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Tomorrow, December 18th, Christmas at Mayhaw will take place at Clay Mary Park in Blountstown. Starting at 1 PM, the event will feature fun family activities such as pictures with Santa, face painting, ornament decorating, and a viewing of The Polar Bear Express. There will also be baked goods, candy bags, chili and hot dogs, popcorn, and hot chocolate. For more information, call (912) 409-6306.
on The 12th Annual Vintage Campers Club Christmas Campout is tomorrow! Held at Three Rivers State Park, there will be decorated vintage campers and light displays from 5-8 PM – right after the Sneads Christmas Parade. There will also be an opportunity to meet Santa Claus from 5:30-7:30 PM. Admission is $3 per vehicle. 
on November is Native American Heritage Month and today is the annual Native American Heritage Day.
This month is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the heritage, culture, and value of Native Americans through a historical and modern lens. It is an opportunity for the whole country to appreciate and learn about the rich, unique history of Native Americans and Alaskan Natives; additionally, it is a chance to acknowledge and thank the community for their long history of positive contributions to the country’s values, culture, and land. Perhaps most importantly, it is a time to reflect on the obstacles and challenges that they have endured in the past as well as in this modern-day.
Below are some fast facts about the Native American and Alaskan Native population in the USA:
on There has been an amazing new discovery at the beloved Florida Caverns State Park. A MASSIVE new cave has been discovered. Called the New Cave, or Liz’s Surprise, it is reconceptualizing what experts know about Florida caves.
The cave is the third-longest cave in Florida at 5576ft, although exploration is still underway. The cave entrance was found approximately 25ft underground on the newly acquired parkland called Bennett Parcel. So far they have not found evidence of humans in the cave but there is a plethora of wildlife, fascinating formations, and crawlways.
Visit the recently published Florida Caverns State Park Youtube video to see the new discovery for yourself or consider visiting the park for a guided cave tour!
on It’s been three years since Hurricane Michael destroyed over 90% of the Florida Caverns State Park canopied forest. Luckily, the community has rallied around the park and major progress has been made toward repairing the devastated land. Thousands of tree saplings were donated to replace those lost, and debris cleanup is still underway. Currently, the campground and river access remain closed to the public. However, a large portion of the park has been reopened: the Blue Hole swimming area, the multiuse trails, and even the caves themselves! 
Utilizing the surface-based lighting and electrical system to illuminate the cave to create a state-of-the-art LED lighting system, guided cave tours are once again being offered. This new, energy-efficient system helps protect the light-sensitive ecosystems in the cave and allows visitors to see cave formations more clearly – all without needing a flashlight!
For more information on the guided cave tours or to RSVP, visit the Florida Caverns State Park website.
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Today is the last day to score one-of-a-kind holiday gifts at the annual Great Gulfcoast Art Festival. Over 200 artisans will be displaying their creations: pottery, jewelry design, painting, woodworking, glass, sculptures, and more will be available. Other festival highlights include live music, food, performances by local dancers and folk groups, craft demos of traditional trade skills like blacksmithing and spinning in the Heritage Arts Area, and the Student Art Show. Visit Seville Square Park in Pensacola today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to enjoy the last day of this amazing Art Festival.
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Today and tomorrow, visit Battery Park in Apalachicola for the Florida Seafood Festival! The festival includes more than delicious seafood; there will be live music, food competitions, blue crab races, a blessing of the fleet, and the 5K Redfish Run. Music will be provided by country artists Dante Bowe and Drew Parker. Admission is free. Pets are not welcome unless they are service animals. Visit the Florida Seafood Festival website to see a detailed schedule of events, join any of the competitive events, and more!
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The Blue Angels are returning to their home base for the winter after spending the last few months traveling and performing across the country. The Homecoming Air Show will begin at the Naval Air Station Pensacola on Wednesday, followed by Thursday’s dress rehearsal, and then the weekend shows. Due to Covid restrictions, the air show was moved to Pensacola Beach. The Homecoming shows on Friday and Saturday will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For a detailed itinerary, head to the official Visit Pensacola website. Public and paid parking will be available.
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The GFWC Marianna Woman’s Club is partnering with the Chipola Civic Club to host the 7th annual Veterans Day Program. This Friday, November 5th, all veterans are invited to come down to Madison Street Park for the fair. From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., veterans will have the opportunity to receive information from a selection of vendors. Additionally, a sausage dog lunch will be available for free while live music is performed by the Charlie Basford Band. Door prizes will be passed out at the end of the program.
*Masks and social distancing are encouraged
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The Florida Panhandle is home to one of the state’s tallest trees. In Torreya State Park in Liberty County, there stands a gorgeous Southern magnolia. The Magnolia grandiflora is the third tallest tree in Florida, standing at a magnificent 29 meters or approximately 95 feet. That’s only 5 meters shorter than the tallest tree in the state – a Loblolly pine in Suwanee County. Interested in learning more about the spectacular trees Florida is home to? Visit the Monumental Trees website for more information on the tallest, thickest, and oldest Florida trees!