Category: Family Friendly

Panhandle Stompers

Debbie Roney Smith on

Looking for something fun to do Wednesday nights? Miss going out dancing? Join the Panhandle Stompers at the Blue Moon Bar and Grill in Lynn Haven on Wednesday nights to learn dances ranging from beginner to experienced. The Stompers welcome all skill levels and all ages! Lessons are free but they do accept tips. Janene Epperson, the founder of the group, says that “Panhandle Stompers is a line dancing/ couples country western dancing group,” that dances to country, pop, rock, hip hop, and many other genres of music.

Epperson also offers private dance lessons. She, and/or the Panhandle Stompers, will also come to parties and other events. Learn more by visiting the Panhandle Stompers Facebook page HERE or call 850-597-1661.

African-American History Festival

Debbie Roney Smith on

Coming soon to Apalachicola – the 20th Annual African History Festival hosted in Franklin Square! From February 17-19th, the Hillside Coalition of Laborers for Apalachicola (H’COLA) will be celebrating Black History Month with the annual festival. H’COLA was founded to support the community, and their festival helps celebrate local African-American history along the Gulf Coast. They invite locals and visitors to enjoy this family-friendly event. The event will feature live entertainment, artists, craftsmen, vendors, children’s activities, history, education, health, and wellness. 

 

Pensacola Chocolate & Cheese Fest

Debbie Roney Smith on
The First Annual Pensacola Chocolate and Cheese Fest is February 19th. It will be held at Community Maritime Park in downtown Pensacola from 10am to 6pm. The festival will feature food trucks and vendors specializing in chocolate and cheese items. There will be a featured festival ice cream, the Turtle Roll Ice Cream. Additional highlights include beer, wine, assorted vendors, chocolate martinis, contests, a bounce house, and more! Tickets are only $5 per person; kids 12 and under get in for free. Visit the Facebook event page here for more information. 

Tallahassee Highland Games

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Tallahassee Highland Games are this weekend! Come to 7550 Apalachee Parkway from 8:30am-9:30pm this weekend to enjoy the festivities. The Games are put on by May and Fain Cultural and Sports. Participants in strength sports have the chance to use their finish to qualify for the upcoming International Highland Games Federation championships in California. Learn more about the event history by visiting the official Tallahassee Highland Games website. 

On Saturday, there will be an Opening Parade, a Scottish Fiddle and Instrumental Workshop, a beard competition, a performance by the Tallahassee Pipe Band, and more! Sunday will bring more fun with performances throughout the day by the Tampa Bay Highland Dancers and the Tallahassee Irish Step Dancers; there will also be a line-dancing mini-lesson. Throughout both days, there will be a number of sporting events such as the Caber Toss and Stone Press; for a detailed schedule, click here. There will be live music throughout the weekend as well as vendors, food, and a Whiskey Tasting Experience. 

Valentine’s Day Farm & Craft Market

Debbie Roney Smith on

Mid-South Lumber Co of Northwest Fl is hosting a special Valentine’s Day Farm and Craft Market. Visit Mid-South Lumber (12904 Highway 231, Youngstown) on February 11th from 8am to 2pm. The Market will be a farm, garden, craft, and animal swap and sale. Vendors will have local produce, baked goods, canned goods, hand-made arts & crafts, plants, and small animals. The event is FREE for buyers and sellers. Interested in becoming a vendor for this or future events? Contact Mid-South by email (midsouthlumber@knology.net) for a vendor application. A limited number of vendor spaces are available and applications will only be accepted until February 8th, so contact them soon! Visit the Facebook event page here for more information. 

Mardi Gras in Panama City Beach

Debbie Roney Smith on

Panama City Beach is hosting the annual Mardi Gras Music Festival today and tomorrow. Visit Pier Park to enjoy this two-day family-friendly festival. There will be parades, Cajun cooking, a 5L, live music, and fireworks. Today is the kid-friendly Second Line Parade. Tomorrow, the festivities start with the 5K fun run followed by the Krewe of Dominique Youx-lead parade. Musical guests include Florida country band Sawyer Brown, Chubby Carrier, the Bayou Swamp Band, and The Frontmen. Visit the official PCB Mardi Gras Festival website HERE to learn more. 

Wakulla Valentine’s Day Parade and Festival

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Rotary Club of Wakulla is hosting the 24th Annual Valentine’s Day Parade & Festival! Come down to Azalea Park on Saturday, February 11th. The parade will start promptly at 10 am. After the parade, hang out and enjoy the festival. The fest will include arts & crafts vendors, local businesses, bounce houses, and more!

Inspire Your Heart with Art

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is Inspire Your Heart with Art Day! There is growing scientific evidence that creating art helps cognitive health.(1) Painting has helped stimulate memories and encourage connections in those with dementia. Further studies have shown that using art to express oneself can help improve the emotional health of individuals with depression, anxiety, and cancer. Additionally, art has been linked to improved memory, reasoning, and resilience in healthy older people. 

Art is for individuals of ALL ages. It can be messy or neat, colorful or black and white, a mix of mediums, and more. There are no rules in art. Spend today exploring the world and yourself through artistic creation. You can make art using anything and everything; finger painting in the dirt with your kids can be just as beautiful and fulfilling as spending hours on a detailed ink drawing. 

Sola Coffee Bar

Debbie Roney Smith on

Looking for a new coffee shop to visit in the Lynn Haven area? Consider Sola! Located on Tennessee Avenue, Sola is a coffee bar, fondue experience, and cafe. Open Monday through Saturday, the cafe regularly hosts events ranging from paint and pours to trivia night. They are also available for private events. Sola keeps you coming back with their seasonal drinks; we recommend the Blueberry Fizz, a delicious sparkling water with blueberry syrup. Visit them soon – who knows how long this special will be around! Visit their website HERE for more details or follow them on Facebook HERE. 

National Blueberry Pancake Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is National Blueberry Pancake Day! Pancakes are one of the world’s oldest foods. According to historical evidence, humans have been making flat, fried dough cakes since the Stone Ages.(1)

The word ‘pancake’ first appeared in the English language in the 15th century. By the 19th century, ‘pancake’ experienced a steady incline in usage in the United States. Pancakes are also known as johnnycakes, hoecakes, griddle cakes, and flapjacks. Adding blueberries is a time-honed tradition. Blueberries are one of the only native North American berries to still be eaten today. Even better, there are a large number of Florida native blueberries that you can grow and harvest from. Spring is coming soon and is a great time to plant blueberries so you can benefit from the late summer-early fall harvest.

Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, packed with nutrients, and have been linked to a number of health benefits including lower blood pressure, improved insulin response, and reduced risk of cancer. There are three popular methods of adding blueberries to the pancakes: 1) fold them into the batter, 2) add them after pouring the batter into the pan, and 3) top the pancakes with whole blueberries. Consider adding nuts, chocolate chips, vanilla, blueberry syrup, or chia seeds for a little something extra.