Category: Events

July 14~ Jackson County Candidate Forum

Debbie Roney Smith on

Elections are coming up and the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce has announced a Jackson County Elections Candidate Forum that will be held on July 14 at 6 p.m. on the grounds at Citizens Lodge which is located at 4574 Lodge Drive in Marianna. The event’s outdoor venue was chosen because it allows for more attendance and proper social distancing. Those attending are asked to follow all recommended CDC guidelines. Portable toilets and extra hand-washing stations will be on site for the convenience and safety of the public.

Candidates will be allowed to set up a tent along the track area and hand out materials from 5 to 6 p.m. and after the forum until no later than 9 p.m. The forum is expected to conclude at about 8 p.m. Candidates will speak in alphabetical order, by last name. Representatives will be allowed to speak in place of a candidate and will speak in order of the candidate’s last name. Each candidate will be allowed three minutes to speak, and the firm time limit will be enforced, Chamber officials said. “This event is open to the public and is being held to provide citizens the opportunity to be educated about the issues and candidates in a nonpartisan and open format,” the Chamber release stated. “Food vendors will be available beginning at 5 p.m. Local FFA Chapters will be giving away boiled peanuts. For questions or further information please contact Tiffany Garling at the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce via phone 850-482-8060 or email tiffany@jacksoncounty.com.

Register to vote! For the Aug. 18 Primary, the deadline for new voter registrations or party changes is July 20th. You can register or make changes to your registration online at https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home . Early Primary voting is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 3-15, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug 9, at three locations:
• Supervisor of Elections Office, 2851 Jefferson St., Marianna
• Graceville City Hall, 5348 Cliff St., Graceville
• Sneads Town Hall, 2028 Third Ave., Sneads
Visit the Jackson County elections office website, jacksoncountysoe.com or call 850-482-9652 for additional voter information.

 

 

 

FREE COVID-19 testing in WEWA-July 6th

Debbie Roney Smith on

Free COVID-19 testing today, Monday, July 6th from 9am to 3pm at 111 Lake Alice Park Drive in Wewahitchka. Symptoms are not required for testing and this is a drive thru testing site that is asking you to please stay in your vehicle. For more information please call 850-227-1276.

Keep PCB clean up~July 5th

Debbie Roney Smith on

What are you doing this Sunday? If it doesn’t rain maybe you could consider going to help Keep PCB Beautiful who will be hosting a special beach cleanup this weekend. The public is invited to join the organization at Beach Access 5 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday, July 5th for its 3rd Annual Robbie Atchinson Memorial Beach Cleanup.This cleanup is at beach access 5 just west of Schooners. Parking available in Schooners overflow lot or lot on Thomas Drive. Look for the beach cleanup parking signs. They will have lots of giveaways. Officials with Keep PCB Beautiful say they chose the Sunday after July 4 because they felt it would do the most good after the major holiday. Buckets, pickers, and water stations to fill up reusable water bottles will be available. Keep PCB Beautiful will also have plastic gloves available for those that want them and will sanitize supplies before and after the event.

40 volunteers picked up 200 pounds of trash at last year’s event!

Keep PCB Beautiful is a group of locals working to keep PCB clean from the beach to the street. We are working to inspire individuals and businesses to improve the community and the natural environment. We are affiliated with Keep America Beautiful and Keep Florida Beautiful to accomplish our goals. Keep PCB Beautiful was a vision of 12 people who came together because of a passion for the beauty of the Gulf of Mexico and the beautiful beaches of Panama City Beach Florida. For more information about them click this link: https://www.keeppcbbeautiful.org/

 

Plan to watch fireworks on July 3rd and 4th

Debbie Roney Smith on

This isn’t a complete list but here are a few places, times, and dates fireworks are still scheduled even with COVID-19 still closing a lot of places down. Please don’t go if you are sick, stay 6 to 12 feet away from others, and wash hands often. Please consider wearing a mask to protect others.

~Marianna will celebrate the Fourth of July on July 3. The City of Marianna and Main Street Marianna are hosting the 10th Annual Fireworks Celebration. This year’s event will be at the MERE Complex on Caverns Road. Everyone can view the show from their cars and will be asked to remain in their cars for the duration of the event. The firework show will begin at 9 p.m

~The City of Slocomb invites everyone to an Independence Fireworks Celebration at the Slocomb Recreation Park on Saturday, July 4th . There will be a DJ from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. and a fireworks display to finish the evening celebration. This will be a FREE ADMISSION show. Enjoy from your vehicle, chairs, or blanket. Social distancing will be observed.

~Geneva will host a Fourth of July celebration beginning at 4 p.m. on July 4. A car parade and car show will begin at 4 p.m. Fireworks will start at 8 p.m. There will be food and vendors. The event is being held at Robert Fowler Park.

~Dothan will celebrate Fireworks at the Fairgrounds on July 4th. The event will be at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds. Gates open at 7 p.m. Fireworks display will begin at 9 p.m. $10 parking benefits the Wiregrass United Way. This is a parking lot only event this year.

~Fort Rucker celebrates America’s birthday with the July 4 Celebration and Home Town Parade! This year’s celebration will include a parade through the housing areas July 4 at 5 p.m. and will finish up at 9 p.m. with a fireworks display reminiscent of past Freedom Fests. Due to the pandemic, this year’s event is open to Department of Defense ID card holders only. There will be judging will be based on the following categories: Most Patriotic Float • Top Military Family Float • Best Small Float• Best Large Float • Community Spirit Float.

~Headland will be hosting its Annual Fireworks Event at 8:30pm at Douglas Park on July 4th. Please, remember to social distance yourself from other event goers and feel free to wear a mask.

~July 4th Celebration at 4C BBQ located at 1045 US Highway 331 S, DeFuniak Springs. 7 to 10pm

~Mexico City July 4th. Read the attached photo for all details about this location.

 

June 27th~Dance in the Park

Debbie Roney Smith on

What are you doing tonight? If you have nothing planned this sounds like fun. Free event! Join Agape Ballet & Performing Arts for there annual Dance in the Park! Bring your lawn chairs & blankets and enjoy a beautiful sunset performance by the Agape Ballet dancers.  Starts at 7pm at the Citizens Lodge Park in Marianna, located at 4574 Lodge Drive. Scheduled to last till 8:30pm.

June 27th~

Debbie Roney Smith on

Second Harvest of the Big Bend will be back to distribute free food to feed Gulf County families in need on Saturday, June 27, 2020, at 10 am CST. The distribution location is Carter Temple Church at 308 Williamsburg Ave in Wewahitchka. Volunteers are needed beginning at 9:00 am to help feed as many families as possible. Can you help? Volunteers are asked to bring their own face mask and gloves if possible. Sign up to Volunteer at  https://www.mobilize.us/gulfcountydems/event/279208/2.

Also on Saturday, June 27th is Melons in the Park. From 7am to 12pm at Madison Street Park in Marianna. First 100 people will recieve a free insulated grocery bag from Farm Credit. Read the flyer below for more information.

 

Local Farms

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Florida Panhandle is ripe with local farms you can visit not only for the fresh food but also the agricultural experiences. By supporting local farms, you get to invest in your community AND get fresh, delicious, farm-to-table produce, and other assorted goods. Some local farms even host special agricultural experiences such as pick-your-own or seasonal corn mazes. Get out there and cultivate new experiences that will enrich your life and the world. Take your kids along to teach them lessons about the earth, farming, responsibility – and keep them occupied for a few hours! Take your family, take your friends – everyone can have fun at the following locations (not a complete list):
Blue Acres Berries in Sneads, FL – pick blueberries!
Jackson Farms in Grand Ridge, FL – pick snap peas, watermelon, and tomatoes!
Lee’s Tree Farm in Grand Ridge, FL – pick grapes!
Sweet Season Farms Corn Maze in Milton, FL – annual corn maze!
Whispering Pines Christmas Tree Farm in Milton, FL – pick your own Christmas tree!

The Center of Bay County ~Feeding the Gulf Coast June 20th

Debbie Roney Smith on

Want to learn more about Pride Month, Queer culture, or explore the LGBTQ+ community in the Panhandle specifically? Visit the all-inclusive LGBTQ+ organization in the Panhandle: The Center of Bay County. The Center serves as a public face for the community, acting as a firm advocate for mental, social, and physical health as well as offering a welcoming space to those in the community to meet, organize, and relax. Currently, the LGBTQ Center runs the only dedicated all-inclusive lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and straight-allied (LGBTQ+) youth program in the Panhandle. The organization suffered a major hit due to Hurricane Michael when the room they rented at an Episcopal church in Panama City was destroyed. They are currently working to rebuild while still maintaining their community presence functioning as not only a safe space for those of the LGBTQ+ community but also offering social services such as direct assistance with shelf-stable food, furniture, housing assistance and more. Although the Pride Month events for this year were canceled due to COVID-19, there are virtual events being held AND the Center decided to reallocate the Pride celebration funds to a good cause.

On June 20th, the Center and Feeding the Gulf Coast will work together to host a 10,000-pound food distribution at 1608 Baker Court. S.

Learn more about their programs, events, and organization https://lgbtqcenterofbaycounty.org/

Music and Munchies at the Market~June 13th

Debbie Roney Smith on

St. Andrews will host Music and Munchies at the Market this Saturday, June 13th. The farmers market will be from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Music will start at 10:00 a.m. and will be provided by Temple Johnson Woodrum, courtesy of Floriopolis. The food court will feature five food trucks. The food trucks at the market will be All Wrapped Up, Gelato Love, Philippine Cuisine, The Grub Slinger and Crepes and Cream.

Living Life RePurposed sidewalk sale ~ June 13th

Debbie Roney Smith on

Project Piece Sidewalk SALE on June 13th from 7am to 10am. Hosted by Living Life RePurposed located at 4540 Lafayette Street Suite F in Marianna. They are cleaning out and re-organizing! Be sure to go shop the Project Piece sidewalk sale this SATURDAY 6/13. They will have things like WINDOWS, DOORS, FRAMES, FABRIC, MIRROR FRAMES, CABINET DOORS, HARDWARE, ECT. Remember: The early bird gets the worm…. or in this case first picks!