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CROOMFEST 2025 ORIENTATION

Please note that all activities will begin and end at Silver Lake Campgrounds, located at 31475 Silver Lake Rd, Brooksville, FL 34602.

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All activities will begin from the Stage Area, which will be our central meeting point. Remember to bring your bike and be prepared to leave from this area.

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The following information can be found in this section:

 

Volunteer information will be directly communicated to volunteers, and instructions will not be included here.

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Emergency protocol and contact numbers are provided for your safety and well-being.

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Please be advised that this is a rain or shine event. Refunds, exceptions, or credits will not be issued under any circumstances.

“THE BEGINNING”

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For those unfamiliar with Swamp as an organization, you might wonder why we organize events like CroomFest. Sending you home with smiles and memories is just the start.

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Swamp has dedicated the past 35 years to building and maintaining trails. Fundraisers and volunteer efforts are vital for us to continue this work.

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As your hosts for CroomFest, we aim to provide you with the best possible experience. Your participation not only supports our trails but also ensures their future. We hope you leave the event eagerly anticipating our return in 2026. Yes, preparations for 2026 are already underway.

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Please take a moment to explore what interests you.  It will help you familiarize yourself with the content of the weekend.

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With warm regards and sincere hopes,

Your Swamp CroomFest Event Team

Welcome to CroomFest

Welcome and General Info

Please note that all activities will begin and end at Silver Lake Campgrounds, located at 31475 Silver Lake Rd, Brooksville, FL 34602.

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For day visitors:

Parking: Follow the parking pattern to the Day Use area and park next to the last car on the right side of the road. Do not park on the left. Parking assistants will guide you from 7:00 am to 9:00 am on Saturday morning.

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Registration check-in:

  • Thursday: 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm for early campers

  • Friday: 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm for campers and vendors

  • Saturday: 7:00 am - 10:00 am for day-only events

    • ​Run Til You’re Done- Registration time TBD

  • Sunday: 7:00 am - 8:30 am for day-only events

 

Epic riders will receive wristbands and bike numbers at check-in. Remember to return to the registration hub after your ride to collect your swag bags, food, and beer tickets. Wristbands must be worn at all times.

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Please note: breakfast tickets are red, lunch tickets are blue, and beverage tickets are orange or labeled Sierra Nevada.​

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Sunday, Fun Day Run

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Feeling like a run is more your speed?

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Welcome to the CroomFest 2025 Running opportunities.! This event offers a unique experience for runners of all levels amidst the beauty of nature and features a variety of distance options to suit every participant's preference. Choose from 5-mile, 11-mile, or 15-mile routes.

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Your adventure begins Sunday morning and offers runners an opportunity to run on Croom’s beautiful bike trails. Foot traffic is not allowed on these trails but for the CroomFest event, an exception has been made.


Join us for an unforgettable experience as you challenge yourself and embrace the solitude of solo running in the picturesque setting of the Withlacoochee Forest. This inaugural Trail Run promises excitement, camaraderie, and memories that will last a lifetime.

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Please read the rules listed on the homepage. Bring your own hydration bottles and hydration as this is an eco-friendly event. 

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Start times

5 miler        9:00am

11 miler      8:30am

15 miler     8:00am

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For all attendees:

Everyone: 

Additional Information for Everybody:

  • Should you find that you need to layer your clothing for any reason, please pack a marked bag to put them in if you leave them at a sag stop. You can pick them up at registration when you get back to Silver Lake

  • The schedule will also be posted by the Information Hub in the center of the Day Use area.

  • Learn riding skills with Cher Cleveland, Your Ride Guide or how to defend  yourself in the woods, with Barbara Weber. Look for class schedules to find the times.

  • If you are joining any of the yoga classes, please bring your own mat. Class schedule will be posted by the Swamp hub.

  • The Saturday snack table around the pavilion is a shared table. Help yourselves but leave some for others.

  • A beverage station containing water and Gatorade will be located near the snack table.

  • We would love for you to share your picture with us and with your social media friends. Videos are also welcome. Remember to take vertical video. Landscape is not good. Please share your memories with us here.

  • https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1eVKitQpIjMRu4jdMvReqNfpuvegiIb3R

  • Cell coverage in the day use area is very limited. If you need to contact us, try Pat Sanchez @ 813-598-5709 or Nicola Liebsch @ 561-512-8905

  • This is a rain or shine event. No refunds for any reason.

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Enjoy your experience, and we'll be in touch for your feedback afterward. Contact Pat Sanchez at Pat.Sanchez@Swampmtbclub.com with any questions.

Info for Everyone
Running

Event Schedule

Clinic Schedule

Coming soon...

Clinic Schedule

Happy Campers

Happy Campers

All activities start and end at the Silver Lake Day Use area.

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Check-in and Check-out:  Thursday 2:00PM- Monday 11:00am

  • Gate code will be sent to all campers closer to the event.

  • Early registration: Friday 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm (must have wristband for Friday dinner)

 

Campground rules:

  • Familiarize yourself with Florida Forestry campground rules. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/florida/home/?cid=stelprdb5274793

  • Animals must be kept on a lease at all times. No exceptions. 

  • If more than 2 vehicles are parked on a site please do not obstruct traffic flow or safety. Do not obstruct the ability of parked cars to move..

  • Tent sites in Crooked River are festival camping which means you may be sharing your site with a new friend or two, whether you know them or not. RV sites will not have tents on them unless otherwise arranged. Please contact Pat.Sanchez@Swampmtbclub.com to make arrangements.

  • If you are driving to the day use area from Cypress Glen or Crooked River, please find parking in Silver Lake campgrounds and not outside in the general area of the day use area.

  • Campfires are allowed in campfire rings only. The community fire pit is at the end (or beginning) of campsites 16 and 17 in the Day Use area. Bring your chair. It is a great place to hang and enjoy all the action.

  • Firewood is available for personal use, for a donation provided there is wood furnished by the campgrounds. A donation jar will be available by the firewood and a volunteer will be present. If wood is not available for personal use, you will be contacted prior to the event so that you can bring your own. Please do not take wood if a volunteer is not there to instruct you. We need wood for the community fire pit and will have it separated.

  • Our volunteers are not your cleanup crew. Please dispose of your own trash and leave your campsite clean. We will remember you. If we must clean up after you, you will not be invited back.

There are dumpsters at the entrance of each campground.  Do not bring your old couch but please feel free to deposit all camping trash before you leave, along with anything you generate throughout the weekend. 

Welcome to our Vendors

Vendors

It is an honor to welcome you to CroomFest 2025. We are excited that you are joining us.

 

Vendor village contact:  Jason Robbins jrmrtr03@yahoo.com

You may contact Jason with any questions in advance as needed.

 

Schedule:

Setup - Friday - 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Registration @ Swamp Hub - Friday - 12:00pm-1:00pm

Village opens at 1:00pm on Friday

Checkout - Sunday - 5:00 pm

 

Event Set Up Instructions:

  • Your site will be identified and marked for you.

  • You may drive in to set up. 

  • No vehicles are to be left in the Vendor Village if they are not part of your setup. Please Park in the vendors’ parking area located along the vendor village fence line marked as vendor parking.

  • You must register at the Swamp registration hub

 

Raffles:

  • Raffles will be held at the stage on Sunday starting at noon. If you are donating a raffle item, please be at the stage to present it to the winner.

  • Please provide details about donated items so that we can advertise them as well as you. We would like information no later than December 31st. 

  • Send information to Jason at the email listed above.

  • Swamp will not be responsible for delivering to winners. Please be sure you have contact information on the raffle tickets to make delivery or pick up arrangements between winners and vendors.

This is a rain or shine event. No refunds

 

EPIC RIDE:

All activities start and end at Silver Lake Campgrounds.

 

REGISTRATION:

  • Friday: 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm

  • Saturday: 7:00 am - 10:00 am, after-ride check-in: 11:30 am - 4:00 pm

 

Pick up your bike numbers, meal tickets, and wristbands at registration. Return after your ride to collect your swag bag and t-shirt.

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  • Saturday breakfast: 7:00 am - 10:00 am

  • Opening ceremony: 8:00 am

  • Rider’s meeting: 8:15 am

  • Leave by 9:30AM or no guarantee for sag stops.

 

Always wear your wristbands as event identification. 

Download trailforks https://www.trailforks.com/apps/map/ which is also helpful when navigating Croom. Review and know how to use it prior to hitting the trails. . It will be helpful if you get lost or need to tell someone where you are located if you are unable to move. The courses are well marked with arrows for you to follow. 

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There are three sag stops for the off-road epic. They are marked on the maps. Two off-road stops are available for riders that choose to do 35 miles and 3 for those doing 50. Celebration Station is located at the end of your ride, waiting to hand you a beverage and congratulations for a job well done.

Please thank all the volunteers. They are working hard to see that you have a good time and memorable experience.

 

Remember to always wear wristbands for event identification. Download Trailforks app for navigation assistance.

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Raffles and Silent Auction Items

 

Winners and Opportunities all starts at noon on Sunday from Center Stage 

 

  • Who wins? 

  • Raffle Drawings to be held following the bike raffles.

  • Silent Auction Winner Announcements

 

Each vendor will have a ticket bucket at their tent. Purchased drawing tickets can be placed in drawing buckets of your choice.

 

Drawings will be held on Sunday Feb 9th at noon. If you are not present for the drawings, you will need to make arrangements for pick up.

 

Looking for those great bargains?  Hit up the donation table for those deals you can’t refuse. Gently used gear, apparel, bike parts, and more. Have something for the table? Drop it off at the registration hub. Please make all items are usable. We do not want things that are not useful to someone else.

 

Emergency Protocol:

  • Have personal emergency plans in place.

  • For medical emergencies, call 911.

  • Download and use Trailforks app for GPS location assistance.

  • Contact sag stops for assistance.!  Put these numbers in your phone

    • Sag 1      813.240.5475

    • Sag 2      352-428-8474.

    • Sag 3      352.598.3154

  • Be familiar with how to instruct someone to track you should it be necessary. Know where you are if possible.​

 

Download and be familiar with Trailforks. Know how to use it. This app will help 911 locate someone in distress. Trailforks has a GPS pin feature that can be used to get a person's lat/long location. https://www.trailforks.com/apps/map/

Swamp's website fortunately has the Forestry ranger number listed on the Croom trail webpage along with a map and other logistical information https://www.swampmtbclub.com/croom

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Per Chance Drawing
Emergency Protocol
EpicRide
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