Marianna Community Calendar 2023

The Pilot Club of Marianna is taking orders for the 2023 Community Calendar until June 15. The calendar will include anniversaries, memorial dates, and birthdays of community members listed. Proceeds from the calendar fundraiser will support Pilot Club projects such as a nursing scholarship at Chipola College, the Jackson County Backpack for Kids food program, JCARC, Meals on Wheels, the Autism Resource Center, and CACL School.

Calendars are priced at $3.50 each; listings cost 50 cents each. To place an order for a calendar, or have a birthday, anniversary, or memorial date listed on the calendar, contact Denise Raits at 850-482-6722 or Gail Hill at 850-557-0501. New members are always welcome!

Tupelo Honey Festival

The Tupelo Honey Festival is happening in Wewahitchka on May 21st! From 9 am to 5 pm CT, enjoy the festive ambiance at Lake Alice Park. There will be food, fun, arts & crafts vendors, and music. There will be Tupelo Honey to taste and buy, as well as lavender plants for purchase supplied by Sweetwater Lavender Farm. The festival will also feature a car show, a blood drive, and a pageant. Learn more by visiting the Facebook event page HERE or the official event website HERE

Fussell’s Daylily Farm

Fussell’s Daylily Farm is just a few days away from the height of bloom. The best dates to visit the farm will be May 20-21st from 8 am – 3 pm OR May 22nd from 1 pm – 3 pm. Along with various daylilies, there will be zinnias, gladiolus, blackberries, sunflowers, and many other plants to enjoy. Additionally, there will be seating, shade, refreshments, and door prizes. Groups are welcome; if you would like to have a personal tour please call ahead (850) 638 – 7657. Learn more about the farm by visiting their Facebook page here

CalCo Crape Myrtle Project

The CalCo Crape Myrtle Project is working to enhance the beauty of Calhoun County by highlighting the premier flowering plant of the South throughout the communities. The idea began with the 2019 founding of the Calhoun County Community Foundation. Their first act was to plan and execute the planting of flowering crape myrtles on Mainstreet in Altha which is where the project got its name. The project’s completion is possible thanks to the application of a community grant and aims to be completed by the end of 2022. The CalCo Crape Myrtle Project is the perfect green space beautification initiative for all of our communities. The project hopes to expand into Kinard, Clarksville, and Blountstown in the following years. Visit the CalCo Crape Myrtle website here to learn more and stay up-to-date on the project’s progress. 

Chipley History

The city of Chipley, Florida is one of the highlights of Washington County. Chipley became the county seat of Washington County in 1927 and is involved in the majority of the economic development for the region. 

Originally called the community of Orange, Chipley was renamed in 1822 in recognition of railroad businessman and Florida State Senator William Dudley Chipley. This was the same year the Pensacola & Atlantic (later the L&N) Railroad was completed just beyond the town. Additionally, a monument of W.D. Chipley was put up in 1988 next to the Washington County Historical Society Museum. The museum currently offers a walking tour of the historic downtown. 

Spring Fling at Tallahassee Nurseries

The Big Bend Hospice Spring Fling is occurring today from 5:30 pm – 8 pm. The event will be held in the magical gardens of Tallahassee Nurseries! The Spring Fling is a premier social event and fundraiser. The proceeds for this event will support Big Bend Hospice’s unfunded programs such as Music Therapy, Grief counseling (adults and children), Veterans’ programs, Spiritual Care, and other Direct Patient needs.

More information about the event and Big Bend Hospice is available on the official Spring Fling event page here

Plant Pickup at Panama City Farmers Market

The newly opened Sandhills Native Nursery will be at Panama City Farmers Market this Saturday, May 14th. The nursery will be distributing ONLY pre-ordered plant orders at the market. If you are interested in ordering plants for pickup, the window closes at 4:30pm on Friday, May 13th. Place your order at the Sandhills Native Nursery website here

Veterans Memorial Railroad in Bristol

Veterans Memorial Railroad in Bristol, Florida currently has FREE train rides on the second Saturday of each month. For May, that is this upcoming Saturday, May 14th. Also on location is a playground, picnic area, and a walking trail. While the rides are free, donations are appreciated as this is a not-for-profit organization. Find more information at the Also enjoy a playground, picnic area, and walking trail! For more information, visit the Veterans Memorial Railroad website here

Local Artist Spotlight

Morgan Summers is a local muralist based in Lynn Haven. Summers currently splits her time between client-directed work, creating content, and working on her passion project Small Town Walls. You may have seen her murals at local favorites such as the Bay Arts Alliance, The Lovely Project, UCF Downtown, Modern Orthodontics of Clermont, and more. In a recent article, she stated that she has “been pleasantly surprised that if I could just do a good job at what I do, people seem to enjoy it.”(1)

Learn more about Morgan Summers by visiting her official website here

Star Wars Night at Main Street Blountstown

May the Fourth be with you! May 4th celebrates George Lucas’ Star Wars franchise. The date was chosen for the pun of the franchise catchphrase “May the Force be with you” as “May the Fourth be with you.” 

Main Street Blountstown is helping you celebrate this commemorative day this Friday, May 6th, with Star Wars Night. The Parjai Squad with the 501st Legion will be available for photo ops as well as meet and greets! From 5pm – 7:30pm, there will be a plethora of family-friendly Star Wars-themed activities at Magnolia Square Park. There will be a costume party, Jedi training, trivia games, vendors, food, music, and a scavenger hunt.