Author: Debbie Roney Smith

Blue Angels

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The Blue Angels are back in town for practice, and this year they’re allowing the public in to watch! The National Naval Aviation Museum will be hosting the practices. The gates will open at 9:30am, with the Blue Angels soaring into the skies at 10:30am. The Museum parking lot fills up quick, so be sure to be at the gates early – once the lot fills up, the gates will close. 

The last of April’s dates include today and tomorrow, April 30th. But no fear! The Blue Angels will be practicing through October. Best of all, some of the practice sessions will end with autograph sessions. Visit the Museum website to learn more about the autograph sessions, including the specific dates. 

 

Summer Fun Passport

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Jackson County is once again offer the Summer Fun Passport! The Passport kicks off Memorial Day Weekend, and gives kids’ the chance to explore, play, and discover the coolest spots in Jackson County. The Passport will include point collection, prizes, and unforgettable memories. Kids’ will receive their Summer Fun Passport from their school. There will also be some available at the Russ House in the Visitor Center. Keep an eye on the Visit Jackson County website for future announcements and details! 

2nd Annual Sandhills Celebration

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Click image to learn more!

Founded in the Bay County, Sandhills Native Nursery is hosting their 2nd Annual Sandhills Celebration! It’s an event focused on education and conservation taking place on April 12th &13th. Join them for two family-friendly days of scheduled educational talks, local community organizations, animal ambassadors, local artists, food, trails, and more! The event is free to attend but bring cash for art vendors, food and drinks from local cafe Wild Root, plant purchases, and more. Parking is limited, please carpool. 

 

Coastal Plant Giveaways

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Escambia County is hosting two FREE costal plant giveaways for the public this April. The giveaways will take place at Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. The plants will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Additionally, there will be a limit of one plant grouping per household. Participating citizens will receive a small grouping of several species to encourage diversity and resiliency within the coastal ecosystem. The giveaway plant species include sea oats, blue stem, dune sunflower, blazing star, blanket flower, beach morning glory, and other coastal natives. The plants are being donated by Gulf Coast Fencing and Dune Restoration following local seed collection as part of the Pensacola Beach Dune Restoration Project. Please bring small boxes or baskets to transport plants.

Plant giveaways will take place at the following locations at the following times:

April 25: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Perdido Key Community Center, 15500 Perdido Key Drive
April 26: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Pensacola Beach Community Church, 920 Panferio Drive

 

Kays247 New Location

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Blountstown’s favorite BBQ restaurant has opened a new location in Marianna. Kays247 is now serving the community at 4527 Lafayette Street. Their current hours are 11am to 7pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Located across from Enterprise Car Rental, this homestyle BBQ restaurant offers both dine-in and take-out. Learn more by visiting the Kays247 BBQ Facebook page. 

Firework Displays

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Click to enlarge!

 Do you enjoy fireworks? Want to see them more than once a year in July? HarborWalk Village has you covered! They are putting on firework displays multiple time this year; March, May, June, July, and more! Click the image to see specific dates or visit their website for more information.

Don’t Start Outdoor Spring Cleaning Just Yet!

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Photo by local artist, Mx. Noah (click photo for more)

Your landscape, be it yard or garden, is an important part of your home. Many people have felt the urge to start straightening their outdoor spaces but don’t get ahead of yourself! The changing of the seasons is not a light switch; it’s a gradual shift. This means there are still cool days ahead. It also means that most of your garden is still snoozing or just beginning to break dormancy. Pollinators including all our beautiful butterflies, caterpillars, moths, and more over-winter in yard debris like fallen leaves and spent flower stems. When you pick the debris up and stuff/shred it into a waste bag to haul away, the next generation of beneficial pollinators are killed before they can emerge and start the cycle over. Pollinators play a vital role in healthy ecosystems; in fact, without the Southern Blueberry Bee (Habropoda laboriosa), we wouldn’t get to enjoy such a rich flush of Rabbiteye blueberries here in Florida (learn more about the crucial relationship between food production and pollinators here).

Here’s some tips and tricks for keeping your plants safe for potential weather shifts while supporting the beautiful pollinators who call our ‘yard waste’ home during the winter.

Click to enlarge
  • When it comes to trimming unsightly cold damage, please don’t. Leaving the damaged foliage helps insulate the plant and keeps it from going into shock during future cold night. Wait until spring has officially arrived to trim dead foliage (learn more about March 20th, the Spring Equinox). 
  • Want to get out in the garden but don’t want to hurt your plants or local wildlife? Consider doing one of these tasks instead of pruning/burning: start seedlings, clean your gutters, repair any broken fencing/bed edging, weed unwanted grass from beds, transplant seedlings from undesired areas, maintenance any garden tools so they’re ready for the equinox – there’s lots to do to get ready for spring!
  • When can you clean up? “Watching for insect activity is the easiest way to know when to clean up. When you start seeing insects, the spring emergence is underway. Wait a few days to be sure and go for it. Remember, leave the garden a little messy. Old twigs, perennial stems, and leaf litter all make excellent nesting and habitat sites for the coming season. If we all pitch in, we can save our pollinators, as our food chain and survival depend on these insects.”(source)

2025 Event List – Jackson County

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The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce is excited to share a list of events occurring in the county from now until December. Click the image to see the full list. Want to see your event listed? Please email lacey@jacksoncounty.com with an event flyer and event details. 

Jackson County Master Gardener Volunteer Sale

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The annual Jackson County Master Gardener Plant Sale is coming up quick. Come fill all your spring plant needs on March 22nd at the Jackson County Extension Office (located at 2741 Penn Ave, Marianna, FL 32448). Beginning at 7am, come out to get fruit trees, vegetable starts, small fruit plants, flowers, and more! There will also be various craft vendors set up AND the Jackson County 4-H Program will be selling concessions for any hungry shoppers.

For any questions or concerns, please call 850-482-9620 or email payne.abigial@ufl.edu. Follow the Facebook event page to stay up-to-date with announcements. 

Comedy Festival in Walton & Bay County

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The Emerald Coast’s official comedy festival is coming to select venues in Walton and Bay County. Taking place in six venues from February 13th to 15th, the Sand Up Comedy Festival is three-days of non-stop laughs. Featuring over 20 national and Florida-based comedians, the event is headlined by Jeremy Alder, Ian Aber, Paula Kosienski, Eeland Stribling, and Bob Place. Learn more by visiting the festival website.