Category: Food/Restaurants

Day of the Mushroom

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is the Day of the Mushroom! It’s a day to celebrate all things fungi. Mushrooms prefer dark or shady areas; that’s why they are often found on forest floors. The best time to hunt for mushrooms is a few days after a good rain. To celebrate these fun guys, here’s a list of local edible mushrooms to keep an eye out for while out in the woods today!

PLEASE REMEMBER: when foraging any food, do not eat it if you’re not 100% sure what it is – better safe than sorry. Additionally, here is a quick guideline for identifying mushrooms:

  • Season: the time of year you can find them.
  • Cap: top part of the stalk. Look for width, shape, and color.
  • Underside of Cap: look for pores, spines/teeth, gill-like ridges, and tubes.
  • Stem (stipe): on which the cap sits. Look for strips, striations, rings, and protrusions.

MUSHROOMS:

Chanterelles (Cantharellus cibarius)
King Bolete (Boletus Edulis)
Common Puffball (Lycoperdon Perlatum)

2024 North Florida Wildflower Festival

Debbie Roney Smith on

The North Florida Wildflower Festival is held annually on the last Saturday of April in Blountstown, Florida. This year, that means it falls on April 27th. Blountstown is located in the heart of the Panhandle, just an hour from Tallahassee, Panama City, and Dothan, Alabama. Held in the picturesque Magnolia Square and surrounding streets, the event will run from 9am-2pm. 

The festival features over 100 vendors specializing in flowers, plants, garden and outdoor items, handcrafted goods, jewelry, home décor, artwork, apparel, food, and more!

VENDOR REGISTRATION is now open! Apply HERE. The event is coordinated by the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce. 

The Enchanted Fairy Realm in Altha

Debbie Roney Smith on

Located in Altha, Womble Farms is a local up-and-coming flower, animal, and event farm. They are hosting their first event next Saturday, April 20th. When the flowers bloom on Womble Farms, fairies arrive! Come see them before they’re gone and experience a family-fun event!  Admission is only $1! Do bring cash or card for applicable vendors. 

There will be a drum/dance circle (bring your own drum!), a DIY potted fairy garden, food, plants for sale, enchanted selfie stations, vendors, and a costume contest. The costume contest will be held at 7pm. There will be multiple categories organized by age: under 5, 6-12, 12-17, and 18+. Each age category will have a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize. Dress up as a gnome, elf, fairy, or mix of all three! The costume contest is for all ages and all genders. 

Womble Farms is currently accepting new vendors for this event and others. Email cre8byn8@gmail.com for more information! Or visit their Facebook page here.

Beer & Oyster Festival

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Did you know that 90% of the oysters sold in Florida are harvested along the gulf waters of the Panhandle and Big Bend regions? The Panacea Beer and Oyster Festival is a chance to enjoy the seafare! There will be plenty of fresh saltwater eats like stone crabs, grouper, shrimp, flounder, scallops, and oysters. Guests will dine on freshly harvested oysters from local farmers while enjoying live music and the coastal views of Dickerson Bay. The festival is free EXCEPT for those taking part in the beer-tasting experience (featuring local craft beer vendors). Come out March 30th to Woolley Park to enjoy; visit the event website to learn more or buy a beer ticket. 

The Arts Festival (Gulf Breeze)

Debbie Roney Smith on

Gulf Breeze is hosting The Arts Festival this month. This year’s festival will be the 28th annual juried festival. The festival hosts more than 100 local, regional, and national artists. There will also be food vendors, a local artists’ show, a silent auction, children’s activities, and live art demos. Gulf Breeze is conveniently located between Pensacola and Pensacola Beach. The festival will take place March 22nd to 23rd at the Gulf Breeze Community Center. Learn more by visiting the event website. 

Suwannee County Fair

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The Suwanee County Fair starts this Friday. From March 15th to 23rd, Live Oak will be hosting its over 100-year-old county fair. There will be endless fun, food, and livestock at the event. The highlight is the annual Fair and Youth Livestock Show and Sale. There will also be carnival rides, live music, deep-fried food, and more. Midway through the fair’s run is the annual Hog and Steer Sale. The fair includes two nights for the Beef Heifer Show, plus Hog, Steer, Goat, Dairy Cattle, and Sheep Shows.

To view the schedule, visit the Suwannee County Fair website. 

Milk & Honey Announcement

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We are sad to report that the locally owned coffee shop, Milk and Honey, will close in April. They’ve been serving Marianna for 12 years. They announced that they would be permanently closing on Sunday, April 14th. This is a sad lose for Marianna and Jackson County as a whole; Milk & Honey has served the community as a place to host meetings, birthday parties, gather after kids’ sports events, and more. They will be missed. 

While they are still open, please come out and support them. The more income they make during the next few weeks, the more they will be able to give their employees upon closing. Visit Milk & Honey on Facebook for more information. 

Jackson County Seed Library

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Jackson County Public Library is hosting its Seed Library Kickoff tomorrow! Head over to the library from 10:30am to 1:30pm to benefit from this season’s seeds. Adults with a current library card can get up to FOUR seed packs. The Library would like to thank the Master Gardener Program and the UF|IFAS Extension Office for their support. Learn more by visiting the event Facebook page. 

Gulf Coast Renaissance Fair & Pirate Festival

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Gulf Coast’s annual ren fair is back! Come out to the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds on March 2nd & 3rd to enjoy all things yo ho ho, ye olde, and ye haw! This year’s festival is open to those who enjoy renaissance fun like turkey legs and jousting, pirate antics such as excessive drinking and sword fights, AND cowboy culture with lassos and tales of the Wild West. This year also features a Roaring 20s stage that will showcase Irish step dancers, belly dancers, and a swing band. The Renaissance Fair and Pirate Festival encourages visitors of all ages and all costumes. Learn more HERE. 

Caverns Cultural Celebration: Rescheduled

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We posted about the Caverns Cultural Celebration last December but the event was canceled due to extreme weather. Luckily, you can still enjoy the event! It has been rescheduled for March 2nd. Come out to learn about blacksmithing, woodworking, beekeeping, flintknapping, candlemaking, and more. There will also be food and interesting vendors selling their rural crafts and other homesteading goods. The Caverns Cultural Celebration will take place at the Florida Caverns State Park.