Category: Family Friendly

Sweet Bay Magnolia

Debbie Roney Smith on

Happy May, everyone! For today’s Monday Mention, let’s look at the wonderful Sweet Magnolia Bakery. Located on Central Ave in Blountstown, the bakery opened in 2019 and has grown to be a gem in the small town. Sweet Magnolia offers a plethora of baked goods day-to-day, custom orders, coffee, and more. They have a little something for every meal: muffins and coffee for breakfast, quiche or sandwiches for lunch, and desserts galore for dinner! Learn more by visiting their Facebook page or visit them today!

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. 

North Florida Wildflower Festival

Debbie Roney Smith on
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The North Florida Wildflower Festival is coming up soon! Come out to Blountstown on Saturday, April 29th from 9am-2pm. The Florida Panhandle, from Jacksonville to Pensacola, is dotted with small towns that boast southern charm and gorgeous natural scenery. The Blountstown Wildflower Festival is one of the most popular events of each spring in Calhoun and surrounding counties. The Festival will feature food vendors, artists, crafters, nurseries, and more! The festival is family and well-behaved pet friendly. There will be kid-friendly activities such as train rides at the M&B Depot. Come out to Magnolia Square to soak in the small-town festival vibes and enjoy a lovely afternoon. The city, which is in the heart of Calhoun County, celebrates the region’s beauty during its annual festival. Learn more by visiting the event website HERE.

 

Calhoun County Advocating for a State Park

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Calhoun County Community Foundation is working alongside the Calhoun County BOCC and State Representatives in hopes of bringing a State Park to Calhoun County. Advocating under the #KeepCalCoRural hashtag, the proposed state park is part of an ongoing initiative encouraging citizens to support the outdoors through conservation, recreation, and investments.

Calhoun County is the ONLY county in Florida without a State Park and/or a Recreation Area. The implementation of a park/recreation area would bring in MILLIONS of dollars annually to the local economy. It will also provide jobs for locals. The economic and emotional benefits of a maintained outdoor area are huge. Visit the online petition HERE to sign and show support. Help circulate the petition by sharing it on social media and using the initiative hashtag. 

Cosmic: FSU Circus Production

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Florida State University’s “Flying High” Circus was originally founded in 1947 as an opportunity to help men and women integrate when the university became a co-ed institution. The extracurricular program exploded, thriving off students exploring their skills in more than 20 different circus acts. Students also learn how to rig their own equipment, sew their own costumes, and handle all production aspects for the annual performances. The performances take place under the campus’ Big Top, located near the stadium. 

Cosmic is the organization’s 2023 spring show; the student performers will take their audience on an intergalactic journey to new worlds through gravity-defying routines in the air and on the ground. There are several dates available to see the performance: April 7th-8th, 14th-16th, and 21st-22nd. Learn more at the official website by CLICKING HERE. Please note that all sales at the show (merchandise, concessions, etc) are cashless, so bring your debit/credit card. 

 

Spring FamFest

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First Assembly Marianna is hosting a Spring FAMfest on April 2nd from 3-5 pm. It’s a free, family-friendly event. There will be games, food, prizes, facepaint, a kidzone, balloon art, inflatables, AND pictures with the Easter Bunny. Come out and experience FAMily. Located at 4186 Lafayette Street in Marianna. 

Bluegrass Festival & Chili Cookoff

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Florida State Bluegrass Festival & Chili Cookoff is coming to the charming small town of Perry (March 31 – April 1). This is one of the biggest events of the year for the town, bringing in thousands of tourists. There will be live music, a chili cookoff, free Moon Pies, a kids’ zone, crafts, and more! The music lineup includes Rhonda Vincent, Appalachian Road Show, Kenny Stinson, The Tim Shelton Sydicate, David Adkins, and Rekindled Grass. A two-day pass will be $40.00 in advance (via online purchase) or $45.00 at the gate. A one-day pass for Friday costs $20.00 while a Saturday pass is $30.00. Learn more about vendors and show times by clicking HERE to visit the Festival website. 

Jazz & Blues Festival

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The Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival will be held at the Tallahassee Museum from March 25th-26th. There will be jazz, swing, and blues music playing throughout the day at the beautiful outdoor venue. Guests are encouraged to bring camp chairs, folding chairs, and/or blankets to relax to the music. The Tallahassee Museum will also welcome guests to explore the living history museum and perform 1880s farm activities. The Festival will have food and adult beverages, so bring cash and card to enjoy. Learn more by visiting the event website HERE. 

Pensacola VegFest 2023

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The Pensacola VegFest is coming to the Community Maritime Park next Saturday, March 25th! The festival will run from 12 pm to 7 pm EDT. Pensacola Vegfest is a celebration of compassionate living, eating, and creating. All food at the event will be vegan; come out to try various delicious plant-based, cruelty-free foods. Turtle Roll Homemade Ice Cream will be at the festival with an entire line of vegan ice cream flavors AND several scrumptious sorbets. The festival will also feature eco-friendly vendors, vegan artists, family fun, live music, free yoga, cooking demos, and more! While entry to Vegfest is free, food and art vendors will take cash and cards. Learn more about the event and stay up-to-date with announcements by visiting the Facebook event page HERE. 

Pebble Hill Polo Classic

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Pebble Hill Polo Classic is coming to Tallahassee Saturday, March 18th. The event is an opportunity for Pretty Woman fans to live out the annual polo tradition of “Stomping of the Divots” as popularized by Julia Roberts as Vivian. Dress up in your favorite fascinator or seersucker suit and embrace the tradition. The Polo Classic will feature a women’s polo match, children’s activities, live music, and local food. Come out to Pebble Hill Plantation to enjoy the event. Tickets are $50 per vehicle; learn more or purchase your ticket online HERE.