It’s that time of year again – In about month from now, “Ding” Darling Days 2013 will begin!

Opening day is October 20 and includes a whole day of Free Family Fun. The value is $50 per adult. But for you, on Sunday, October 20, all this is free:

10:45am – FREE Flag-raising ceremony
11am-noon – First arrivals receive a ready- made recycled t-shirt bag or bring your own t-shirt and learn how to make one, EC parking lot
11am – FREE Talking Trash Game with prizes, EC parking lot
12noon – FREE Live Florida Animals Program, EC parking lot
12noon – FREE Naturalist-narrated 60-minute walking tour of Indigo Trail and the NEW Children’s Education Boardwalk, limited spaces – pick up ticket at Archway Info Table
1pm – FREE Snakes Alive! Program, EC parking lot
2pm – FREE Amazing Live Animals Program, EC parking lot
2pm – FREE Naturalist-narrated 60-minute walking tour of Indigo Trail and the NEW Children’s Education Boardwalk, limited spaces – pick up ticket at Archway Info Table
3pm – FREE I Love Reptiles! Program, EC parking lot

Plus all this through out the day:

FREE hourly (on the half-hour) life-size Endangered Species & Wildlife Puppets and puppet crafts garden presented by Heather Henson, daughter of the late Muppets creator, Jim Henson
Archery Skills Lessons
FREE Naturalist-narrated 60-minute guided tours — limited space, pick up ticket at Archway Info Table
FREE Face-painting in the EC Birding Room
FREE Hot dogs
FREE Shuttle service from TBE and Special Events Parking site (look for signs)
FREE Butterfly House
FREE Hands-on nature crafts
FREE Environmental displays and informational booths with free giveaways to fill your Tshirt bag

For a full schedule of events, head to the official Ding Darling Days 2013 website.

Now is the time to reserve your room for the week of “Ding” Darling Days 2013 at West Wind Island Resort, the closest Sanibel beach resort to “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.