IguanaFest 3
Saturday, October 14, 2023
Iguanaland is proud to be hosting IguanaFest 3, our annual fundraiser for iguana conservation and research! Join us at Iguanaland on Saturday, October 14, 2023, for a day of outdoor family fun, animal encounters, live music, good food, and both a silent and a live auction!
You’ll find all of the information for IguanaFest right here - from travel and lodging suggestions to a sneak peek at some of the amazing auction items!
If you can’t find an answer to your question, simply fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
Logo and T-shirt design donated by Steve Coles
T-shirt design donated by Laura Airey Le, Grey Ghost Designs
Ticket Information
Cost:
Adult - $30
Child (Age 2 - 12) - $20
Children under 2 years of age are no charge
For your convenience, IguanaFest tickets are sold online and are available now! Please just click the button below to be directed to the ticketing website.
Tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event as well.
What’s Included?
Each IguanaFest ticket includes admission into the event, parking, access to all activities throughout the day, a catered dinner from Sonny’s BBQ and the ability to participate in the charity auctions
IguanaFest T-shirts will be available at the door, with two different design options to choose from.
Pricing information is coming soon!
Events & Activities
-
Iguanaland and the Iguanaland gift shop will be open to all IguanaFest attendees until 5 pm
-
As you explore Iguanaland, you’ll find keepers stationed throughout the zoo with Animal Ambassadors for you to see up close, touch, and even pose for a photo if you’d like! For the full schedule of animal encounters, please click HERE
-
We will have a variety of vendors from the reptile community, artists, and local Punta Gorda attractions! Check them out, purchase some goods and learn about some wonderful organizations. Vendors will be open from 12:00pm - 5:00pm. List of vendors coming soon!
-
Throughout the afternoon there will be family-friendly games and activities set up for everyone to enjoy! We have a variety of different lawn games such as kick croquet, frisbee tick-tac-toe and giant checkers!
-
IguanaFest will feature 2 different live bands this year!
Michael Haymans and the Hibiscus Band
Cyclura and the Rock Iguanas
Schedule coming soon!
-
A catered dinner will be provided for each IguanaFest attendee.
Dinner will be provided by Sonny’s BBQ and will feature barbecue sandwiches with your choice of pulled pork or chicken, with coleslaw and macaroni & cheese on the side!
A vegetarian option will be available.
Water and soft drinks will be available throughout the event at no additional cost
-
A silent auction will run from 12:00pm - 6:00pm in the main tent area.
Winners will be able to check out and collect their item(s) from 9:00pm - 10:00pm, after the conclusion of live auction
-
The main event! This exciting live auction will feature some amazing items from art to memorabilia, special experiences and even live reptiles! The live auction will be run from 6:00pm - 9:00pm, and winners will have until 10:00pm to check out and collect their item(s).
Full event schedule can be found HERE
Travel Information
HOTELS
Iguanaland is pleased to be working with many of our fine, local hotels to make your stay in Punta Gorda as comfortable as possible!
Please follow the links below to access special event pricing for your visit to Iguanafest!
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Punta Gorda - $199/night
Wyvern Hotel - $249/night Standard King or $259/night Double Queen, if booked before September 12, 2023
Comfort Inn and Suites Port Charlotte-Punta Gorda - $139/night
Four Points by Sheraton Punta Gorda Harborside - Please call the hotel directly at 941-637-6770, and provide code IG1678 to receive our discounted rate of $139/night. Please call to book before September 21, 2023 to receive this rate
AIRPORTS
Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) - While Punta Gorda Airport is the closest airport to Iguanaland, they are a small regional airport only serviced by Allegiant Air, and may not be an available option for all of our IguanaFest guests. PGD is approximately 15 minutes from Punta Gorda and Iguanaland
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) - Located in Fort Myers, Florida, this is the closest large airport to Iguanaland and likely the most flexible and economic choice for most of our expected guests. RSW is approximately 1 hour from Punta Gorda and Iguanaland
Tampa International Airport (TPA) - Located a little farther away in Tampa, Florida, this is a very large airport that may offer a wider variety of travel times to guests. TPA is approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes from Punta Gorda and Iguanaland
Did you know?! Some of the grant funding for IguanaFest is dependent on attendance and “room nights” booked for our event.
Booking your stay with one of the partnered hotels listed here is our most reliable way of tracking these numbers. Thank you!
Auction Information
IguanaFest will feature both a silent and a live auction
The silent auction will run from 12:00pm - 6:00pm and will be set up in the main tent area
The live auction will be run from 6:00pm - 9:00pm and will be conducted in the main tent area
All auction winners will have from 9:00pm - 10:00 pm to check out and retrieve their item(s)
The auctions will feature many fun and exciting items, from clothing and purses, to reptile art and memorabilia, and even live reptiles!
Here is a sneak-peek at some of the amazing auction items!
Donated by Ron Tremper
Donated by Babette Pearl, in memory of, and from the collection of Dr. Russell K. Pearl
Donated by Babette Pearl, in memory of, and from the collection of Dr. Russell K. Pearl
Donated by Babette Pearl, in memory of, and from the collection of Dr. Russell K. Pearl
Donated by artist Pam Trent, hand painted Ralph Lauren denim jacket
Donated by Jeff Appel
Donated by Jeff Appel
Donated by Joel Sartore, Photo Ark Photographer
Sponsorship Information
Are you or your business interested in sponsoring IguanaFest?
Sponsorship Levels:
In-Kind Item Donation - We are more than happy to accept in-kind item donations for the charity auctions
Green Iguana ($500) - Recognition and Thank You on IguanaFest site, mentioned in all advertising materials and on display signs at the event
Chuckwalla ($1000) - Recognition and Thank You on IguanaFest site, mentioned in all advertising materials and on display signs at the event
Spiny-tailed Iguana ($1500) - Recognition and Thank You on IguanaFest site, mentioned in all advertising materials and on display signs at the event
Rock Iguana ($2500) - Recognition and Thank You on IguanaFest site, mentioned in all advertising materials and on display signs at the event, PLUS full logo on the back of the IguanaFest T-shirts and all advertising materials and signage at the event.
Fiji Iguana ($5000) - Recognition and Thank You on IguanaFest site, mentioned in all advertising materials and on display signs at the event, PLUS full logo on the back of the IguanaFest T-shirts and all advertising materials and signage at the event.
Iguanaland would like to acknowledge the
Charlotte County Tourist Development Council
and their generous provision of a $10,000 grant from the
Florida Event Development Program!
Some of this funding is dependent on the number of attendees for IguanaFest, and specifically the number of “room nights” booked at local hotels. If at all possible, we encourage you to utilize the event room blocks we’ve arranged at the hotels listed on this page, as this is our most reliable way to count the number of “room nights” associated with IguanaFest. Thank you!
If you are interested in sponsoring IguanaFest at any level, please fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page and we’ll contact you as soon as possible with more information!
Please join us in thanking all of our generous sponsors!
Charlotte County Tourist Development Council
Gladys Porter Zoo and the Valley Zoological Society; Financial, event and administrative support
Steve Coles, donation of official IguanaFest 3 Logo and T-shirt design
Laura Airey Le, Gray Ghost Creations; T-shirt Design
Bob Vu and Darien Drollinger, Bob's Balls; Fiji Iguana Sponsor
Cold Blooded Café; Rock Iguana Sponsor
Melissa Bridges and David Eldien, Eclectic Reptile; Rock Iguana Sponsor
Robert Van Der Kley, Husbandry.Pro; Rock Iguana Sponsor
Lori Schmidt, Lizard Lady Tennessee; Rock Iguana Sponsor
Morph Maket
Debbie & Richard Crowley, R & D Exotics
Dr. Bob Rondinelli and Family; Chuckwalla Sponsor
Tom McLellan and Cera Stein Goushaw McLellan, Tortoise Outpost
Timberline; Fiji iguana sponsor
IguanaFest Grant Application
IguanaFest is a fundraising event dedicated to iguana conservation and research.
Where do the funds we raise go?
Grants for research and conservation projects will be awarded by the IguanaFest Board of Directors - the more we raise, the more projects we can support!
If you are leading or participating in a current or upcoming research or conservation project involving iguanas and would like to be considered for a grant funded by the proceeds from IguanaFest, please download the application below, complete, and return to Ty Park (ty@iguanaland.com) no later than 11:59pm, October 14, 2023.
Maximum award of $10,000.
Please direct all questions regarding IguanaFest Grants and grant applications to Ty Park, ty@iguanaland.com
Still have questions?
Contact us!
We’re here to help, please reach out with any further questions you might have about IguanaFest!