SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — A local environmental nonprofit organization is gearing up for its annual three-day ocelot festivities.
Friends of Laguna Atascosa will host an Ocelot Soiree fundraiser on Friday, March 6, from 7 to 11 p.m. at Sea Turtle, Inc.
Nature enthusiasts will be able to witness and learn about these endangered animals while enjoying catered dining.
There will be a live ocelot presentation, a film screening of “The River and the Wall,” a presentation by Sea Turtle, Inc. executive director Jeff George and a presentation by Dr. Bill Swanson from the Cincinnati Zoo.
The Ocelot Soiree will have raffles, an auction, dinner catered by Chef Bettina of Marcello’s and craft beer from the Padre Island Brewing Company.
Tickets are $50 each and are available online at savetexasocelots.org, at Laguna Atascosa’s Nature Store and at the door of the event.
Friends of Laguna Atascosa president Nicole Ekstorm said the nonprofit organization was created to support and enhance the refuge through educational outreach and funding.
“The Ocelot Soiree is pretty awesome,” Ekstorm said. “I think it’s going to be a really good event.”
According to Ekstorm, the Ocelot Soiree was created years ago to help raise funds for Ocelot Conservation Day, which takes place the first weekend in March.
The ocelot festivities will continue Saturday, March 7.
Friends of Laguna Atascosa will host a free “Afternoon with an Ocelot” event at the Longhorn Cattle Company in San Benito from 12 to 4 p.m.
Concluding the festivities, in celebration of Ocelot Conservation Day, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge will host activities, presentations and an opportunity to meet ocelots from the Texas Zoo on Sunday, March 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville.
IF YOU GO
WHAT — Ocelot Soiree
WHEN — Friday, March 6 from 7 to 11 p.m.
WHERE — Sea Turtle, Inc., 6617 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island
TICKETS — $50 per person
For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/rvypgyp or call (956) 832-3905.
