Hamilton County is the Wild Blackberry Capital of the Sunshine State. This is rather impressive as most of North America’s blackberry production occurs on the West coast due to weather needs. Blackberries, like many deciduous berries, require a set amount of chill hours to produce fruit. The phrase ‘chill hours’ refers to the accumulation of hours at temperatures under 45°F. Blackberry varieties have chilling requirements ranging from 300 to 900 hours; here in North Florida, the average chill hours range from 500-700. Suffice to say, Hamilton County farmers’ work hard to make sure their berries produce prolifically! 
To celebrate, the City of Jasper is hosting a Wild Blackberry Festival on June 9th. Visit Heritage Village from 8am-1pm to enjoy a jam-packed day of family fun. The festival kicks off with a blackberry pancake breakfast. Other entertainment throughout the day includes a concert by Teddy MacElvis and the Legends, craft vendors, the Miss Blackberry pageant, kids games, and food vendors. And, of course, all things blackberry! There will be homemade cobblers, jams, jellies, and pints of fresh-picked blackberries. There will even be blackberry plants for sale if you want to try your hand at growing your own.
Learn more by visiting the Festival Facebook page.
There are four new, gorgeous murals decorating downtown Marianna. Funded in part by the Marianna Community Redevelopment Association, the murals depict key aspects of Marianna such as southern magnolias, the Marianna High School bulldog mascot, and peanuts. Completed last month, the murals are the work of Kollet Hardeman. began painting the murals two months ago. She spent 12 to 15 hours a day painting and spent approximately about a week working on each mural. The designs were created digitally before being approved by the Main Street Marianna board members. Hardeman had this to say about her experience in Marianna while completing the murals, “This city has absolutely just come alive. They are smiling. They’re honking, they’re waving.”
Come out to Inlet Beach on 30A to help celebrate the monarch butterflies’ 2,000-mile fall migration from North America to Central America! The Flutterby Arts Festival is Walton County’s annual art, craft, and science fest all about butterflies. This is a family-friendly event that includes live entertainment, hands-on youth art activities, self-guided tours of the Watersound Monarch Art Trail, a butterfly parade, and more. The event runs on November 10th from 9am to 4pm. Learn more by visiting the 
The Marianna City Farmers Market invites you to celebrate the month with Pumpkins in the Park! This fall festival will feature vendors, games for kids, a photo booth, fall basket giveaway, and an amazing pumpkin patch. Pumpkins in the Park will take place 9am-2pm at 2844 Madison Street. This event is FREE for the community but be sure to bring money to get a head start on holiday shopping with the vendors!
Chautauqua Vineyards and Winery will be hosting a Paint and Sip class every Saturday in September! The upcoming class will take place on September 14th at 11am. There will be two artwork options to choose from designed by Rachel Kurtz: a 
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Jacksonville is hosting a special exhibit to celebrate their centennial anniversary. Until January 12th, visitors can enjoy A Century of Contemporary exhibit. It traces the museum’s history, starting with its founding by a group of female visionaries, to its period as an art guild, to its new name, new location, and the place it occupies today in Jacksonville’s art scene. Visit the 
Chautauqua Vineyards and Winery will be hosting a Paint and Sip class every Saturday in September!
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Jacksonville is turning 100!!! Join the centennial celebration and enjoy a lineup of special exhibits and programs that embrace its past and recognize the local women who founded the museum. 