Category: Events

Panhandle Watermelon Festival

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The Panhandle Watermelon Festival is coming to Chipley! Founded in 1969, the Festival focuses more on music than watermelon. The musical lineup draws out-of-towners from June 23-24th. This year, the lineup includes Easton Corbin, Collin Raye, Andy Griggs, Ty Gerndon, and Leah Pettis. Love music but looking for other events to fill the day? There’s so much more to enjoy! There will be a pancake breakfast, car show, watermelon auction, 5K run, and a parade. Come out to Jim Trawick Park to enjoy two days of FREE music, fun, and food. Visit the Festival website HERE for more information including the rest of the musical lineup and a schedule of the events. 

Pet Appreciation Week

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PAW, otherwise known as Pet Appreciation Week, is an annual celebration of all things pets! Celebrated from June 4th-10th, PAW is dedicated to the beloved pets that humans share their lives with. Pet Appreciation Week was initiated in 1981 by the American Veterinary Medical Association; it was designed to raise awareness about the beneficial effects of pets.

While Research on human-animal interactions is still relatively new, some studies have shown a positive correlation between human health and the presence of pets. Animals serve as a source of comfort and support; their presence helps decrease stress, improve heart health, and assists children with their emotional/social skills. In fact, kids who read to the real animals have shown better social skills (i.e. sharing, cooperation, and volunteering).

The week-long celebration also functions as a reminder to take care of your pet. Check them for fleas, abrasions, and make sure their relevant vaccines are up to date. Additionally, be sure that their diet is meeting their needs and that they are remaining healthy and active. 

*The photos are of some of Debbie’s beloved pet-babies. Debbie regularly rescues and adopts strays in the Florida Panhandle. 

Wellborn Blueberry Festival

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The 29th Annual Wellborn Blueberry Festival is happening this weekend! Visit the beautiful community of Wellborn on June 3rd to enjoy a juicy day all about blueberries. The day kicks off with a $5 Blueberry Pancake Breakfast; the pancakes will be available from 7-10 am at three locations: the Wellborn Baptist Church, behind the Fire Station near the country store, and the Wellborn Community Association Center.

The Festival will run from 7am-4pm at the Community Center. There will be over 100 artists and craftsmen, a parade, a classic car show, live entertainment, a kids’ games, a petting zoo, and pony rides. And, of course, there will be all things blueberry: bushes, jams, jellies, pies, cobblers and ice cream. Parking is available at the Masonic Lodge on 137 and the Wellborn Baptist Church, with a trolley service to transport visitors from the festival grounds. Learn more about the Festival by visiting the event website here. 

Palatka Blue Crab Festival

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The Blue Crab Festival is coming to the small town of Palatka this Memorial Weekend. From May 26-28th, enjoy a three-day festival of fresh seafood, carnival rides, live music, fireworks, and a Memorial Day parade. Live music will be brought to you by Molly Hatchet, the Ying Yang Twins, and the Sugar Hill Gang. There will also be a kids’ zone. Come down to enjoy the riverfront and a family-friendly festival! Visit the Festival website here for more information.

Jacksonville Jazz Festival

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The Jacksonville Jazz Festival has a rich, forty-year history of showcasing smooth beats and imaginative solos. It’s the largest free music festival and features three days of live music on TWO different stages. Some of the 2023 performers will include Wynton Marsalis, Samara Joy, Shemekia Copeland, the U.S. Army Ambassadors Jazztet, Marcus Miller, Larry Carlton, and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Come out from May 25-28th to enjoy the festival. There will also be a piano competition, a jazz marketplace, food, and more! Come down to Downtown Jacksonville to enjoy a sunny weekend of groovy music and family fun. Learn more by visiting the official Festival website.

Flower Farm Tour

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The Flower Farm Tour is back! Hosted by Black Barn Blossoms and Fussell’s Daylily Farm, the Tour will be held on Saturday, May 27th from 9am-3pm. Admission to the two flower farms will be FREE; bring cash or a card for on-site plants, flowers, and food trucks. There will also be farm tours and workshops. Come out for a lovely day enjoying the local community and the weekend sun. 

Learn more and stay up-to-date with event announcements by visiting the Facebook event page. 

Pressure Canning & Dehydrating Class

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The Jackson County UF|IFAS Extension Office is hosting a Pressure Canning & Dehydrating Class Upcoming next Saturday. On Saturday, May 20th, there will be a Preserving Food at Home class from 9am to 1pm. The course will be held at the Jackson County Agriculture Offices and costs only $20/person! This is incredible given the scope of the information and potential savings covered by the class. Additionally, each participant will get to take home a sample jar of chicken prepared in class.
Canning and dehydrating are two of the three main methods for preserving food. This class is perfect for beginners and those looking for a refresher course. They are designed to explain the science of how canning and dehydrating work, proper food safety techniques, differences in canning methods, and how to preserve food using a pressure canner properly.
Pre-registration is REQUIRED to participate in this class. Please visit the Jackson County Extension Office at 2741 Penn Avenue, Suite 3, Marianna, FL, or visit the event site HERE to register.

Magnolia Market

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Magnolia Market is happening this Saturday, May 13th from 5:30-8:30pm CST. Magnolia Market is hosted by Main Street Blountstown in Magnolia Square Park. There will be live music, face painting, crafts, boutique clothing, ax throwing, metal works, and more! The Market will also have cotton candy, kettle corn, and food trucks to feed you throughout the night of family fun. 

Pensacola Crawfish Festival

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The Pensacola Crawfish Festival is happening now until April 30th in Pensacola. The annual Pensacola Crawfish Festival has been happening for over three decades and brings THOUSANDS of pounds of fresh crawfish from Louisiana. The festival takes place at Seville Square and Fountain Park.

Come enjoy boiled, fried, and steamed crawfish in traditional Cajun fare like jambalaya, etouffee, boudin, gumbo, and po-boys. This year’s music lineup features all-day entertainment by the 9th Avenue Brass Band. Other live music acts include Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. and Ils Sont Partis Band, Gregg Martinez and the Delta Kings, Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers, Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band,  and Curley Taylor & the Bayou Swamp Band.

The festival includes arts and crafts vendors, local food trucks, and a special festival beer called Fiesta Daze Lager; the lager is specially brewed by Pensacola Bay Brewery. Learn more by visiting the festival website HERE. 

Wine & Food Festival

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The South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival starts tomorrow! From April 27th-30th, come out to a variety of events focusing on wine, food, and the pairing of the two. There will be chances to meet renowned winemakers, see celebrity chefs, attend wine seminars, and choose wine samples from HUNDREDS of wines. The big event is the Grand Tasting on either Saturday or Sunday … or both, if you care to enjoy two days of tasting and treating yourself!

Guests will receive a tasting booklet outlining the featured wines so they can pick and choose their tastes carefully. Bottled water and food will be available in the Savor South Walton Culinary Village. Additionally, there will be live music from the Nashville Songwriters Showcase. All events will take place in the Town Center of Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach. To view the full schedule, pre-order tickets, and more, click here and visit the official event website.