Horseshoe Crab & Shorebird Festival comes to Milton May 24

The 11th Annual Horseshoe Crab & Shorebird Festival will take place in Milton the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, May 24. This family-friendly, eco-friendly festival stretches from Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge to the historic center of the town of Milton.

The focus of this festival is on natural bounty and wildlife, the resources found in the area and the hope of awakening and strengthening people's appreciation of the environment. The festival offers many choices from art to science and nature education to family festival fun.

Festivities begin Friday, May 23, with Just Flip 'Em! Save a life, Flip a Crab at 8 p.m. at Broadkill Beach.

Horseshoe crabs frequently are stranded on their backs by rough waters or hazards during their high tide spawning and they need a little help to get back on their feet. There will be a Beach Walk at Broadkill Beach to help flip crabs while learning more about these unique creatures.  From Route 1 south, turn east on to Route 16/Broadkill Road. Follow Broadkill Road to Bayshore Road.

The group will be meeting at the Broadkill Store. Be sure to dress for the weather and wear footwear that can get wet. Bring a headlamp or flashlight and bug protection.

Saturday is Festival Day in Milton and Prime Hook. Nature lovers can enjoy the day with many activities at the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge on Turkle Pond Road off Route 16 east of Route 1. Birding, photography, canoeing, beach walks, birdhouse workshops and lots more will be presented by the naturalists at Prime Hook. A continuous free shuttle will connect with the center of Milton so visitors may enjoy all venues. Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge will open a half hour before sunrise with event activities starting at 10 a.m.

Memorial Park in the center of Milton will host the large Nature Tent where everyone will learn something about crabs and birds, snakes and fish, and more. There will be music, arts & crafts vendors, boat rides on the Broadkill River, and great food. One of the highlights each year has been the Art Tent, where creativity and crabs actually work together.

Adults and young people will have the opportunity to make something special from the area's natural resources. Young children can partake in the Horseshoe Crab Scavenger Hunt from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and enjoy Lions Club train rides all day. Activities in Milton will be held in Memorial Park behind the library. The day ends with a concert by 33 1/3 at 7 p.m. in Memorial Park.

Scheduled activities at Prime Hook begin at 10 a.m. For information or reservations, call 302-684-8419. Activities in Milton begin at 10 a.m. in Milton Memorial Park and continue to 4 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the Milton Chamber of Commerce and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. For more information, contact the chamber at chamber@historicmilton.com or 302-684-1101 or visit www.historicmilton.com/events for details.