to hike on sugar-sand trails.

Lyonia Environmental Center offers insights into Volusia County’s fragile ecosystems through hands-on displays and educational programs. It’s part of the Deltona Regional Library complex at 2150 Eustace Ave., Deltona. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is always free.