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Emerald Coast Hospice is hosting a Back to School Bash. There will be free school supplies for kids of all ages: pencils, crayons, backpacks, and more! The event will begin at 1pm and run until 3pm or while supplies last. Come to 3015 Jefferson Street in Marianna next Friday, July 21st, to participate.
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The Pensacola Splash Fest is this Saturday! Come to the Community Maritime Park in Pensacola to enjoy the family-fun festival. There will be water slide bounce houses, a dunk tank, water-themed obstacle courses, and class slip-n-slides. But the fun doesn’t end when you get out of the water: the festival will also have food trucks, craft vendors, games, and a watermelon-eating competition. If you’d like unlimited water rides, you must purchase a wristband. Wristbands are $15 for adults or $5 for event entry only. Wristbands for children 17 and younger are $10; kids 5 and under get in for free. Learn more by visiting the Splash Fest website.
on The Town of Greenwood was established in 1824, though the area was settled earlier. A charming small town, it remains a largely historic Antebellum community. Incorporated in 1927, Greenwood is a burgeoning town that offers a peaceful atmosphere. The town has a rich history, especially in regard to the Civil War. For instance, in 1853, Greenwood attracted national attention when a slave managed to injure a plantation owner. After failing to escape, he chose to take his own life by diving headfirst down a well rather than be captured, whipped as punishment, and returned to slavery. The incident was widely publicized by abolitionist editors as evidence of the cruelty of slavery.
Greenwood is also home to seven homes and one store that are eligible for the National Registry. The store, Pender Store, is open for business to this day. Many of the homes can be viewed from State Highway 71. Additionally, Greenwood is close to a number of parks such as Torreya State Park, Florida Caverns State Park, and Falling Waters State Park. Visit Greenwood or move here today!
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The Swamp Stomp Music Festival is happening this weekend! Come out to the Tallahassee Museum and enjoy a lovely evening of live music. Come early and make a day of it! The Museum offers a 52-acre park, walking trails, a treetop zipline adventure, explore historic buildings, and more. Music will begin at 4pm; there will be a selection of folk, blues, contemporary acoustic, highlands, and more. For more information including a detailed lineup, visit the Museum event page here.
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Also known as Independence Day, the 4th of July has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941. The celebration itself goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. Congress made it a federal holiday in 1870. The 1870 provision expanded to grant paid holiday leave to all federal employees in 1941. Nowadays, people celebrate with food, friends, family, and fireworks! Be sure to celebrate safely; never leave animals or children unattended when setting off fireworks, have a water hose on hand for accidents, and don’t play with fire if you’re drinking alcohol. Have a lovely holiday!
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The Escambia Amateur Astronomer Association is hosting a Night Under the Stars this coming Saturday (July 8th). Members invite guests to join them in viewing constellations, the moon, and planets from binoculars and/or telescopes set up by the association. Participants must enter the Big Lagoon State Park before the gates close at sunset. The event is free with paid park entry. Learn more by visiting the event website HERE.
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Dellwood Baptist Church in Greenwood is hosting a 4th of July Celebration on July 2nd! The focus of their celebration is on faith, family, and fireworks. The Celebration is FREE and will feature hamburgers, hotdogs, live music, yard games, shaved ice, and a fireworks display. The event starts at 6pm and lasts until after dark. Come out for a fun night!
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Panama City Beach will be hosting a three-night beachfront firework display to celebrate the Fourth of July this weekend. The event starts with the Light Up the Bay Fireworks display on July 2nd. On July 3rd, there will be two firework events: Light Up the Gulf at the Boardwalk Beach Resort and Freedom Rocks at the Grand Lagoon Coalition. The highlight of the three-day festivities will be the Star-Spangled Spectacular on July 4th. There will be fireworks shot into the sky from Russell-Fields City Pier AND the M.B. Miller County Pier. Additionally, local radio stations will be offering choreographed music to match the two fireworks displays. Learn more by visiting Panama City Beach’s event website.
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Today is the Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Festival. Come out to George Core Park in Port St. Joe for a full day of family fun and learning! The festival’s purpose is sea turtle education; there will be local teams from several education and conservation organizations present to give talks on the importance of the local coastal habitats for sea turtles. There will also be live music, food vendors, kids’ activities, and a Sea Creatures Parade. Learn more by visiting the event website HERE.
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El Bethel Church is hosting its Annual Celebrate America Fireworks Extravaganza this coming weekend. Come out to Sneads Park on July 2nd from 6pm to dark for an evening of fun celebration. There will be free food, a free concert at 7pm, and fireworks at dark!