In celebration of Prescribed Fire Awareness Week, the Florida Forest Service will host the second Flatwoods Fire and Nature Festival.  

The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the UF/IFAS Austin Cary Forest Campus, 10625 NW Waldo Road, halfway between Gainesville and Waldo.  

Visitors can watch prescribed fire demonstrations, see live animals and do educational activities. Food trucks and live music will also be at the event.  

“In Florida, we use prescribed fire to protect the lands we love and the communities we live in,” said Rick Dolan, Waccasassa Forestry Center Manager, in a press release. “Prescribed fire protects communities, firefighters and forests.” He continued, “New people move to Florida every day and may not be accustomed to Florida’s fire-dependent ecosystem. 

The prescribed fire demonstrations will happen at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.