Category: Parks (Community/State/National)

Pensacola VegFest 2023

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Pensacola VegFest is coming to the Community Maritime Park next Saturday, March 25th! The festival will run from 12 pm to 7 pm EDT. Pensacola Vegfest is a celebration of compassionate living, eating, and creating. All food at the event will be vegan; come out to try various delicious plant-based, cruelty-free foods. Turtle Roll Homemade Ice Cream will be at the festival with an entire line of vegan ice cream flavors AND several scrumptious sorbets. The festival will also feature eco-friendly vendors, vegan artists, family fun, live music, free yoga, cooking demos, and more! While entry to Vegfest is free, food and art vendors will take cash and cards. Learn more about the event and stay up-to-date with announcements by visiting the Facebook event page HERE. 

Astronomy at Florida Caverns State Park

Debbie Roney Smith on

Florida Caverns State Park is excited to announce a special Astronomy Night! Thanks to the participation of the Tallahassee Astronomical Society, there will be an evening opportunity for interested individuals to come out to the State Park to learn more about stars, planets, and other heavenly bodies. 

The Astronomy Night will be held on Saturday, March 18th from 5-8pm CST. While the event is free, park entrance is $5.00 per vehicle and is required to access the event site. In the event of poor viewing conditions, cancellation
information will be available at the Ranger Station by 4pm on Saturday. For more information contact Florida Caverns State Park at 850-482-1228.

North Forida Vegfest

Debbie Roney Smith on

The 7th Annual North Florida VegFest is coming to Tallahassee on March 4th! Visit Tom Brown Park from 10am to 4pm to enjoy the festival. Tom Brown Park is dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your well-behaved, four-legged friends; they must be on leash. VegFest is put on by the Tallahassee Vegan/Vegetarian Community to celebrate and educate on the veg-lifestyle. The festival focuses on healthy, sustainable, and compassionate living and is appropriate for all ages and all lifestyles. Entry to the festival is FREE but vendors will be taking cash and card, so come prepared. The festival will feature speakers, cooking demos, food vendors, artisans, healthy living vendors, eco-friendly vendors, non-profits, kids’ activities, and free vegan food samples! Be sure to check the North Florida VegFest website for updates HERE. 

 

 

The After Dark Market

Debbie Roney Smith on

The After Dark Market is happening tonight at Floriopolis! Located in Historic St. Andrews, the market will open at 7pm and run until 11pm EST. This is the sixth After Dark Market; there will be art, oddities, and great performers. 

Learn more by visiting the Facebook event page HERE. 

Panama City Beach Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Panama City Beach Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival is this weekend. Come by Aaron Bessant Park this Saturday and Sunday from to enjoy food, drinks, friends, and more! The 6th Annual Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival will be open to the public from 12pm-5pm with VIPs getting access at 11am. Event ticket prices vary according to the package you purchase, but General Admission is $5 online and $10 at the gate; kids 10-years-old and younger get in for free.

The festival will include over thirty of Florida’s most popular food trucks, over 50 national, regional, and local craft beers, lawn games, music, and family fun. Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the sunny Florida weekend. Please be sure to bring cash and card to purchase food, drinks, and other goodies provided by artisan vendors. For a complete list of participating food trucks, beers, and artists, please visit the Facebook event page HERE or visit the official website HERE. 

 

Pensacola Chocolate & Cheese Fest

Debbie Roney Smith on
The First Annual Pensacola Chocolate and Cheese Fest is February 19th. It will be held at Community Maritime Park in downtown Pensacola from 10am to 6pm. The festival will feature food trucks and vendors specializing in chocolate and cheese items. There will be a featured festival ice cream, the Turtle Roll Ice Cream. Additional highlights include beer, wine, assorted vendors, chocolate martinis, contests, a bounce house, and more! Tickets are only $5 per person; kids 12 and under get in for free. Visit the Facebook event page here for more information. 

Mardi Gras in Panama City Beach

Debbie Roney Smith on

Panama City Beach is hosting the annual Mardi Gras Music Festival today and tomorrow. Visit Pier Park to enjoy this two-day family-friendly festival. There will be parades, Cajun cooking, a 5L, live music, and fireworks. Today is the kid-friendly Second Line Parade. Tomorrow, the festivities start with the 5K fun run followed by the Krewe of Dominique Youx-lead parade. Musical guests include Florida country band Sawyer Brown, Chubby Carrier, the Bayou Swamp Band, and The Frontmen. Visit the official PCB Mardi Gras Festival website HERE to learn more. 

Wakulla Valentine’s Day Parade and Festival

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Rotary Club of Wakulla is hosting the 24th Annual Valentine’s Day Parade & Festival! Come down to Azalea Park on Saturday, February 11th. The parade will start promptly at 10 am. After the parade, hang out and enjoy the festival. The fest will include arts & crafts vendors, local businesses, bounce houses, and more!

New Year Hikes

Debbie Roney Smith on

Looking to stick to your new year goal of being more active? Want to spend more time outdoors? Come out to explore the Gulf Coast’s coastal beauty this January! There will be four different hikes guided by a ranger this month. The hikes will be on the beach at the Rish Recreation Area in Port St. Joe, so come prepared for sun, sand, and fun. The hikes will be held on January 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th. Visit the Florida State Parks website here to learn more or contact the organizers with questions. 

Camellia Show

Debbie Roney Smith on

This weekend is the Camellia Show in Gainesville! Visit Kanapaha Gardens January 7-8th to enjoy the annual horticultural show. Garden guests will be allowed to view prize-winning camellia blooms cultivated by a variety of growers throughout the state. The blooms will be in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Visitors will learn all about how to care for and cultivate gorgeous camellias.

Additionally, there will be special camellias available for purchase on a first-come, first-serve basis. Kanapaha Gardens will also be offering guided garden walks throughout the weekend. Visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase bamboo plants during the Winter Bamboo Sale. The Gardens are a 68-acre nonprofit facility that welcomes pets. They also encourage guests to bring food and drink (non-alcoholic please) to enjoy a picnic on the grounds. Visit their website here for more information about the event!