Mardi Gras at Little Village & FINNS

Little Village & FINNS is hosting a Mardi Gras 2024 Party! Come out all weekend long (February 2-4) to enjoy live music, Mardi Gras food specials, and more. The waterfront property features indoor seating, a side deck, and a front-covered pavilion. See the live music schedule below:

  • Friday, Feb. 2nd – WOODS THE BAND 6-9pm
  • Saturday, Feb. 3rd – ANTHONY PEEBLES TRIO 10:30am-1:30pm + VOODOO J3LLY (TYLER JAMES TRIO) 4pm-7pm
  • Sunday, Feb. 4th – LEANA CARTER 1pm-4pm

Jacksonville Zoo’s Colors of the Wild

The Jacksonville Zoo is hosting one of the largest lantern displays in the country until February 18th! The Colors of the Wild display will depict more than 70 scenes of plants and animals created by Asian lanterns. Guests will have the opportunity to walk through a fiery-hued tunnel created by a larger-than-life dragon’s tail and gaze into the jaws of a roaring hippo. Visit the Zoo nightly Thursdays through Sundays to enjoy the show! Guests can purchase a ticket for Colors of the Wild OR a combo ticket that includes regular zoo admission. Learn more by visiting Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ website

Japanese Language Club: TONIGHT

The Bay County Library is hosting a Japanese Language Club. Young fans of Japanese games, anime, and culture will enjoy the beginner class. The program is geared towards ages 6 – 12, and focuses on teaching Japanese words and phrases for everyday life. Registration is required and opens 3 weeks before each class. Please call 850-522-2118 to register. See the Facebook event page for future dates and more information. 

The Artists’ Guild

The Artists’ Guild of Northwest Florida will meet at the Historic 1st National Bank Multi-Use Facility today from 11 am-3 pm. The Artist Guild is a nonprofit visual and performing arts group focused on education, support, events, and community economic growth throughout Northwest Florida. They will be discussing the 2024 Gallery installations, events, and community workshops. All community members are welcome.

Learn more about the Guild and future meetings (held the second Saturday of every month) by visiting their website HERE

Thanksgiving and More

Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate! Today is a celebration of family, friends, and tradition.

Over the last decade, many individuals have turned away from the traditional celebration of ‘Thanksgiving’ to celebrate in other ways. People have begun to recognize that the story of a kind, collaborative Thanksgiving between the pilgrims on the Mayflower and the indigenous tribes was nothing more than a myth taught to elementary school children. In fact, the first ‘Thanksgiving’ was likely a celebratory dinner in 1637 following what’s now known as the Pequot Massacre. After killing over 700 men, women, and children of the Pequot Tribe, Governor John Winthrop of the Massachusetts Bay Colony declared the next day would be “a day of thanksgiving and celebration for subduing the Pequots.

Understandably, many people choose to move away from celebrating a tradition rooted in murder, terror, and racism. Still, the celebration of friends, family, and thanks is not something to completely abandon. Many now celebrate the themes of the season via alternative holidays occurring during the same time.

  1. The National Day of Mourning is an annual protest held on Thanksgiving Day. Protesters acknowledge the historical and current suffering of Native American people.
  2. National Day of Listening falls on the day after Thanksgiving. It encourages individuals to broaden their perspective by listening to someone who is a member of a marginalized group.
  3. Friendsgiving. This is a celebration of friendship and found family; gather those closest to you for a potluck, a traditional holiday meal, or a day of snacks and games. 
  4. Thankskilling. A niche celebration that is growing in popularity on the internet. Many combine it with Friendsgiving. This particular celebration brings awareness to the true story of the ‘first thanksgiving’ while also indulging in fun activities such as watching bad movies. There is a growing selection of bad Thanksgiving movies such as Killer Turkey, ThanksKilling, The McPherson Tape, and more. 

Walmart’s Sensory Hours

Walmart’s across the United States and Puerto Rico are implementing semi-permanent sensory hours. The hours will take place every day from 8-10 a.m. Depending on how things go, these hours could become permanent. 

Sensory hours are designed for those who are easily overwhelmed by external stimulation. During as typical Walmart visit, highly-sensitive individuals have to handle an influx of stimuli including stranger’s conversations, accidental touch, bright overhead lights, store music, and more. This can cause irritability, stress, agitation, insomnia, loss of focus, overwhelming feelings and thoughts, and anxiety. Some individuals even experience physical symptoms such as tight, itchy skin or buzzing nerves. 

Amazing Grace Family Farm Fall Festival

Amazing Grace Family Farm Fall Festival is running periodically through October into November. Visit Green Cove Springs October 13-14, 20-21, 27-28, or Nov. 3-4 to enjoy the family-friendly festival. The festival activities include a crop maze, pumpkin patch, hula hoop games, a jump pad, corn crib, fall photo ops, and a chance to meet the farm’s animals. Visit the Amazing Grace Family Farm website to learn more about each activity or buy tickets.

Sykes Family Farm Crop Maze

Sykes Family Farms’ 9-acre corn maze is once again open for the spooky season! Located in Elkton, this crop maze has four phases. Guests are provided with a question-filled passport to help guide them through the maze. This year’s maze is a tribute to country legend Reba McEntire; expect some themed crop patterns and more! Admission to the crop maze also includes hayrides, duck races, pedal carts, corn popper, a chance to meet the farm animals, and the playground. The maze is open during daylight hours and after dark. Please note that guests entering the crop maze after dark must have at least one flashlight or glowstick per group. Learn more by visiting the Sykes Family Farm website. The crop maze will be open October 13-15, 20-22, and 27-29. 

Ghost Tours

Just in time for the spooky season, here are two options for ghost experiences in the Florida Panhandle. Both offer unique views of an areas haunted, historic past.

In Apalachicola, join a ghostly night tour of the downtown area. It’s a 90-minute tour lead by an experienced guide who uses ghost-hunting equipments. Select tour participants will be allowed to work the EMF detectors! If the macabe is more your speed, sign up for the “Ghost Stories and Poe” tour which is lead by a ghostly “Edgar Allen Poe” character; he retells local lore and paranormal investigations. The Ghost Tours are available throughout October while the “Ghost Stories and Poe” tour is available only on Oct. 13, 14, 27 and 28. Visit the ghost tour website HERE to secure your spot or learn more.

Milton’s Ghost Walk, held annually on October 21-22, regularly attracts more than two thousand people! The city’s Halloween ghost walks explore Milton’s eerie past via community ‘ghosts.’ The tour leaves every 15 minutes starting at 6pm each evening. Come out to learn about the scary history of this small town. Be sure to bring a sweater as temperatures are expected to dip into the 60s or below. Learn more by visiting the event listing HERE

Illuminights at Jacksonville Zoo

The Jacksonville Zoo is hosting Illuminights once again! From now until August 11th, visit the zoo on Fridays to enjoy the twilight hours with the animals as they wind down to sleep. After dark, the magical lightscapes set the garden paths aglow. The lightscapes are interactive; this year’s special highlight is Starry Night. The show features meteor showers and twinkling stars. There will also be an interactive laser show, acrobatic performances, Glow Party, animal stilt walkers, DJ, and a live band. Please note that all the animal exhibits close at 8 p.m. Visit the Jacksonville Zoo website to learn more by clicking here