April 24, 2005

(Tallahassee, FL) - Downtown Tallahassee is in for some wild times. The Second Annual Tallahassee Wildlife Festival begins Friday, May 13 and goes through Sunday, May 15. The three-day celebration of the unique natural beauty of the Panhandle benefits the St. Francis Wildlife Association and their UNcivilized friends.

Kindred spirits and St. Francis volunteers rescue more than 3,500 sick, injured and orphaned wild birds and animals each year. Northwood Animal Hospital on N. Martin Luther King Blvd is a drop-off point for people who find injured animals in the city. St. Francis's wildlife rehabilitation center is in Gadsden County.

This wild weekend has something for everyone. Festivities include a Wild Thing Gala, Wildlife Art in the Park and end with a Walk on the Wild Side.

The Wild Thing Gala kicks off Friday night at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. There will be fine food from Tallahassee's hottest restaurants, music by Miami jazz great Ira Sullivan, silent and live auctions with Mrs. Jane Marks, and a spectacular birds of prey program. Mark Quincy Adams and WCTV's Julie Montanaro will MC, and nature photographer James Valentine will present the widely acclaimed "Florida, Magnificent Wilderness," an orchestrated show, accompanied by Velma Frye.

Saturday, wildlife artists, authors and environmental groups go wild downtown with wild animals, activities for children, live musicand great food. Wildlife Art in the Park will be hosted by the Downtown Marketplace in Tallahassee's Ponce de Leon Park at North Monroe Street and Park Avenue from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side Sunday, May 15 with wildlife biologists and naturalists. Canoe with manatees on the Wakulla River. Discover bluebirds at Birdsong Nature Center. Photograph wolves at the Tallahassee Museum. Band endangered woodpecker babies in the Apalachicola National Forest . . . and more for a $20 - $25 donation. Preregistration required for field trips and tickets are limited.

General admission tickets for Friday's Wild Thing Gala are $40 in advance or $45 at the door. Wildlife Patron tickets are $100. Purchase tickets at Trail & Ski, The Wildlife Gallery, North Florida Animal Hospital, Native Nurseries and at the Downtown Marketplace. Tickets and more information also available at TallahasseeWildlifeFestival.com or 850.528.0823.