Category: Family Friendly

2023 Oktoberfest at Downtown Panama City

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Come out to Destination Panama City on September 30th for a day of traditional German merriment! Held at Historic Downtown Panama City, this year is the 35th Annual Oktoberfest. From 3-10 PM on the last Saturday of the month, immerse yourself in the festivities. Oktoberfest has been a cherished festivity for countless generations. Indulge in German cuisine, beer tastings, live music, stein hoisting contests, and more! There will be a costume contest and family-friendly activities for the kids.

Click here to visit the Facebook page to learn more. 

Little Village Conch Festival

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The second annual Little Village Conch Festival is happening on September 30th! Come out to Little Village in Panama City for a day of family fun in the sun. There will be a plethora of Conch Shell festivities including the Cap’n Scuba Memorial Conch Shell Blowing Contest, The Queen of Conch, an all-age Conch Shell Blowing Contest, live music, kids arts & crafts, and more! Finns restaurant will have a Conch Special for one-day only. Live music will be provided by local talents Tyler James & The Momeuxs (noon-3pm) AND The Gr8tful Dads (6-9pm). Learn more by visiting the Facebook event page HERE. 

 

Emerald Coast Native Plant Fair

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Paradise Plants and Palms is excited to announce that they’re hosting the first-ever Emerald Coast Native Plant Fair! Join them on September 16th from 10am – 4pm EDT. The Fair will be a celebration of all things Florida Native Plants and conservation. There will be a variety of conservation groups, local artisans, native plant sellers/nurseries, and arts-n-crafts vendors. There will also be a food truck! 

Along with arts-n-crafts, native plants, and food for sale, the event will feature free educational classes, wildlife conservation experts, and coastal ecosystem informational services. A complete list of native plant sellers, vendors, and conservation groups listed below:

  • Paradise Plants and Palms
  • Sandhill Native Nursery
  • Native Plant Company
  • Revive Native Plant Nursery
  • Root and Stem
  • Pojars Plants
  • Pawsative Chaos
  • Hannah’s Treasures
  • Bohemian Funk
  • Aleigator Supply
  • Clay by Kim
  • Nate Buckley: Bat Conservation
  • Saneka’s Legacy Corp: Ecology Conservation

Visit the event Facebook page HERE for more information.

Gulf Breeze Zoo Welcomes New Giraffe

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The Gulf Breeze Zoo, located in Navarre, is home to over 900 animals. On July 13th, a giraffe calf joined the family. Born to 14-year-old Kenya, the calf was 6’3 and 160 lbs at birth. 

Did you know that most giraffes are pregnant for 15 months?! They are considered a vulnerable population by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They are susceptible to population decline due to habitat loss, illegal hunting, and ecological changes. There are only an estimated 4,500 wild giraffes; the birth of a new calf is something to celebrate for such an endangered species. 

The baby has not yet been named.

Visit the Gulf Breeze Zoo website for open hours to visit the new calf!

Mid-South Harbor Farmers Market

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Mid-South Harbor Farmers Market is hosting their monthly Farm, Garden, Craft & Animal Swap next Saturday, September 9th from 8AM – 2PM. This is a FREE event for both vendors and the community. Meet with local vendors and creators supplying fresh produce, baked items, canned goods, hand-made arts & crafts, plants, and small animals. Interested in being a vendor? Email: youngstown@midsouthlumberco.com or midsouthlumber@knology.net for a vendor application. Visit the event’s Facebook page to stay up-to-date with event announcements and more. 

 

National Beach Day

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Enjoy a Florida summer beach day to celebrate National Beach Day today! National Beach Day was created in 2014 to raise public awareness of the beauty of beaches while also calling attention to keeping them clean and safe. To celebrate yet honor beaches, remember: enjoy the beach, leave nothing behind. See the list below for some suggestions of Pandhandle beaches you could visit:

  • Navarre Beach
  • Henderson Beach State Park
  • Pensacola Beach
  • St. Andrews State Park
  • Seagrove Beach
  • Grayton Beach State Park
  • Okaloosa Island

Celebrate Ice Cream

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Today is National Soft Ice Cream Day! This annual event celebrates ice cream and all the happy memories it has facilitated. Remember late-night ice cream runs with friends? Enjoying the first cone of the summer? The joy of dippin’ dots when visiting NASA? Ice cream pops up in the happiest of places. 

Ice cream wasn’t available to the general public until the 1800s thanks to the creation of ice houses and other cold storage constructions. Nowadays, it’s a lot easier to enjoy your favorite soft serve. Looking for a creamery to visit today in celebration? While you can find chain creameries such as Baskin Robbins and Dairy Queen almost anywhere, visiting locally-owned ice cream parlors is worthy of a special occasion. See the list below for some suggestions across the Florida Panhandle.

Cumberland Island Boat Tours

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Amelia River Cruises are doing boat tours of Cumberland Island daily throughout August. You’ll get to see coastal Georgia and Cumberland Island along the coast of Amelia Island. This tour delves into the unique history of both islands as it cruises along the coast. It leaves from historic Fernandina at 2:30pm and gives an oceanfront view of Fort Clinch followed by the ruins of the Carnegie family’s Dungeoness Mansion. Guests might also spot wildlife such as dolphins, osprey, roseate spoonbills, and more. Guests will not be getting off the boat, so come fully prepared; bring your camera, binoculars, shade protection, sunscreen, snacks, and drinks (non-alcoholic). Learn more or book by visiting the Amelia River Cruises website. 

Skimboarding Tournament

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Come out to Vilano Beach for two full days of skim-boarding heats (Aug. 19-20th). The Florida Skimboarding Pro/Am is the third-longest-running tournament in the world! Some of the world’s best skimboarders come out to enjoy the Atlantic Ocean’s surface during this event. Athletes from more than 75 different beaches from all over Florida, the USA, and the world come for the Florida Pro/Aam. Due to weather and tides, the timing of each day’s heats are subject to change. Check the website for the most up-to-date information; click here to visit the website. 

Fort Clinch Candlelight Tour

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Amelia Island’s historic Fort Clinch is hosting candlelight tours this August. Fort Clinch has unique architecture that features narrow ‘underground’ passages, spiral staircases, and old bunkhouses. The tour will be led by nothing but candles so you can experience a more accurate, historical atmosphere as you tour the fort with an expert guide. The candlelight tour begins 30mins after sunset; reservations are required. Come early to enjoy a gorgeous sunset on the Atlantic coastline. Learn more or reserve your spot by clicking here.