Perfect weather for a turtle festival

Charlie, an alligator snapping turtle, arrived at the sea turtle center after being confiscated by law enforcement officials from a home where it was being kept unlawfully. [ David Adlerstein | The Star ]

The Armstrong family, from Dallas, Georgia, takes a look at a redfoot tortoise. From left are sixth grader Melanie, fourth grader Rose, dad Jordan, aunt Elyse and mom Candace. [ David Adlerstein | The Star ]

Cuta, the river cooter, will grow much larger and should live a long time. [ David Adlerstein | The Star ]

First grader Priya Peters, left, and older brother third grader E.J. were visiting with their parents from Fleetwood, Pennsylvania. [ David Adlerstein | The Star ]

Turtle Center Director Jessica Swindall, back, and Keith Whitehead, who has been with the St. Joseph Peninsula turtle patrol for eight years, shared information on how to interact with turtles throughout the festival. [ David Adlerstein | The Star ]

Volunteer Margaret Schroeder, dressed as Peni the sea turtle, took lots of photos with visitors. [ David Adlerstein | The Star ]

The redfoot tortoise is a species from northern South America. [ David Adlerstein | The Star ]

Sunday’s eighth annual Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Festival at George Core Park in Port St. Joe was a perfect day for turtles.

For humans, it had its pluses and minuses.

A sunny morning began the day, and the turnout was strong as locals and visitors took in over 70 arts and crafts vendor booths, 12 education groups, food trucks and the music of Key West Drew.

But about mid-afternoon, the rain started coming down, delighting the turtles but curtailing some of the human activity. A few vendors packed up, but the sun came back out and it turned out to be another successful event

Jessica Swindall, director of the Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center, said the event succeeded, during this busy week of visitors to the area, in educating people how sensitive some of the coastal environments are and what they can do to help protect the wildlife living here.

“If you see a turtle on the beach, turn off your lights. Don’t shine bright lights on them,” she said. “Keep it dark and give them their space.”

The reason for this, and for keeping low, shielded lighting around beachfront properties is that lighting disorients turtles and their hatchlings, which once they emerge from their eggs need to get to the moonlight water fast and avoid the natural predators that lurk in the air, land and sea.DarkSky International

For her work as a turtle volunteer, Marianne Warhol, from Port St. Joe, was presented with the Charles Gaddy Sea Turtle Steward Award, named in honor of a longtime volunteer who was instrumental in the ongoing work to protect nesting sea turtles. His widow, Janice Gaddy, was on hand to present Warhol the award.

Among the educational groups that were on hand for the festival were Audubon Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, DarkSky International, Friends of St. Vincent Island, Friends of St. Joseph Bay Preserve, William J. “Billy Joe” Rish Recreation Area U.S. Geological Survey, St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays estuary program, Gulf County TDC, Gulf World Marine Park, T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. Health Gulf and the Gulf County libraries.