Sun and Star Fest

On March 9th, explorers and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages gathered for an unforgettable experience at Collier-Seminole State Park for Sun and Star Fest. With kayak rentals, guided nature walks, live music, stargazing, and more, the day was filled with unmatched entertainment.

Rich with foliage and wildlife, Collier-Seminole State Park is the ideal location for ongoing outdoor festivities. Compromising 7,271 acres of the great mangrove swamp of South Florida, there are several trails for guests to explore the stunning wilderness. 

All 105 campsites were 100% occupied the weekend of Sun and Star Fest, the first festival of its kind to take place at Collier-Seminole State Park, according to Darren Flickinger, Park manager. The park also has 13 resident volunteer sites in which the volunteers worked together to have the festival run smoothly. 

There are multiple historic monuments located within Collier-Seminole State Park, including the oldest geocache location, The Historic Blockhouse, and The Walking Dredge. The Historic Blockhouse is a U.S. fort built in the 1940s from the Seminole War and was home to the original park caretaker. Darren Flickinger says that the downstairs area is planned to become an interactive learning center for Seminole War history. The geocache, also known as the Christmas Cache, was placed at Collier-Seminole State Park on Christmas Day in 2000. And the Walking Dredge was one of the original machines used to construct Tamiami Trail in the 1920’s. 

After viewing the historic monuments at Collier-Seminole State Park, guests can take a half-hour or three-hour tour aboard Go-Cats’ boats. The boats meander through the mangroves at minimum wake and then pick up speed out in the Gulf. Flickinger explains that the boat tours make farther areas of the park more accessible because of the distant paddle it would take on a kayak or canoe. Flickinger adds, “They have a unique steering system with a lever, it’s an experience for sure.” Visitors regularly see bottle-nosed dolphins and manatees with the occasional sharks and sea turtles. Collier-Seminole State Park encompasses a vast majority of natural communities. Black bears are regular visitors to the park as well, but panthers are less common since they are evasive and want to keep to themselves. “I’ve worked here seven years and have only seen a panther once. I saw them at the Ranger Station… a mother and three kids,” said Flickinger.

Collier-Seminole State Park encompasses one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet, Flickinger explains, “[the park is] the front door of the Florida Everglades.” The Park’s goal is to protect the land for future generations. Park rangers, with help from other state parks, manage the uplands with several techniques. Invasive and exotic plant treatment, regularly prescribed fire burns, and hydrological upkeeping are some of the ways Collier-Seminole State Park protects the biodiverse lands. 

The Friends of Florida State Parks made an appearance at Sun and Star Fest as well. They are a group of nonprofit organizations that collectively preserve and protect the state parks and their proceeds provide financial support to increase state funding. The Friends of Collier-Seminole State Park aim to add information, artifacts, and fragments of the Seminole Miccosukee Tribes. They are currently looking for volunteers in the off-season. Flickinger adds, “you’d be surprised what experience you have that is required for the position.” With positions such as park maintenance, campground host, trail guide, park interpretation, and invasive treatment maintenance, anyone can surely find a placement that suits them. “I do it because I love every part of it,” said Flickinger. “Not one day is the same; there’s so many different things and people to meet. When the days all done, and you put in the work you feel accomplished. It’s the whole package as far as a career.” It’s clear that other rangers at Collier-Seminole State Park feel the same way as Flickinger. With 175 state parks and thousands of employees, Collier-Seminole’s very own Park Services Specialist, Henry Gonzalez, was awarded “Park Ranger of the Year” for 2023.

As if there weren’t enough exciting activities to partake in at Collier-Seminole State Park, Flickinger reveals another sensational addition to the park. On April 1st, construction starts for Glamping services which will include four custom made, fully furnished tents with amenities such as king beds, bunk beds, air conditioning and a mini fridge. All campsites currently include electricity, water, a grill, and picnic table, but the glamp sites will take camping to a whole new level.