39th Annual Florida Manatee Festival

About the event

January 17th & 18th, 2026 | Downtown Crystal River Produced by the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce | The Florida Manatee Festival returns on January 17th & 18th, 2026. Come join the celebration in downtown Crystal River as we honor our most famous residents! Now in our 39th year, the Florida Manatee Festival is presented by the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce. Celebrating with food, music, entertainment, and frivolity for residents and visitors alike. The Florida Manatee Festival also serves as a showcase for non-profit organizations and local commercial businesses that serve as the foundation of our community. Over 20,000 people each year flock to Historic Downtown Crystal River, making The Florida Manatee Festival consistently chosen one of the Best of the Best Festivals by the readers of the Citrus County Chronicle. This year's festival will include, but certainly not limited to: Manatee Boat Tours Live entertainment- 2 different stages Beer & wine garden Amazing storefront businesses Food vendors throughout the festival. Heritage House Hippie Village Children's Activity Zones And MUCH MORE!!!!

Dates

Jan 17, 2026 · 9:00 AM - Jan 18, 2026 · 4:00 PM(GMT-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

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Location

Florida, United States

Citrus Avenue, Crystal River, Crystal River, Florida 34428, United States

Directions

Parking instructions

Volunteers & Vendors will be provided with designated parking areas that will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Free parking/shuttle from The Crystal River Mall is also available to vendors and volunteers.

Artists, vendors & exhibitors applications

Interested in applying:

2 active applications

Vendors Applications for General Commercial-Art-Craft-Non Profit

Deadline: Dec 17, 2025

Apply now

Welcome to the 39th Annual Florida Manatee Festival!! The Florida Manatee Festival is a two-day festival, held annually over Martin Luther King Jr weekend. Join the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, the City of Crystal River, and over 300 artists, crafters, food vendors, and live entertainment as we bring the 39th Annual Florida Manatee Festival to Crystal River, Florida!

Saturday, January 17, 2026 - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, January 18, 2026 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Vendor Setup/Check-In: Only Friday, January 16th from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Except for those in certain areas will be requested to start set up at 8 a.m.

Vendor Tear Down: Sunday, January 18th at 4 p.m. No Sooner.

Food Vendor Application

Deadline: Dec 17, 2025

Apply now

Vendor Tear Down: Sunday, January 18th at 4 p.m. No Sooner.

Volunteers

Interested in applying:

3 active applications

Wednesday - Friday Volunteer Set Up/ Check-In

Deadline: Jan 16, 2026

Apply now

Call for Volunteers: Florida Manatee Festival - January 2026 If you would like to lend a helping hand and volunteer your time, please contact Missy Slanker at 352-795-3149 or email her at events@citruscountychamber.com! It’s that time of year again—Florida Manatee Festival season is here, and we’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make this event a success! I wanted to reach out and begin the volunteer sign-up process for the festival in January 2026. If you are unable to volunteer on these dates, we kindly ask that you send someone in your place. We greatly appreciate your flexibility and support! Below are the available shifts per day. Please respond to me at Events@CitrusCountyChamber.com with your preferred shift. Assignments will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so if your preferred shift is already filled, we ask that you find an alternative. Wednesday, January 14, 2026 -9:00 AM – TBD: Vendor Layout Thursday, January 15, 2026 -10:00 AM – TBD: Site Setup Friday, January 16, 2026 -7:00 AM – 6:00 PM: Site Setup -12:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Vendor Check-In Saturday, January 17, 2026 -7:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Vendor Site Management -8:30 AM – 12:30 PM -12:30 PM – 5:00 PM Sunday, January 18, 2026 -7:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Vendor Site Management -8:30 AM – 12:30 PM -12:30 PM – 4:00 PM We truly appreciate you taking the time to volunteer and contribute to the success of this beloved festival. Your dedication helps make it an incredible event for our community. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you! Best regards, Missy Slanker Special Events Manager Citrus County Chamber of Commerce Events@CitrusCountyChamber.com (352) 795-3149 ext. 306 915 North Suncoast Boulevard Crystal River, Florida, 34429 www.citruscountychamber.com 2026 FLORIDA MANATEE FESTIVAL Crystal River January 17th & 18th, 2026 VOLUNTEER DISCLAIMER AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT The undersigned hereby agrees, as a volunteer for the Florida Manatee Festival to be held on January 17th & 18th, 2026, that in consideration of being permitted to volunteer: S/he will make no claims in tort or other law against the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce or the City of Crystal River for any act, whether intentional or negligent, on the part of any person or object either prior to, during, or after the festival. The undersigned further agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Crystal River from any act committed prior to, during, or after the festival on the part of the undersigned which may cause harm to another person or property. The undersigned acknowledges that they have read the volunteer guidelines, disclaimer, and hold harmless agreement and accepts responsibility for their own actions while participating in the Florida Manatee Festival activities. Volunteer Information Name of Volunteer: __________________________________________________________ Age (if under 18): _____________________ Signature of Volunteer: _______________________________________________________ Date: ______________________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Consent (Required for Volunteers Under 18) I am the parent or legal guardian of the above-named minor. I have read and fully understand this agreement and consent to my child’s participation as a volunteer in the Florida Manatee Festival. I agree to release, indemnify, and hold harmless the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Crystal River under the same terms stated above. Parent/Guardian Name: _______________________________________________________ Signature of Parent/Guardian: _________________________________________________ Date: ______________________________________________________________________ Emergency Contact Information Name: _____________________________________________________________________ Relationship: _______________________________________________________________ Phone Number: _____________________________________________________________

Saturday Volunteer Sign-Up

Deadline: Jan 17, 2026

Apply now

Sunday Volunteer Sign Up

Deadline: Jan 18, 2026

Apply now

If you would like to lend a helping hand and volunteer your time, please contact Missy Slanker at 352-795-3149 or email her at events@citruscountychamber.com! It’s that time of year again—Florida Manatee Festival season is here, and we’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make this event a success! I wanted to reach out and begin the volunteer sign-up process for the festival in January 2026. If you are unable to volunteer on these dates, we kindly ask that you send someone in your place. We greatly appreciate your flexibility and support! Below are the available shifts per day. Please respond to me at Events@CitrusCountyChamber.com with your preferred shift. Assignments will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so if your preferred shift is already filled, we ask that you find an alternative. Wednesday, January 14, 2026 -9:00 AM – TBD: Vendor Layout Thursday, January 15, 2026 -10:00 AM – TBD: Site Setup Friday, January 16, 2026 -7:00 AM – 6:00 PM: Site Setup -12:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Vendor Check-In Saturday, January 17, 2026 -7:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Vendor Site Management -8:30 AM – 12:30 PM -12:30 PM – 5:00 PM Sunday, January 18, 2026 -7:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Vendor Site Management -8:30 AM – 12:30 PM -12:30 PM – 4:00 PM We truly appreciate you taking the time to volunteer and contribute to the success of this beloved festival. Your dedication helps make it an incredible event for our community. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you! Best regards, Missy Slanker Special Events Manager Citrus County Chamber of Commerce Events@CitrusCountyChamber.com (352) 795-3149 ext. 306 915 North Suncoast Boulevard Crystal River, Florida, 34429 www.citruscountychamber.com 2026 FLORIDA MANATEE FESTIVAL Crystal River January 17th & 18th, 2026 VOLUNTEER DISCLAIMER AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT The undersigned hereby agrees, as a volunteer for the Florida Manatee Festival to be held on January 17th & 18th, 2026, that in consideration of being permitted to volunteer: S/he will make no claims in tort or other law against the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce or the City of Crystal River for any act, whether intentional or negligent, on the part of any person or object either prior to, during, or after the festival. The undersigned further agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Crystal River from any act committed prior to, during, or after the festival on the part of the undersigned which may cause harm to another person or property. The undersigned acknowledges that they have read the volunteer guidelines, disclaimer, and hold harmless agreement and accepts responsibility for their own actions while participating in the Florida Manatee Festival activities. Volunteer Information Name of Volunteer: __________________________________________________________ Age (if under 18): _____________________ Signature of Volunteer: _______________________________________________________ Date: ______________________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Consent (Required for Volunteers Under 18) I am the parent or legal guardian of the above-named minor. I have read and fully understand this agreement and consent to my child’s participation as a volunteer in the Florida Manatee Festival. I agree to release, indemnify, and hold harmless the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Crystal River under the same terms stated above. Parent/Guardian Name: _______________________________________________________ Signature of Parent/Guardian: _________________________________________________ Date: ______________________________________________________________________ Emergency Contact Information Name: _____________________________________________________________________ Relationship: _______________________________________________________________ Phone Number: _____________________________________________________________

Hosted by Citrus County Chamber of Commerce

Joined Eventeny in November 2019

28 events

Crystal River, Florida, United States