This Is The Friendliest Small Town in Florida
Life in Crystal River is largely tied to the water. The town is known for its manatees. It is one of the few places in the United States where people can legally swim with them. The Florida Manatee Festival celebrates that connection each January. The first Friday of every month brings live music to Crystal River Town Square. December turns the whole town out for the Christmas Tree Lighting Festival.
The Manatee Capital of the World
The Florida Manatee Festival is an annual event held over two days every January in downtown Crystal River. The event draws around 20,000 people who come for the celebration of the West Indian manatees that migrate toward natural springs maintaining a fairly constant temperature when the Gulf of Mexico cools off between mid-November and late March.
Throughout the duration of the festival, downtown Crystal River is filled with live entertainment, activities for children like a bounce house and pony rides, food courts serving seafood and barbecue, and hundreds of vendors. Festival attendees will also have the chance to embark on free bus tours to Three Sisters Springs. The bus tours run throughout both days of the festival, letting visitors wander the boardwalks to view manatees in their natural habitat, join manatee boat tours, and even have the opportunity to swim with manatees.
Three Sisters Springs is popular for its clear waters that are suitable for kayaking, swimming, and snorkeling. The springs are part of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. Here, people can view more than just manatees. Other wildlife species commonly seen include alligators, birds, and fish.
Downtown Crystal River
The Crystal River Town Square is in the heart of downtown. The square is equipped with restrooms, a walking trail, and covered picnic areas that invite people in to relax and enjoy the square. The town square hosts First Friday, a recurring event that takes place on the first Friday of every month. From 5 pm until 9 pm, the town square comes to life with live musical performances, local vendors, lawn games, and food trucks.
The square also hosts the Christmas Tree Lighting Festival on the first Friday in December of each year. This is a highly anticipated event where the whole town gathers at the town square to witness the lighting of the Christmas tree. Other than the tree, the square has Christmas shopping vendors, food stalls, live music, beer and wine, and even Santa makes an appearance.
The Shoppes of Heritage Village are near the town square. A collection of unique gift and specialty shops is clustered together underneath the canopies of Oak, Palm, and Magnolia trees. All About Nature is one such store in Heritage Village. The store offers a strong selection of coastal and nautical décor, wildlife statues, and manatee souvenirs along Florida's Nature Coast. Similarly, Anchored Souls features ocean and mermaid-inspired hand crafts such as hand-painted glass, décor, and jewelry.
Dining in Crystal River
Each February, the annual Ozello Craft Show and Chili Cook-Off is held in Crystal River, consisting of two separate events. The Chili Cook-Off draws in people from all over the local area. The main draws of the cook-off include cash prizes for the top three chili dishes, crafts, a chili dinner, and the chance to win a kayak. The event started off small but has grown within the last ten years to keep up with its popularity. This was when local arts and crafts vendors began attending the festival.
The Floral City Strawberry Festival is a celebration of local producers and the strawberry industry. It is held annually on the first weekend of March. The local grower, Ferris Farms, supplies the festival with hundreds of flats of strawberries that are turned into strawberry shortcakes. Other than strawberries, the festival has arts and crafts from local artisans, a beer tent serving beer, wine, and other drinks, and an area for children with a bounce house and rock climbing wall.
But you don't have to wait for festivals to enjoy good food in Crystal River. The Waterfront Social incorporates fresh seafood into its made-from-scratch recipes, cocktails, and outdoor seating for watching the sunset. Whether you are coming for a casual lunch or dinner with the family, the Waterfront Social's friendly staff is ready to give personalized service.
Whether you are a lover of the outdoors, a shopaholic, or a foodie, there is something for everyone in Crystal River that makes them feel welcome. Crystal River has a full calendar of beloved annual events that people eagerly await, like the Christmas Tree Lighting Festival. Other events like First Friday ensure there is still something to look forward to in between. With so many instances that bring people together, it's no wonder Crystal River is one of the friendliest towns in Florida. So much so, even the manatees keep coming back.
