Frink Fall Fest

Frink Baptist Church is hosting a Fall Festival on October 22nd from 4-7pm. There will be a chili cookout, music, a bounce house, candy apples, a hayride, and more! The event is completely free, so bring out family and friends for a fun fall event. For more information, email frinkbaptistchurch@gmail.com 

Chautauqua Winery’s Harvest Festival

The Chautauqua Winery’s Harvest Festival is coming to DeFuniak Springs this Saturday, October 15th. Admission is free to this family-friendly event. The festival will run from 9am-5pm. There will be arts & crafts, live entertainment, and a complimentary wine tasting. The wine tasting features the entirety of the Winery’s collection as well as non-alcoholic muscadine juices for those who can’t or don’t drink. Wine will also be available for purchase by the case, bottle, or glass. Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to set out and enjoy the music. Learn more by visiting the event website HERE

Lunafest

Tallahassee will be hosting LUNAFEST® this month. The film festival will occur on October 7th at the Challenger Learning Center. LUNAFEST is an annual traveling film festival that began in 2001. The festival features women and gender-nonconforming storytellers exclusively. The event has featured over 170 filmmakers in over 2,700 screenings nationwide. Additionally, the festival has raised more than 6.5 million dollars for women’s causes (see their website for more information). Tickets to the festival include a pre-screening reception and access to an after-party at La Florida. There are also VIP tickets available that include additional perks at local restaurants and bars.

Purchase tickets HERE.

Barrels, Boots, & Bucking Bulls

Today is the first day of the Bonifay Rodeo. Barrels, Boots, & Bucking Bulls starts at 8am today with a 5K Bull Run. The gates will open at 5:30pm with PRCA rodeo action starting at 7:30pm. Friday’s events will begin with the Rodeo Parade at 1pm followed by the gates opening at 5:30pm. Saturday starts with a $10 all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. There will be a repeat of the rodeo parade and rodeo action. Learn more by visiting the Bonifay Rodeo website here

Fall In Love With JaCo: Business Expo & Community Showcase

The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Business Expo & Community Showcase on Thursday, October 20th from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Citizen’s Lodge.

The Showcase will be a free event highlighting local businesses and community organizations. Participating businesses/organizations will have a table to display their products and services. The Expo will feature exhibits, networking, giveaways, raffle prizes, music, and entertainment. There will also be a number of local food trucks available on site. 

If you would like to take part in the exhibition, call the Chamber of Commerce at (850)482-8060. The Expo’s theme is “Fall” in Love with JaCo. Participants are encouraged to decorate their booths in a fall theme. The Chamber will also be holding an Expo 101 class on Tuesday, September 20th from 8am to 9am. The class will be repeated on (1) Friday, September 30th from 11am to 12pm and (2) Tuesday, October 4th from 3pm to 4pm. The class will cover what makes a great exhibit, setup do’s and don’ts, and more. Participating businesses/organizations will also receive a special exhibitor-only networking lunch during setup prior to the 3:00 p.m. public event.  

For more information contact the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce at 850-482-8060 or info@jacksoncounty.com or visit the Facebook event page here

Peanut Butter Drive

There will be a Peanut Butter drive this month in Blountstown and surrounding areas. Peanut Butter FIGHTS Hunger! With the support of the Florida Peanut Producers Association and Florida Peanut Federation, the UF|IFAS Calhoun County Extension Office is collecting unopened jars of peanut butter. All donations will go to local food pantries to help feed families in need. Drop-offs are accepted Monday through Friday from 8 AM – 4:00 PM. The drop-off is located at 20816 Central Ave. East, Blountstown, FL 32424. The support of the community is appreciated! 

National Bookshop Day

Tomorrow is National Bookshop Day, an annual celebration of all things books, reading, and local! It was conceived by the Bookseller Association. It is celebrated by individuals and businesses associated with the book trade, including publishers, authors, local bookshops, book lovers, and booksellers. See the list below for a selection of local bookstores to support tomorrow in the Panhandle and surrounding areas:

National Coffee Day 2022

Today is National Coffee Day! The exact date of its origin is unknown, however, it is believed to have first been celebrated in Japan circa 1983. The celebration was then introduced to the United State in 2005. It is celebrated annually on September 29th. This annual celebration should not be confused with International Coffee Day which was first celebrated on October 1, 2015.

See below for a list of businesses that are offering National Coffee Day(NCD) deals or freebies:

  • Barnes & Noble: receive a free tall hot or iced coffee with the purchase of any baked item from B&N Cafés nationwide.
  • Dunkin’ Donuts: DD Perks members can get a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase at Dunkin’.
  • Panera Bread: new Unlimited Sip Club subscribers receive two months free if they sign up on NCD. Existing Sip Club members receive $2 off select barista beverages and smoothies.

Hurricane Ian: Panhandle Update

Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall in Florida Wednesday morning. By Thursday afternoon-Friday morning, the Panhandle will be experiencing effects. Winds will begin increasing late Tuesday through Friday; wind speeds vary from central (15-25mph) to western (35-40mph) Panhandle. Gusts up to 50mph are anticipated throughout the counties. Rainfall is projected to receive two inches or less, depending on how far to the west you are located. Northwest Florida is not projected to see major impacts; likely effects will be increased wind speeds, rain, and turbulent ocean conditions. The western side of the Panhandle is currently not expected to experience any extreme weather. They might even be lucky enough to maintain power throughout the storm.

HOWEVER, forecasts are consistently being updated so it is best to regularly check live Hurricane Ian projections to keep up-to-date. Additionally, residents are encouraged to prepare as though they will be impacted by the hurricane to stay safe. Fill your vehicles with gas, secure loose objects outside, have a healthy stock of non-perishables, and practice smart hurricane preparation. Additionally, officials are asking that everyone stay off of and out of the water from Tuesday evening until Saturday. 

Talk Lift Heal (GYM)

There’s a new gym in Tallahassee. Talk Lift Heal is a trauma-informed gym located in Railroad Square. It is a gym that is dedicated to cultivating a space that helps improve mental health, physical health, creativity, safety, and healing. It is female-owned and operated, and is open to anyone and everyone! They’re focused on making gyms less intimidating for all bodies from all backgrounds. Talk Lift Heal offers individual services as well as trauma-informed group classes and nutritional coaching. 

Visit Talk Lift Heal’s Facebook page here to learn more or contact them to start your health journey.