On July 19, 2014, the South Florida Museum celebrated Snooty the manatee’s record-breaking 66th birthday with a free outdoor festival and reduced admission prices. Snooty’s 66th Birthday Bash, Arts & Wildlife Festival once again offered the community the opportunity to share in the celebration of Snooty’s long life as a manatee ambassador and to create new memories. The Museum welcomed nearly 2,000 guests inside with paid half-price admission, with an estimated total of 4,000 – 5,000 people enjoying the Festival overall. This was the 46th annual Birthday Bash for Snooty – a tradition which began with Snooty’s 20th birthday in 1968. The Museum wishes to thank everyone in the community and beyond who helped to make this year’s Festival another smashing success.
“This was such a special event for us this year. It was tremendously heart-warming to have such an outpouring of support not just from our community, but from all over the country and the world,” said Brynne Anne Besio, CEO of the South Florida Museum. “Snooty is an ambassador not just for manatees, but for all endangered species. By raising awareness that Snooty has reached such an old age in his protected environment, we are showing the world that manatees and other threatened animals can grow much older than they currently are. If we work together to protect their natural environment, we could help to increase the life expectancy of manatees in the wild.”
Museum staff and Trustees are also grateful to the people and organizations that contributed to the 66th Birthday Bash. The event would not have been possible without the help of all of the volunteers who donated their time to help celebrate Snooty’s special day. The Museum was pleased to welcome Mosaic as the presenting sponsor for Snooty’s Birthday Bash for the second year in a row. Of course, the Museum continues to appreciate the on-going efforts of our Corporate Partners: thank you to boostDFM, Bradenton Herald, Bright House Networks & Bay News 9, Fifth Third Bank, Manatee Herald-Tribune, Mosaic, Northern Trust, Sarasota Magazine, Webtivity Design Solutions, and WUSF Public Media.
Additionally, the exhibitors and vendors who took part in the event helped to entertain, educate and enlighten the attendees. Suncoast Food Trucks and A-OK Hot Dog Wagon were a hit with families looking for a bite to eat during the Festival. Free samples were offered by Flowers Bakery, Bluebell Ice Cream, and Tropicana. Many wildlife and community exhibitors were set up to provide activities and educational opportunities for the events attendees.
This year, the Museum asked all of the people in our community – as well as around the country and around the world – to share their memories and family stories about visiting Snooty. We’ve received dozens of comments and messages on social media – including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – as well as hand-made birthday cards with greetings and wishes from far and wide.
In this year’s birthday card contest, Snooty received more than 70 birthday cards from his young friends and fans. Out of the all of official entrants, winners were chosen for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes in 4 age categories, as well as several honorable mentions. Winners were announced at Snooty’s 66th Birthday Bash, Arts & Wildlife Festival. (See attached release for the names of the winners and card contest donors.)
Again, the Museum thanks all who participated in the event. We look forward to another year of caring for Snooty and the manatees currently sharing Snooty’s pool as they undergo rehabilitation. For information on how to help us care for Snooty and his pals, visit
SouthFloridaMuseum.org or call 941-746-4131, ext. 35.
SNOOTY’S 66th BIRTHDAY BASH, ARTS & WILDLIFE AWARENESS FESTIVAL WAS A SMASH!
Thank you to the community and to all of the families who shared in another year of Snooty Memories
(Bradenton, FL) On July 19, 2014, the South Florida Museum celebrated Snooty the manatee’s record-breaking 66th birthday with a free outdoor festival and reduced admission prices. Snooty’s 66th Birthday Bash, Arts & Wildlife Festival once again offered the community the opportunity to share in the celebration of Snooty’s long life as a manatee ambassador and to create new memories. The Museum welcomed nearly 2,000 guests inside with paid half-price admission, with an estimated total of 4,000 – 5,000 people enjoying the Festival overall. This was the 46th annual Birthday Bash for Snooty – a tradition which began with Snooty’s 20th birthday in 1968. The Museum wishes to thank everyone in the community and beyond who helped to make this year’s Festival another smashing success.
“This was such a special event for us this year. It was tremendously heart-warming to have such an outpouring of support not just from our community, but from all over the country and the world,” said Brynne Anne Besio, CEO of the South Florida Museum. “Snooty is an ambassador not just for manatees, but for all endangered species. By raising awareness that Snooty has reached such an old age in his protected environment, we are showing the world that manatees and other threatened animals can grow much older than they currently are. If we work together to protect their natural environment, we could help to increase the life expectancy of manatees in the wild.”
Museum staff and Trustees are also grateful to the people and organizations that contributed to the 66th Birthday Bash. The event would not have been possible without the help of all of the volunteers who donated their time to help celebrate Snooty’s special day. The Museum was pleased to welcome Mosaic as the presenting sponsor for Snooty’s Birthday Bash for the second year in a row. Of course, the Museum continues to appreciate the on-going efforts of our Corporate Partners: thank you to boostDFM, Bradenton Herald, Bright House Networks & Bay News 9, Fifth Third Bank, Manatee Herald-Tribune, Mosaic, Northern Trust, Sarasota Magazine, Webtivity Design Solutions, and WUSF Public Media.
Additionally, the exhibitors and vendors who took part in the event helped to entertain, educate and enlighten the attendees. Suncoast Food Trucks and A-OK Hot Dog Wagon were a hit with families looking for a bite to eat during the Festival. Free samples were offered by Flowers Bakery, Bluebell Ice Cream, and Tropicana. Many wildlife and community exhibitors were set up to provide activities and educational opportunities for the events attendees.
Exhibitors included:
Around The Bend Nature Tours
Bay News 9
Bishop Animal Shelter
Busch Gardens Tampa
Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast
Donte’s Den Foundation
Dr. Geek’s Laboratory of Applied Geekdom
Florida Maritime Museum
Humane Society of Manatee County
Lemur Conservation Foundation
Manatee County Audubon Society
Manatee County Parks & Natural Resources
Manatee County Public Library
Manatee County Recycling Program
Manatee County Water Conservation
Mosaic (Fossil Dig and Mosaic Express Bus)
Mote Marine Laboratory (Mote Mobile Exhibit)
Myakka River State Park
Nature’s Academy
Pittsburgh Pirates / Bradenton Marauders
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
Sarasota Audubon Society
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
Save Our Seabirds
Save the Manatee Club
SEC (Science and Environmental Council of Southwest Florida) Sea to Shore Alliance
Venice Area Audubon Society
Whole Child of Manatee County
Museum CEO Brynne Anne Besio with
presenting sponsor Mosaic’s Jackie Barron at the Mosaic “Fossil Dig” activity.
This year, the Museum asked all of the people in our community – as well as around the country and around the world – to share their memories and family stories about visiting Snooty. We’ve received dozens of comments and messages on social media – including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – as well as hand-made birthday cards with greetings and wishes from far and wide.
In this year’s birthday card contest, Snooty received more than 70 birthday cards from his young friends and fans. Out of the all of official entrants, winners were chosen for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes in 4 age categories, as well as several honorable mentions. Winners were announced at Snooty’s 66th Birthday Bash, Arts & Wildlife Festival.
The winners were:
First Place –
The Pre-K / Kindergarten First Place Award goes to: Chloe Sutton The First / Second Grade First Place Award: Gloria Ruiz
The Third / Fourth Grade First Place Award: Katie Evans
The Fifth / Sixth Grade First Place Award: Meghan McConnaghy Second Place –
The Pre-K and Kindergarten Second Place Award goes to: Wylie Joyce The First and Second Grade Second Place Award: Gabrielle Bowen The Third and Fourth Grade Second Place Award: Autumn Wildgrube The Fifth and Sixth Grade Second Place Award: Dana Young
Third Place –
The Pre-K and Kindergarten Third Place Award goes to: Julia Fernandez The First and Second Grade Third Place Award: Shelby Kovatch The Third and Fourth Grade Third Place Award: Madox Brown
The Fifth and Sixth Grade Third Place Award: Hannah Sondreal Honorable Mentions –
Our first Honorable Mention is: Preschooler- Tianna Sutton
Our second Honorable Mention is: Second grader- Kelly Winfield Family Award –
Siblings Jaden and Jacob Klusacek
Additional thanks to Snooty’s Birthday Card Contest Prize Donors: Anna Maria Island Art League
Beach Bums
Busch Gardens
Chick-Fil-A (Fruitville Road)
Circus Sarasota
Come See Come Sav
Demetrios’ Pizza House
Dinosaur World
Dolphin Racer
Domino’s Pizza (Anna Maria Island)
Fav’s Italian Cucina
Florida Railroad Museum
Glazer Children’s Museum
Great Explorations Children’s Museum
LeBarge Tropical Cruises
Manatee County Sheriff’s Department
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
MOSI
Ruby Tuesday (Ellenton)
Sarasota Bay Explorers
Sarasota Classic Car Museum
Steak and Shake
Two Scoops Ice Cream Parlor & Coffee
Again, the Museum thanks all who participated in the event. We look forward to another year of caring for Snooty and the manatees currently sharing Snooty’s pool as they undergo rehabilitation. For information on how to help us care for Snooty and his pals, visit
SouthFloridaMuseum.org or call 941-746-4131, ext. 35.
About the South Florida Museum
The largest natural and cultural history museum on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the South Florida Museum offers engaging exhibits as well as educational programs which interpret the scientific and cultural knowledge of Florida, the world and our universe. In addition to the permanent exhibits, the Museum features a constantly changing lineup of temporary exhibitions – offering something new to discover with each visit. The facility also includes both the all-digital Bishop Planetarium Theater and the Parker Manatee Aquarium. Outfitted with a brand new, state-of-the-art Planetarium and projection system in October of 2013, the NEW Bishop Planetarium is the region’s premier astronomy education facility with stunning new multimedia capabilities. The Parker Manatee Aquarium is home to Snooty™, Manatee County’s official mascot and the oldest known manatee in the world. Snooty shares his Aquarium pool with young manatees from the Manatee Rehabilitation and Release Partnership. These injured or orphaned animals are taken care of by the Parker Aquarium staff until they are ready to be released into the wild. For more information about current exhibitions and special programs, membership, hours, or admission prices please call 941-746-4131 or visit SouthFloridaMuseum.org
South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium, Inc.
201 10th St. West, Bradenton, FL 34205
SouthFloridaMuseum.org
Corporate Partners
boostDFM | Bradenton Herald | Bright House Networks & Bay News 9
Fifth Third Bank | Manatee Herald-Tribune | Mosaic | Northern Trust Sarasota Magazine | Webtivity Design Solutions | WUSF Public Media
