JIM SANDRIDGE PHOTO
If you’d enjoy riding a horse or hiking along nature trails filled with challenging, Halloween-themed obstacles, sign up for the 20th annual Mystery Map event at the Little Manatee River State Park Oct. 14. For information, call 813-677-9291.
By LOIS KINDLE
The Friends of the Little Manatee State Park will offer some pre-Halloween fun for hikers, horseback riders, families and friends during the 20th annual Mystery Map event Oct. 14.
Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. for hikers and riders of all ages, who will be invited to follow separate trails filled with around 15 different, Halloween-themed obstacles. These could include water crossings, man-made barriers and the like.
The first participants will begin at 8 a.m. and the last need to start by 11. All hikers and riders must be back at the event field by 1:30 p.m. to be eligible for a prize. Participants who finish early need not be present to win.
“It’s not a race,” said Cathy Moore, Mystery Map chairman. “The event is a way to get people out into the park and enjoy the handiwork of all the volunteers who designed and set up themed obstacles for their enjoyment.”
The object of the ride/hike is to be closest to a mystery time set prior to the event. Everyone’s trek is timed, and the top three participants’ times closest to the mystery time win an Ace Hardware Feed & Pet Supply gift certificate and other items donated by other supporters.
Back at the event field, there will be bluegrass and country music performed by J. D. and Zetha Lewis, lunch prepared and served by the Friends Café, vendor booths, a raffle for a metal sculpture valued at $200, buggy rides, silent auction and Halloween costume contest for adults, children and horses. The public is welcome.
Admission to the event field at 215 Lightfoot Road is free. Entry in the Mystery Map ride/hike, which includes lunch, is $25 per person.
Lunches for nonparticipants are $6 each.
Tickets for the raffle are $3 or two for $5. They can be purchased at Canoe Outpost, 18001 U.S. 301 S., Wimauma; Ace Hardware Feed & Pet Supply, 13364 Lincoln Road, Riverview; J & J Tack Shack, 127 S. Moon Ave., Brandon; FishHawk Feed & Pet Supply, 7015 Lithia Pinecrest Road, Lithia; or by calling 813-677-9291 or 813-841-4218. The winning ticket will be drawn at 2 p.m. the day of the event.
Tickets for buggy rides are $5 for adults and $3 for children, 12 and younger. They and entry to the Mystery Map ride/hike can be paid for at the event field.
Riders must provide proof of negative Coggins to show their horses are free of equine infectious anemia, and helmets are required for anyone younger than 16. Folks who don’t own a horse can rent one from Wolfe’s Born to Ride, located in Parrish, by calling 941-812-1980.
“All proceeds go to park projects and event overhead not included in the state budget,” Moore said. “Last year, we raised about $2,000.”
CATHY MOORE PHOTO
This sculpted horse head by artist Buddy Street will be raffled off Oct. 14 at the 20th annual Mystery Map event at the Little Manatee River State Park. Tickets are $3 each or two for $5.
The 20th annual Mystery Map event is sponsored by Ace Hardware Feed & Pet Supply, Florida State Parks, Canoe Outpost and Friends of the Little Manatee River State Park.
“This will be our last Mystery Map event,” Moore said. “If you haven’t had a chance to get to one of these in the past, now is the time to come out and join the fun.”
Moore added the Friends plan to replace this event with something new next year.
Special needs requests can be made by calling the Little Manatee River State Park at 813-671-5005.
For more information, visit www.FriendsoftheLittleManatee.org or call 813-677-9291.
