Spring break energy may be pulsing along the coastline, though just beyond the crowds, the Daytona Beach area is serving up a weekend full of family-friendly events.
Meet local police officers against the backdrop of “Zootopia 2″ during Movie with a Cop in Holly Hill, enjoy fresh strawberries, shortcake and more at the Lake Helen Strawberry Fest, or explore various educational booths, crafts and cuisine at the Orange City Multicultural Heritage Festival.
For those looking to mix things up this weekend, here is what’s happening from Orange City to Palm Coast.
Tackle your strawberry craving in Lake Helen this weekend
Enjoy “farm-fresh strawberries,” strawberry shortcake, strawberry fudge and more in Lake Helen this weekend.
The Lake Helen Strawberry Fest will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 21-22. The festival will be held at the Lake Helen Equestrian Center at 321 Pleasant St. in Lake Helen.
The festival will offer plenty to see and do for both adults and kids, including monster truck rides, a pie eating contest, sack races, a petting farm, a free “cirque show” and more.
Admission, which is cash only, is $7 per person. Children 2 and younger are free.
For information go to lakehelenfest.com.
― Sheldon Gardner
Orange City celebrates cultural diversity, America 250
Crafts, educational booths, and food will all be part of the rescheduled Orange City Multicultural Heritage Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 21.
The event will highlight “Unity in the Community” and the ongoing America 250 Celebration. Originally planned for Feb. 28, the Multicultural Heritage Festival was postponed due to inclement weather. The decision appears to be sound, as forecasts call for a sunny day with a high in the upper 70s on March 21.
Sharon Stafford, CEO of Everybody Is Somebody, Inc., an Orange City nonprofit that organizes the festival, said there will also be community youth programming, featuring poetry and praise dancing at the festival in Mill Lake Park at 207 E. Blue Springs Ave.
— Mark Harper
Bring a lawn chair out to Movie with a Cop in Holly Hill
The Holly Hill Police Department is inviting families to enjoy a fun evening at Movie with a Cop night on March 20.
The movie will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be shown on the front lawn of Holly Hill City Hall, located at 1065 S. Ridgewood Ave.
The free, family-friendly event gives residents a chance to meet local officers in a fun and welcoming setting while enjoying an outdoor showing of the animated film “Zootopia 2.”
Those who come to the movie night are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and settle in for a movie under the stars.Movie with a Cop is designed to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and the community by creating opportunities for families, children and officers to interact outside of traditional settings. The event is hoped to foster trust, familiarity and positive connections between residents and the Holly Hill Police Department.Free popcorn and water will be provided while supplies last, and the event is free and open to the public.The evening is made possible by the support of community sponsors FastSigns and Clarks Family Auto Sales.
— Eileen Zaffiro-Kean
Celebration of Caribbean culture and family fun at Palm Coast’s Central Park
This weekend, Palm Coast’s Central Park will host a two-day “celebration and exploration of Caribbean culture.”
That is what organizers promise for IslandFest 8 — a family friendly event featuring live music, food trucks, vendors, kids zone and a car show.
Guests will get to enjoy a Bahamas Junkanoo parade, featuring a display of colorful costumes, dancing, and celebration of the Caribbean culture.
There will be live music from Blue Steel and other special guest artists, according to organizers. The event will also feature a “supercar show” with “Corvettes and exotic cars on display.”
IslandFest 8 takes place March 21 from noon to 9 p.m., and March 22 from noon to 6 p.m. at 1500 Central Ave. in Palm Coast’s Central Park.
Single-day tickets are $15 and $20 for both days.
For information, visit ofaatinc.com or call 904-325-6588.
— Brenno Carillo
Port Orange senior crafts fair to feature $5 lunch
Enjoy the first day of spring shopping or viewing crafts at the Third Annual Crafts In The Woods in Port Orange on March 21.
The event, which kicks off at 9 a.m. March 21 and ends at 1 p.m., will feature more than 30 craft vendors at the clubhouse of the Colony in the Wood senior community in Port Orange, located at 4000 S. Clyde Morris Blvd.
According to organizers, a bake sale and hourly gift drawings will also be held. Hot dogs, chips, and iced tea will be available for lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for $5.
— Patricio G. Balona
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ready for the weekend? 5 things to do in Daytona, Palm Coast area
Reporting by Helena Perray, Sheldon Gardner, Mark Harper, Eileen Zaffiro-Kean, Brenno Carillo and Patricio G. Balona, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
