Tax Free Weekends

Tax-free weekends are coming up quickly! Alabama’s back-to-school event is this weekend, July 16th-18th. Clothing, computers, school supplies, and more will be tax-free. Visit the Alabama Department of Revenue’s site for more information, including a list of specific exemptions. Florida’s tax-free event is longer and begins the last weekend of the month, July 30th to August 9th. Visit the Florida Department of Revenue’s site for more information, and be sure to mark your calendars. 

 

Pensacola: International Billfish Tournament

The Pensacola International Billfish Tournament starts today, June 30th, and will end on July 4, 2021. Held at Palafox Pier, this tournament has been a tradition since 1970. This is the 50th Annual  Pensacola International Billfish Tournament! The event schedule is as follows:

Wednesday June 30th: Captains Meeting
Thursday July 1st: Flare Start- Pensacola Pass
Friday July 2nd: Scales open 4-7pm
Saturday July 3rd: Scales open 3-7pm
Sunday July 4th: Awards

There will be strict social distancing guidelines to keep the community safe. Visit the Pensacola Big Game Fishing Club website HERE or their Facebook page HERE for more information. 

Panhandle Watermelon Festival

Today is the last day of the annual Panhandle Watermelon Festival. Head down to Jim Trawick Park in Chipley for the free festival from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a pancake breakfast, free music, vendors, and more! Visit the official website HERE for more detailed information!

Blue Acres Berries

Today’s local business spotlight is on Blue Acres Berries of Sneads, FL. It is a u-pick blueberry farm that has five Rabbiteye varieties: Climax, Brightwell, Tifblue, Savory, and Premier. The berries are all grown naturally. So visit to pick your own berries or call to place an order for them to fill for you. They are currently open every day, 8 a.m. -7 p.m. until the berries are gone or the July 4th weekend, whichever comes first. 

Drive-Through Movies

Today is National Drive-Through Movie Day! Looking to celebrate? Visit Timewarp Theaters in Pensacola. They offer private events, summer specials, and deals on concessions. Tune in to the movie audio on a local radio station, sit back, and enjoy! For available movies, tickets, and more, visit their Facebook or their ticket website

REIMAGINE. RECREATE. RESTORE.

Tomorrow is World Environment Day 2021! An annual event started in 1974 by the United Nations, it is a global event designed to raise awareness and take action on urgent issues such as marine pollution, wildlife crime, and the climate crisis. It was created to mark the beginning of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. The first official slogan was “Only One Earth” in 1974; 2021’s slogan is “Reimagine. Recreate. Restore.” For more detailed information as well as ways you can take action this World Environment Day, visit the U.N. website or the World Environment Day 2021 website

June COVID Vaccination Sites

Are you looking to get vaccinated in order to protect yourself, your family, and your community? There is a COVID-19 vaccination bus traveling to public areas in the Panhandle area; view the image to the right for times, dates, and locations. You can also call for an appointment at the Calhoun (850-674-5645) or Liberty (850-643-2415) Health Department.

Pensacola Grand Carnival Parade

Elaborate floats and outlandish costumes will lead the Florida-style pageantry for the annual parade which usually features more than 6,000 participants from Krewes, local organizations and marching bands.

The parade takes place on Palafox and Garden Streets in historic downtown Pensacola. The Parade starts at 2:00pm and continues until around 6:00pm.

Pensacola Grand Carnival Parade
May 29 @ 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Visit the official Pensacola Grand Carnival Parade website HERE to keep up-to-date with event information.  

Marianna: Click it or Ticket

The Marianna Police Department wants to remind the community that Click or Ticket begins today and ends June 6th. There will be a crack-down on driving without a seatbelt; it is an event designed to get drivers to make buckling up an automatic habit. Everyone, regardless of age or seat in the car, should buckle their seat belt before the car begins moving. Seatbelts are designed to keep riders safe and secure inside the vehicle, reducing the harm caused by everything from fender benders to severe collisions. Did you know that 55% of individuals who died in nighttime vehicular accidents in 2019 were not wearing their seatbelts? 

For more information on how seatbelts save lives, visit the CDC website HERE or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website HERE

Blountstown Magnolia Street Festival

Coming this Saturday, the annual Magnolia Street Festival! From 5 – 7 p.m., visit Main Street Blountstown and walk amongst the 50+ vendors including food trucks, plant sellers, baked goods, arts & crafts, and more! Additionally, there will be a 6 p.m. drawing; tickets are $5 and there are multiple baskets availble to win. Proceeds from the raffle will go towards projects to improve downtown Blountstown. Best of all, there will be free musical performances and kid-friendly activities such as an animal encounter. Hope to see you there in support of the close-knit Blountstown community!