Category: Events

Lunafest

Debbie Roney Smith on

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

Debbie Roney Smith on

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

Debbie Roney Smith on

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. 

Beyond Van Gogh

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Immersive Art Space in Jacksonville is hosting a temporary Beyond Van Gogh experience until November 27th. The exhibit offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the work of Van Gogh. Over 300 works of art are projected in more than 4 trillion pixels over 30,000 square feet of exhibit space from the floors to the ceilings. The projections are not simple renderings but flexible and living; they morph in conjunction with a soundtrack available on Spotify. The exhibit also shows a half-hour film that traces Van Gogh’s life through his paintings.

Tickets must be purchased in advance on the event website (HERE) as ticket prices are affected by peak time, ticket packages, and more. 

Blueberry Workshop

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Jackson County Extension Office is hosting a blueberry workshop this September. It will be held Thursday, September 29th at the ag center from 8am – noon. The workshop costs $10 per person; pre-registration is required. The workshop will feature several UF and FAMU specialists. They’ll cover soil preparation, soil health, insects, disease control, and more. There will also be updates about the emerging practice of growing blackberries in the Panhandle. 

If you can’t make the September class, it will be repeated on Tuesday, October 25th, at the Washington County Extension Office in Chipley. 

Guided Three Rivers State Park Hike

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Jackson County Extension Office is hosting a guided walk at Three Rivers State Park this September 30th. The hike will begin at 8am and take participants along the Dry Creek Loop Trail. The trail is a distance of .60 miles and should be completed by 11am at the latest. The hike is rated as a beginner to moderate hike. The guide will talk about the terrain, habitat, flora, fauna, and more. 

The guided hike will cost $5 per person. The cost includes entry to the park itself, the guided tour, water, and snacks! It is recommended that participants bring reusable water bottles, bug spray, sunscreen, and anything else they’d need to remain comfortable in the Florida heat. 

Visit the Jackson County Extension Office at 2741 Penn Avenue, Suite 3, Marianna, FL or visit http://JacksonCountyFCS.eventbrite.com to register. If you have any questions, call the extension office at 850-482-9620.

Pensacola Seafood Festival

Debbie Roney Smith on
Mullet Swimming Under a Rainbow by Frank Abbott

The Pensacola Seafood Festival is coming soon to Pensacola! It will be held in Downtown Pensacola at the Historic Seville Square, as well as adjacent Fountain Park and Bartram Park. The festival will start on run Friday, September 23rd (11am – 11pm) and will continue through Saturday (10am – 11pm) and Sunday (11am – 5pm).

There will be a plethora of food vendors preparing seafood; come enjoy Crawfish Mac’n’Cheese, Alligator, Conch Fritters, Coconut Shrimp, and more! Additionally, the festival will feature a live music lineup including The Molly Ringwalds, Tenille Townes, Goldmine, and more. There will even be a Children’s Area located in Bartram Park with face painting, crafts, and more.

While the event itself is FREE to the public, please note that arts&crafts vendors as well as most food vendors will be charging. Visit the Pensacola Seafood Festival website here for detailed itineraries and more. 

Jackson County Gardening Assistance

Debbie Roney Smith on

There is going to be a series of talks held at the Jackson County Agriculture Center in Mariana (2741 Penn Avenue). This will be a huge benefit to gardeners in Jackson County who wish to grow their own food. The first focuses on Companion Planting and will be held Wednesday, September 14th from 10-11:30am. It will cost $5 per person. There is no pre-registration required. However, you can call to reserve a spot to guarantee your spot; call 850-482-9620 to get your name on the list.

The second class focuses on Fall Gardening. It will be held on Saturday, September 17th from 9am – noon. Participants will get to take home a variety of seeds. This class will cost $15 per person. 

The third class focuses on Garden to Table: Herbs. It will be held Tuesday, September 27th from 6-8pm. This event costs $15 per person. Participants will receive a small planter of herbs and a sample jar of dried herbs to take home. Additionally, they will have the change to taste several ways to use herbs in cooking during the class. 

Calhoun Cruisin’

Debbie Roney Smith on

Coming to Magnolia Square Park in Blountstown, it’s time for Calhoun Cruisin’! This is a special event celebrating cars. It will also feature music, food trucks, and assorted vendors. Come down this Saturday, September 10th, from 9am – 1pm. 

Benefits of Backyard Bats

Debbie Roney Smith on

Sandhills Native Nursery is opening for Fall hours on September 22nd. To celebrate, they are hosting a Benefits of Backyard Bats class with Cre8ive by N8ure. The class will run from 9:30am – 10:30am on September 23rd and 24th. Led by Nate, creator of Cre8ive by N8ure and bat educator, the class will focus on how the bats provide insect management, their reproductive cycle, their habitat and diet, and flora and fauna that is beneficial for bats. Due to parking limitations, the class has only 10 spots and you must register to secure your parking spot; the cost is $10 per car. However, these spots are counted by the vehicle not individual, so the nursery encourages carpooling with friends or family. 

Additionally, there will be a second class opportunity on both days. If you are interested in building your own bat house to take home, hang out at the nursery for roughly 30 minutes after the Benefits of Backyard Bats. The delay is designed to give participants time to grab a drink, walk around the nursery, or have a quick lunch. Please note that the Build Your Own Bathouse class costs $45 per person. All required materials and instruction from bat house building expert Nate will be included in the cost. 

Proceeds from both classes will be donated to a local organization that assists bats (organization TBA). Visit SNN’s event website HERE to sign up for the class and/or Bat House creation event.