Category: COVID-19

Wiregrass’ 21st Annual Festival of Trees

Debbie Roney Smith on

Wiregrass is hosting its 21st annual Festival of Trees event from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. on November 19th. Due to Covid-19, it will be held via Facebook Live. However, the beautiful trees will be available to view at Wiregrass Commons Mall as will a window display with other live auction items. Check out the displays in person until November 19th.

Opened in 1989, Wiregrass Children’s Home functions as a safe haven for neglected and abused children throughout seven counties in the Wiregrass area. Currently, it is the only licensed emergency shelter in the area that is capable of providing care to children birth to 18 years of age. Proceeds from the fundraiser and auction go towards helping the Children’s Home provide invaluable support and service to the community. 

Looking for more information about Wiregrass Children’s Home? Visit their official website HERE! For specifics on the Festival of Trees, visit the Facebook event page HERE!

Eagle Eye’s Mini Food Fair

Debbie Roney Smith on

The cancellation of the National Peanut Festival in Dothan, GA was a sad announcement for many reasons, not least because of the missed opportunity for fair food. Luckily, some community businesses came together behind store Eagle Eye Outfitters to create a weekend Mini Food Fair! They’ve been holding the event with the support of Dothan City every Saturday since October 17th. The last scheduled mini-fair is this weekend, November 14th. It will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is a family-friendly event; be sure to bring cash as some vendors do not accept cards. 

To keep up-to-date with vendor changes, weather alerts, and more, please visit the Facebook event page by clicking HERE. 

Food Truck Fest 2020

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Want some affordable food and fun this weekend? Look no further than Downtown Pensacola! This Saturday, November 14th, visit the Community Maritime Park for the 2020 Food Truck Fest. The first-time annual event is scheduled on a forecasted warm, cloudy day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The festival is a family-friendly event featuring food trucks, vendors, live entertainment, a food truck tasting competition, AND a bounce house for kids. Entry is $2 per person with kids 12yrs old and under are free. So pack up your family, bring some chairs and reusable forks this Saturday!

And what’s better than a fun, food-filled community event? One that has a social conscience! A portion of the proceeds from the event goes to Feeding the Gulf Coast. 

For more information about the event, including vendor and volunteer opportunities, visit their official website HERE!

Emerald Coast CruiZine

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Tomorrow is the first day of an exciting 4-day event held at Aaron Bessant Park in Panama City Beach – the Emerald Coast CruiZine event!

An automotive event centered around seeing – and showing off – hot rods, CruiZine is positioned on 17 acres of Aaron Bessant Park’s luscious green grass. There will be clean air-conditioned restrooms, a center stage with live music, a craft area, and Pier Park’s extensive shops (over 100!) to keep everyone occupied and happy. Additionally, the event has enacted safety measures given COVID-19; everyone on site is required to wear a mask (including patrons!), hand sanitizing stations are being set up throughout the venue, and more. So go check-out the classic cars under the Florida sun this Wednesday to Saturday. 

For more details on schedule, safety precautions, and more, visit the CruiZine website HERE!

Fall Soups & Salads Cooking Class

Debbie Roney Smith on

The weather is starting to cool down, and it’s the perfect time for soup! Bodacious Shops is hosting a Fall Soups & Salads Cooking Class this Wednesday, November 11th at 6 p.m..

There will be different soups and salads to make and eat throughout the evening including: Shrimp & Crab Chowder, Roasted Red Pepper & Basil Soup, French Onion Soup, Roasted Fall Harvest Soup, Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing with Chopped Eggs, and Fruit, Cheese, & Nut Salad with Apples & Pears.

Interested in participating? Be sure to dress comfortably as you will likely get messy while cooking, leave your wrist/finger jewelry at home, and look forward to a three-course class with a light appetizer, main course, and dessert! Beer and wine are also available for those of age. For further details on the class including safety precautions, visit Bodacious Shops’ event page HERE. 

National Parents as Teachers Day

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National Parents as Teachers Day is today. Observed annually on November 8th since 2001, it was originally put forth by The Parents as Teachers Centre in Missouri in the 1970s; Missouri educators had witnessed children starting kindergarten with various levels of school readiness in correlation to their parental involvement. Now, National Parents as Teachers Day recognizes the parent educators as well as the organizations that offer parents’ education services across the country. During this trying time, existing amongst the global pandemic, more parents than ever are fulfilling the role of parent and teacher for their children. Parent educators give parents of young children support and information so all children can learn, grow, and develop to realize their full potential. 

Festival on the Boulevard

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Put on by the local non-profit, Washington County Council on Aging, the Festival on the Boulevard will be held November 7th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.! 

A family-friendly, free event happening in Chipley, the festival will start at 7 a.m. with a 5K event (click HERE for more information about the 5K) and will include entertainment, food, and vendors. There are over 20 vendors signed up to offer such goodies as; jewelry, woodwork, wreaths, chalk creations, yard decor, aromatherapy products, vinyl designs, makeup, and more! Entertainment will be provided by local artists Trish Brannon and Braeden Cooper, and pony rides will be available for the kiddos. 

Cane Syrup Saturday!

Debbie Roney Smith on

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Maphis Nursery & Tree Farm in Chipley is hosting a FREE event this Saturday, November 7th.

Appropriate for all ages, this special, one-time event will show you and your family how cane syrup was made in the old days. From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., you can chew some cane, drink the juice, help feed the mill, and more! Additionally, there will be cane syrup available for purchase after the tour AND you can explore the nursery and gift shop for more goodies! 

Visit their Facebook event page for more information: click HERE!

43rd Annual Seafood Festival Is BACK

Debbie Roney Smith on
2020 POSTER ARTWORK BY: JAIME SHEVAT
@JaimeShevatArt

Although it was delayed more than a month due to COVID-19 precautions, the 43rd Annual Pensacola Seafood Festival is back and better than ever this weekend!

Produced by Fiesta Pensacola, this is a free three-day festival that will be held in Downtown Pensacola’s Seville Square and Fountain Park. From November 6th to 8th, this family-friendly festival will include a variety of foods, arts and crafts, and live entertainment. For the specifics of the day-to-day schedule, visit their official festival website HERE! 

National Stress Awareness Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

National Stress Awareness Day is run by the International Stress Management Association (ISMA), and is held annually on November 4th. 

So what exactly is stress? Stress is your body’s reaction to pressure from a certain situation or event. It can be a physical, mental, or emotional reaction. It can be incredibly debilitating to deal with any kind of stress on a regular basis. The goal of this annual day of awareness is to raise awareness of stress, its impact, reduce stigma, and promote the importance of well-being and stress reduction for individuals and organizations.

Looking for more information? Try this site to begin your search: CLICK HERE!