Possum Festival

The Wausau Possum Festival is coming up quick! Come enjoy this all-things-possum small-town festival August 2-3rd. There’s no end to the activities: Hog Callin’, Rooster Crowin’, Donkey Ball, Pancake Breakfast, arts & crafts vendors, a quilt auction, a Possum Parade, and more!

Wausau celebrates their historical dependence on possums during this annual event. Individuals are encouraged to come dressed as a possum. During the Possum Parade, the Possum King and Queen will be crowned. Best of all, there will be possum ice cream! Don’t worry, it’s not possum-flavored; possums love persimmons, so the ice cream is persimmon flavored as a nod to their enjoyment of the native fruit. Learn more by visiting the event webpage HERE

Panhandle Watermelon Festival

Chipley’s annual Panhandle Watermelon Festival is coming soon! June 21st and 22nd, come out to Chipley’s 68th annual festival celebrating all things watermelon. The festival also celebrates country music and headlines favorites such as Grace and Grit, Exile, Clay Walker, and Jeff Bates.

But that’s not all! There will also be a parade, pancake breakfast, 5K Hot Trot, a classic car show, watermelon by the slice, arts & crafts vendors, AND a watermelon auction. Visit this free music festival’s website for more information. 

Blueberry Season

We’re about halfway through the blueberry season here in Florida. Blueberries have been foraged in North America for more than 13,000 years. Here in Florida, we have FIVE native blueberry varieties and countless cultivars that thrive in our humid, sunny summers. Best of all, blueberries freeze well so you can enjoy them year-round. Visit a local blueberry you-pick farm like Blue Acres Berries to get the most bang for your buck(et)! Learn more by visiting their Facebook page or visit the Florida Department of Agricultre and Consumer Services’ You-Pick map online to find a farm closer to you.

International Day of Tea

Today is International Tea Day! The resolution was adopted on December 21, 2019. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to leads the observance of the Day. It’s designed to highlight tea’s cultural and economic significance, its health benefits, and the essential role of sustainable production. Tea production must put into practice sustainable and environmentally revitalizing processes so future generations can enjoy tea too. 

Dogs & Drinks

Dogs & Drinks is a relatively new membership-based dog park and bar. Located in downtown Panama City, it’s a community opportunity for dogs and their human companions. In order to visit, you must purchase a day, month, or annual membership. The membership includes all the dog amenities and access to the human bar – pet friends for the dog, refreshing beer, wine, or cocktails for the human! Dogs & Drinks frequently hosts food trucks and scheduled events such as Paint Your Pet, Puppy Day, and Foam parties. Call (850) 215-4522 to learn more or email dogsndrinks@gmail.com. You can also visit their website HERE

 

Artsquest Fine Arts Festival

The Artsquest Fine Arts Festival is coming soon! Held at the Grand Boulevard Town Center in Miramar Beach, the festival features one-of-a-kind treasures from more than 100 artists and crafters in fields like jewelry, metal, mixed media, oils and acrylics, digital art, glass, photography, sculpture, wood, watercolor, and printmaking. The festival features a juried contest with $10,000 in cash prizes which means it attracts a lineup of national artists. There will also be live music, student exhibits, and food vendors. The Artsquest Fest runs from May 4-5th. Learn more by visiting the event website here

Day of the Mushroom

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

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

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

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.