Umatilla Chamber presents SportsFest & Jam

UMATILLA — The Umatilla Chamber of Commerce presents its first North Lake SportsFest & Jam March 28 – 30 at North Lake Park, 40730 Roger Giles Road, Umatilla.

The event will include youth baseball and soccer tournaments, as well as a youth girls’ fast-pitch softball tournament. 

The SportsFest will also feature a 50- or 100-mile Centurion Biking Challenge, where riders can immerse themselves on the scenic roadways deep within the Ocala National Forest, through Alexander Springs and along the St. Johns River. On the 22-mile Paisley Woods Trail Ride, riders might encounter wildlife including the Golden Orb spider.

The jam portion will offer live music, day and night.

“The SportsFest & Jam demonstrates that Lake County is an ideal destination for sports tourism while shining a spotlight on the natural resources of north Lake County,” said Jason Mabry, Lake County Economic Development & Tourism coordinator. 

North Lake Community Park is the largest recreational complex managed by the Lake County Parks & Trails Division. The park opened in May 2009 and features many amenities, including an expansive playground area, four picnic pavilions, two basketball courts, six tennis courts, four sand volleyball courts, two baseball fields, two softball fields, two soccer fields, three multi-use fields, concession stands, a 1.4-mile perimeter trail loop and a .75-mile nature trail and two restroom facilities.

The park is located east of the city of Umatilla, off East Collins Street. The primary purpose of the park is to offer recreational sports fields. The ball fields can be reserved for league play for a fee, or are otherwise open for general use. The park is a former orange grove, many citrus trees still make up its property boundaries and the landscaping is all Florida natives.

To find out more about the SportsFest & Jam, visit www.umatillachamber.org/SportsFestJam/ or call 352-669-3511. For more information about planning a trip to Lake County, log on to www.VisitLakeFL.com, call 352-742-3918 or visit the Lake County Welcome Center at 20763 U.S. Highway 27 in Groveland.