Snooty the Manatee Celebrates Record-Setting 65th Birthday

BRADENTON – Join Snooty on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the South Florida Museum, Bishop Planetarium and Parker Manatee Aquarium. This annual event will celebrate Snooty's 65th birthday and promote the arts & wildlife awareness.

The event held in the Spanish Plaza and in front of the museum on 10th Street West is FREE for all Snooty's friends and fans. (Reduced admission to the Museum, Planetarium & Aquarium are also available all day.)

The celebration will feature children's games and art activities; free cookies and drinks for the children, a display of Snooty's birthday cards submitted for the card contest; plus much, much more!

At this year's Birthday Bash, visitors can participate in fun games and activities, learn about environmental preservation, interact with wildlife and arts organizations from all over the area, and of course wish Snooty a "Happy Birthday!"

You may enjoy entertainment and presentations from the Garbage Band, Sarasota Jungle Gardens, and Pure Dancers. There will be a misting station and water slide, all the fun games you've come to love, as well as face painting and balloon twisting, and everything thing else the young and young-at-heart could hope for!

Mote Marine Laboratory will be on hand with the Mote Mobile Exhibit, as will Mosaic with the Mosaic Express educational experience and a fun Fossil Dig pit. Also planning to offer opportunities for fun and learning are Busch Gardens, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Bradenton Marauders, Bishop Animal Shelter, Save the Manatee Club, Sara Bay Estuary Program, Manatee County Natural Resources Department, Envirokids and many more!

Suncoast Food Trucks will offer several yummy food options, along with the Museum's annual free cookies and chocolate milk from Dakin Dairy Farms. Samples will also be offered by Blue Bell ice cream and Local Coffee + Tea will provide tasting opportunities of their newest flavor, "Snooty's Choice Peach Tea."

The events will culminate in the noon presentation of Snooty's birthday cake (of fruit and veggies), along with the crowd singing Snooty "Happy Birthday" in the Aquarium and in the Spanish Plaza Courtyard. That will be followed by the presentation of the Annual Birthday Card Contest award winners. First, second, and third place prizes will be awarded in multiple age categories. Winners will be notified at a later date if they are not in attendance.

In honor of Snooty's monumental 65th birthday, any visitors to the Museum in the month of July who share Snooty's birth year of 1948 will be given FREE ADMISSION to the Museum, Planetarium and Aquarium. Visitors must present valid ID to prove their birth year upon entrance. This is Snooty's way of celebrating with all of those fantastic '48 folks who have grown up with him.

Snooty Receives Special Recognition

This year, Snooty has received several very special honors in recognition of his record-setting 65th birthday. Bradenton mayor Wayne Poston has proclaimed July 20 to be a city wide "We Love Snooty the Manatee" day. A presentation will be made at the July 17th City Council Meeting.

The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners voted that "Snooty shall continue to be known, designated, and affirmed as the Official Mascot of Manatee County" at their meeting on June 18th, 2013. Snooty was originally given this designation on April 3, 1979. Chairman Larry Bustle made the presentation to his fellow Commissioners.

Additionally, on June 03, 2013, Congressman Vern Buchanan formally recognized Snooty's historic 65th birthday by entering it into the Congressional Record. Congressman Buchanan mentioned "Snooty is an ambassador for wildlife preservation, a local celebrity, and a tourist attraction to Manatee County."

Admission to the birthday party in the Spanish Plaza is free. All day reduced admission prices to the Museum, Aquarium and Planetarium are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (65 and over), $6 for children ages 4-12, under 4 are free with a paying adult. Food and drinks available for purchase.

The South Florida Museum is located at 201 10th Street West in Downtown Bradenton, Florida. For more information, call 941-746-4131.