Night on the Loxahatchee, the annual benefit for the River Center, will be held on Saturday, April 6^th from 7pm - 9:30pm. The proceeds raised will help fund the outstanding environmental education programming the River Center offers to all ages throughout the year.

This highly anticipated event hosted by Storm Team 5 Chief Meterologist, Steve Weagle,  offers opportunities for socializing and learning more about one of the area’s greatest natural resources, the Loxahatchee River.  Fascinating expert speakers, engaging storytellers, unique entertainment, silent auction items and raffles are also a hallmark of the event.  The delicious fare from the legendary Food Shack always creates a buzz with its unique, gourmet spin on local culinary delights.

This year's "River to Reef" theme includes stories about the infamous Trapper Nelson, his riverside camp and mysterious death as told by Jonathan Dickinson State Park’s Barry Richardson.   Zack Jud, a doctoral candidate at Florida International University, will talk about the role of "Oysters in Our Estuary," and the significance this tiny mollusk has to the entire watershed.  Did you know a single oyster may filter up to 50 gallons of water each day?  And, oyster reefs are home to millions of small creatures! Learn more about our marine habitats and the role of artificial reefs from Palm Beach County's Janet Phipps.  As a Coral Reef Ecologist  with the Environmental Resource Management team, she monitors and manages the County's Reefs.

 As always, guests can count on a savory selection of hors d’oeuvres to enjoy at the event.  The Food Shack has created a "river inspired" menu especially for the evening to represent different portions of the river, offering everything from seasoned gator tail to panko-fried oysters.  Also enjoy wines from African Tradition Wines and locally-roasted, gourmet coffee by Oceana Coffee.

Night on the Loxahatchee is a truly enjoyable and memorable evening. We encourage the community to come out for the great food and entertainment, and also show their support for one of our community’s greatest natural treasures, the Loxahatchee River.  Tickets to Night on the Loxahatchee are $50 per person and $40 for members of Friends of the Loxahatchee River. {Limit 2 tickets at discounted rate per membership} 

For information about the event, sponsorship opportunities, the River Center, or to purchase tickets by phone, please call 561-743-7123.  A wonderful group of sponsors have helped to make this event possible, including Florida Power & Light; Palm Beach Kennel Club; Wodraska Partners, Inc.; Cotleur & Hearing; Jorge Aquino’s Exceptional Event Planning; Royal Café; Gentile, Glas, Holloway, O’Mahoney & Associates; and U.b.U. Graphic Design Group.

Food and Beverages provided by:

Silent Auction and Raffle Items donated by:

Sweet's Seafood, Steaks and Sushi, James Snyder, Hakuna Matata Cruises, Manatee Queen, Donna Sereno, Margaret McNeill, April Davis, The Back Porch, Janet Madey, Yum Yum Tree, Amber Moran

Created by the Loxahatchee River District in partnership with the Friends of the Loxahatchee, the River Center opened its doors in 2008 to help the community learn more about the Loxahatchee River and its value to our community. Since its inception, this environmental education center has connected the community to the river, as well as to one another. The center boasts programs for all ages, including a weekly storytime for families with small children, visits from numerous schools, camp groups, and civic organizations, a summer camp for kids, as well as monthly adult programs on environmental topics. Students looking to enrich their studies and volunteers of all ages looking to give back are also an integral part of how the River Center serves as a valuable education resource for the community.

Located at Burt Reynolds Park in Jupiter, the River Center traces the Loxahatchee River from its pristine, cypress-lined freshwater reaches to a teeming estuary and eventually to the Jupiter Inlet, where it spills into the Atlantic Ocean. The center presents over 6,000 gallons worth of aquatic exhibits with an interactive exploration of the river, a touch tank teeming with aquatic life, and an overview of the area’s diverse wildlife and its majestic environmental value. In addition, guests learn where their water comes from, how it is consumed and how it is then recycled back into the community.

The River Center enjoys and treasures the strong community support it receives from its growing network of dedicated volunteers. Leading this effort is the Loxahatchee River District, which oversees daily operations of the center. Annual sponsors include the Jupiter Inlet District, Solid Waste Authority, Palm Beach County, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Bristol Management, Martin County, Wolverine Ventures, and other valued businesses and individuals throughout our community.