4th of July Celebration in Greenwood

Dellwood Baptist Church in Greenwood is hosting a 4th of July Celebration on July 2nd! The focus of their celebration is on faith, family, and fireworks. The Celebration is FREE and will feature hamburgers, hotdogs, live music, yard games, shaved ice, and a fireworks display. The event starts at 6pm and lasts until after dark. Come out for a fun night!

Fireworks Extravaganza

El Bethel Church is hosting its Annual Celebrate America Fireworks Extravaganza this coming weekend. Come out to Sneads Park on July 2nd from 6pm to dark for an evening of fun celebration. There will be free food, a free concert at 7pm, and fireworks at dark!

Bay Point Billfish Open

The Bay Point Billfish Open starts this Wednesday, June 28th. The total prize money is expected to exceed $1 million this year. The payout for the largest blue marlin caught is expected to be $75,000 for first prize. There will also be Catch and Release categories for all billfish species. The fishing competition will also include live music, food and drink, an in-water boat show, and marina parties. Visit Point South Marina in Panama City Beach from June 28th to July 1st! Visit the event website here to learn more! 

Panhandle Watermelon Festival

The Panhandle Watermelon Festival is coming to Chipley! Founded in 1969, the Festival focuses more on music than watermelon. The musical lineup draws out-of-towners from June 23-24th. This year, the lineup includes Easton Corbin, Collin Raye, Andy Griggs, Ty Gerndon, and Leah Pettis. Love music but looking for other events to fill the day? There’s so much more to enjoy! There will be a pancake breakfast, car show, watermelon auction, 5K run, and a parade. Come out to Jim Trawick Park to enjoy two days of FREE music, fun, and food. Visit the Festival website HERE for more information including the rest of the musical lineup and a schedule of the events. 

Wellborn Blueberry Festival

The 29th Annual Wellborn Blueberry Festival is happening this weekend! Visit the beautiful community of Wellborn on June 3rd to enjoy a juicy day all about blueberries. The day kicks off with a $5 Blueberry Pancake Breakfast; the pancakes will be available from 7-10 am at three locations: the Wellborn Baptist Church, behind the Fire Station near the country store, and the Wellborn Community Association Center.

The Festival will run from 7am-4pm at the Community Center. There will be over 100 artists and craftsmen, a parade, a classic car show, live entertainment, a kids’ games, a petting zoo, and pony rides. And, of course, there will be all things blueberry: bushes, jams, jellies, pies, cobblers and ice cream. Parking is available at the Masonic Lodge on 137 and the Wellborn Baptist Church, with a trolley service to transport visitors from the festival grounds. Learn more about the Festival by visiting the event website here

Irish Pub to Open in PCB

The former Boarshead property located on Front Beach Road in Panama City Beach will be revived as McGuire’s Irish Pub! 

The lot has been vacant since Hurricane Michael in 2018. The McGuire parent company purchased the location last week; they estimate renovations will take around 12 months. A tentative opening goal for fall 2024 has been announced. 

This will be the third McGuire’s Irish pub in Florida. The first was opened in 1977 in Pensacola. A second was opened in Destin circa 1996. The franchise offers steak, seafood, Irish cuisine, and pub fare. McGuire’s also operates a brewery; they regularly produce five beers, one seasonal beer variety, and a root beer. Visit their website here to learn more. 

Palatka Blue Crab Festival

The Blue Crab Festival is coming to the small town of Palatka this Memorial Weekend. From May 26-28th, enjoy a three-day festival of fresh seafood, carnival rides, live music, fireworks, and a Memorial Day parade. Live music will be brought to you by Molly Hatchet, the Ying Yang Twins, and the Sugar Hill Gang. There will also be a kids’ zone. Come down to enjoy the riverfront and a family-friendly festival! Visit the Festival website here for more information.

May (Veggie) Gardening Tips

Here in the Florida Panhandle, May weather can be hard to pinpoint when attempting to work in the garden. Here are some tips for making the most of your veggie garden in May:

  • Periodically harvest from your spring garden to keep it going for as long as possible.
  • Plant tomatoes, okra, green beans, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, peppers, and melons. 
  • If you want lettuce, choose a heat-tolerant variety. This is the last chance to harvest lettuce for spring/summer.
  • Water your crops regularly and adequately according to their needs; skip days with adequate rain.
  • Plant okra, melons, squash, and green beans.

Pressure Canning & Dehydrating Class

The Jackson County UF|IFAS Extension Office is hosting a Pressure Canning & Dehydrating Class Upcoming next Saturday. On Saturday, May 20th, there will be a Preserving Food at Home class from 9am to 1pm. The course will be held at the Jackson County Agriculture Offices and costs only $20/person! This is incredible given the scope of the information and potential savings covered by the class. Additionally, each participant will get to take home a sample jar of chicken prepared in class.
Canning and dehydrating are two of the three main methods for preserving food. This class is perfect for beginners and those looking for a refresher course. They are designed to explain the science of how canning and dehydrating work, proper food safety techniques, differences in canning methods, and how to preserve food using a pressure canner properly.
Pre-registration is REQUIRED to participate in this class. Please visit the Jackson County Extension Office at 2741 Penn Avenue, Suite 3, Marianna, FL, or visit the event site HERE to register.