Learning About the Past | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

Frolic returning after virus forced it online last year

Bartram Society of Florida President Sam Carr stands on the banks of the St. Johns River on Monday afternoon as he and Bartram Frolic organizers eagerly prepare for the 2021 festival, which takes place along the river April 16-18.
Jim Sawgrass of the Florida Muskogee Creek Tribe acts as The Long Warrior to educate schoolchildren during the 2019 Bartram Frolic.
A William Bartram re-enactor educates children during the 2019 Bartram Frolic.
Positively Putnam FL

Organizers of the 2021 Bartram Frolic are starting preparations with fewer than two weeks left before the three days of nature- and history-based events begin.

From April 16-18, recreational and educational activities are planned at the St. Johns Riverfront to pay homage and celebrate the legacy of 18th-century explorer William Bartram and the importance of the river.

A guided paddling tour, bike rides, kayak tours and walks are planned over the three days. On April 17, historical and environmental educational activities will be featured. The final event is the Bartram symposium 2-5 p.m. April 18 at C.L. Overturf Jr. Sixth Grade Center’s Jim Pignato Theater. Besides Palatka’s riverfront, there are tours at Mount Royal near Welaka, Dunns Creek and Ravine Gardens State Park.

Sam Carr, Bartram Trail Society of Florida president, said the Family Fun Heart Health 5K Walk/Run has been canceled, but the other events are still set to occur.

This will be the fourth Bartram Frolic since 2017, as last year’s iteration was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though there were plans for a January event.

That didn’t stop the Bartram Trail Society of Florida, Putnam County School District and the St. Johns Riverkeeper from hosting an educational component for hundreds of students last fall.

Usually, the St. Johns River Center is packed with students leading up to the frolic, Carr said.

However, students who participated in the frolic’s virtual educational component will get to visit 10 Passport to the Past stations.

“We couldn’t do the field trips for the kids. That’s how (virtual classes) started. The school system put together a neat program for us with videos and live classrooms,” Carr said. “The kids all had passports. Now, we’re asking them to come back now to get prizes and to meet the (living history) actors in person.”

The frolic’s COVID-19 safety plan asks for masking and hand-washing stations. Masks and hand sanitizer will be provided along with markings at 6-foot intervals for social distancing where applicable. The recreational activities each allow for a limited number of people.

“We’ve purposefully downsized it because of COVID,” Carr said.

The frolic received about $24,000 in grants from the Florida Humanities Council, Tourism Development Council and Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act to foot the bill for the organization’s website and virtual program, support the symposium and increase frolic programming, Carr said.

Carr also gave thanks to city employees Winston Fletcher and Eddie Cutwright for their help with navigating city processes and requirements.

“I appreciate their cooperation, making this thing happen and helping us along the way,” Carr said.

For a full schedule of events, visit bartramtrailsociety.com