Oakland to celebrate heritage at 20th annual festival

A yearly tradition of recognizing the town of Oakland’s history continues Saturday, Oct. 21, as the town and the Oakland Nature Preserve hold the 20th Annual Oakland Heritage Festival. ONP’s largest fundraiser takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Speer Park, 331 N. Tubb St., in Oakland.

The family event offers many opportunities for fun and learning with the variety of activities planned.

At 10:45 a.m., Jim Crescitelli, of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, will share details about Oakland’s past. Enjoy animal presentations at noon and 1:45 p.m., presented by the Avian Reconditioning Center and Oakland Nature Preserve.

Take hayrides through the historic portions of Oakland every hour from 10 to 3 for $1 and boat tours of Lake Apopka at various times during the day for $15 a person. For tickets, call (407) 905-0054 or go to oaklandnaturepreserve.org.

There will be raffles and a silent auction, live music, a petting zoo and food vendors, too.

For those who want to take something home with them, a pollinator-plant sale will be held and merchant booths will have items for sale.

The Kid Zone, which benefits Oakland Avenue Charter School, will have games for children, an arts and crafts area and a bake sale.

If you are going to hear the music, the Oakland Presbyterian YCM Band takes the stage at 9:30 a.m., the charter school band performs at 10, the Roy Baker Band goes on at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and John Starkovich begins at 2:45.

Always a popular stop is the silent auction. Bidding starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. Items up for auction include theme park and Orlando Magic basketball tickets, gift certificates to local businesses and restaurants, gift baskets and memberships.