Welcome to the Wekiva Wilderness Trust, the not-for-profit volunteer organisation that supports Wekiwa Springs State Park. There are many volunteer opportunities from helping to run the nature center and conducting guided walks to river patrol and assisting rangers in the park. Our Board meets in the park at 5.30pm on the first Wednesday of every month and visitors are very welcome. For more information about volunteering and assisting the Trust please call 407-884-2006.
Join us for the 6th annual Wekiva Paint Out at Wekiva Island and Wekiwa Springs State Park.
Come and watch more than 24 internationally-acclaimed artists as they work in and around the park and then enjoy the many events that will be associated with this week-long festivity.
Sign up today to paint with the pros and compete for cash prices in the Quick Draw on Saturday, March 10 from noon - 2pm. Register at www.wekivapaintout.com and click here to pay your $10 fee.
Wekiva Island will host the 6th annual WEKIVA PAINT OUT during the week of March 5th through the 11th. Twenty- nine phenomenal landscape plein air artists will be painting all week in and around the Wekiwa Springs State Park and the Wekiva river areas. Artists “knock down our doors” to be invited to this event each year, and this year’s list of artists will not disappoint!! They will be painting outside “en plein air”, meaning “in the open air”. Most Plein Air painters are nature lovers, using the great outdoors as their primary studio, trying to capture light, color and the natural beauty of our spellbinding Wekiva River Basin. This style of painting allows the public to interact with the artists while they paint and offers a great opportunity to purchase an original work of art from a well known artist.
The artists will begin each day at first light and continue painting until sunset. Their finished artwork will be available to view and purchase at the Wekiva Island Wetroom/Art Gallery, open Monday thru Saturday. The artists will be leaving Sunday morning. Each year the artists produce approximately 300 paintings during their stay, all of which are immediately hung for sale. This year we are participating in the Steinway Society’s POP-UP-PIANO event. Our artists have actually painted the steinway piano with their great work. The pianos will be auctioned off later in the year and will benefit the arts in Seminole County. We will be playing the piano all week long in the gallery and invite the public to participate, as well!! The Wekiva Island (formerly Wekiva Marina) is sponsoring the Wekiva Paint Out and is located at 1014 Miami Springs Road in Longwood. Visit their website to learn more about all the action at www.wekivaisland.com .
On Wednesday, March 7th, some of the artists will be holding workshops. You can go to www.wekivapaintout.com for specific classes and times and get information on signing up. Join us at 7 pm for the “Full Moon Painting Party” and watch our famous artists paint at the Wekiva Island. We will also have a Beer Tasting provided by Wayne Densch beginning at 6 PM, with food available for sale for the public.
On Friday, we will have “Food Truck Dining” at the Wekiva Island for sale. The Artists will be auctioning off some of their works. Preview is at 7 PM and auction starts at 8 PM. This is such a fun and lively event where you can learn more about the artists and talk with them about their work. The jazz sounds of Paul Price will fill the air during the evening.
On Saturday, join us for the “Quick Draw” where you can float down the river with the our artists to The Second Flats and paint with the artists between noon and 2 PM. There will be a prize for the best painting (professional artists will be excluded from judging and prizes) Live music on the Pop Up Piano in the gallery during the day, wine tasting with our own somelier.
