Category: Family Friendly

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. 

FREE Drive Up Movie Night: Top Gun Maverick

Debbie Roney Smith on

The PC Marina/Civic Center is showing Top Gun Maverick this Friday, January 27th from 7-9pm. This is a FREE event with spots determined on a first-come, first-serve basis. Parking opens at 6pm with the movie starting promptly at 7pm. SPACE IS LIMITED; there are only 100 spots available, so please RSVP. It is recommended that participants bring chairs/blankets to sit on in the event that they arrive after the parking spots are full. Please note that RVs and Trailers are NOT allowed. 

Please note that the movie REQUIRES the downloading of the free, all-new Cinewav App for audio. Scan the QR code to download the app; it allows the movie to be heard through Bluetooth or headphones. The movie will be available in English and Spanish. 

Visit the Facebook event page here to follow the event or learn more. 

Hoggetowne Medieval Faire

Debbie Roney Smith on

Gainesville’s 36th annual renaissance festival starts tomorrow! Hoggetowne Medieval Faire will be held at 9409 SW Archer Rd for the next three weekends. Open January 14-15, 20-21, and 27-29, come by to bring 2023 in ye olde style. There will be NINE stages with live entertainment including full-flight falconry, aerial acrobatics, jugglers, knife throwers, and gypsy dancers. Over 160 artisans and craftsmen will be selling one-of-a-kind jewelry, stone carvings, leather crafts, and period fashions in the medieval marketplace. But that’s not all! There will also be living chess board matches, carnival rides, and a fully-stocked food court. Look forward to trying blooming onions, giant turkey legs, fresh-baked pastries, sweet potato fries, succulent ribs, and MORE. Learn more by visiting the Faire website here.

Earth’s Rotation Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

It is a well-known fact that the Earth rotates once every 24 hours. However, it wasn’t always common knowledge. It is thanks to the practical demonstration of Leon Foucault that we know about the Earth’s rotation. In 1851, the French physicist Foucault demonstrated how the planet rotates using his now-famous pendulum, the Foucault Pendulum.

A simple yet brilliant creation, the pendulum uses a suspended lead ball to indicate the rotation of the Earth over the course of a day. The pendulum is surrounded by small pins arranged in a circle, which the pendulum knocks down one by one, eventually completing a full rotation. Foucault first conducted his experiment in the Paris Observatory. It was then replicated in the Panthéon, where it remains an impressive centerpiece for visitors to view to this day. 

Click on the image to enlarge it.

Most discovery centers, planetariums, and museums have a version of Foucault’s Pendulum on display. However, you can also replicate this experiment at home with the kids using household items! For detailed instructions, visit this Resalvaged article to learn more. 

Falling (Pine) Needles Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is a national day created to remind families to recycle their Christmas trees rather than burning them or tossing them on the curb. One way is to search Earth911’s recycling solution to see where you can recycle a tree near you. You can also be sure to make use of each part of the tree. Strip the pine needles to use the wood after allowing it to thoroughly dry out; you can use the wood for fires, carving, and more crafts. Even the pine needles themselves can be utilized! Collect the needles, place them in a large bowl filled with cold water, and gently rub the needles to wash off dust and other debris. You can then use the needles to make sprite-flavored natural soda or tea! Visit Ms Shi & Mr He’s pine needle recipe page here for details, warnings, and recipes!