Category: ShopLocal

Small Business Saturday

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is the weekly Panama City Farmers’ Market at 218 Harrison Ave. However, there is something special about today’s market – it’s Small Business Saturday! From 8am to 1pm, come down to the Farmers’ Market to support local small businesses AND get a jump start on your holiday purchases. There will be over 80 local vendors selling a variety of arts, crafts, home goods, baked goods, pet care items, and more! More includes local produce, honey, meats, eggs, artisan breads, jellies, jams, canned goods, coffee, sweets, food trucks, and more! Stay up to date with the Panama City Farmers’ Market by following them on Facebook HERE. 

DrinksGiving

Debbie Roney Smith on

Tonight is Drinksgiving! This is an unofficial holiday that is celebrated the night before Thanksgiving. It is the ultimate homecoming celebration; head out to a local bar or pub to catch up with friends and family who are home for the holidays. Remember to drink responsibly, and to have a designated driver (even if that driver is an Uber, Lyft, or cab). To honor this event, today’s blog highlights a local brewery you can visit today – Salty Oak Brewing Co.! 

Salty Oak is a brewery and tasting room located in Panama City. They regularly host fun events such as paint & pours, birthdays, and more! In fact, tomorrow they are hosting their 7th annual Stoutsgiving. From 7-9pm, visit to enjoy a memorable holiday brew. Rules are 1 stout bomber per person or two 16oz cans of the same stout (quantities are limited). Learn more by visiting the Facebook event page HERE or following Salty Oak Brewing Co. on Facebook HERE. 

National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is the last day of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. This is a special week that recognizes the hard work animal shelters provide to their communities. Animal shelters provide care to millions of displaced animals across the United States. Yet only 10-20% of owned dogs and cats are adopted from shelters (ASPCA). Additionally, most animal shelters are non-profits which means they depend on donations and grants to stay open while their employees work long hours for minimal pay and benefits.

This is an endemic problem as the services shelters provide are critical to civil orderliness. Shelters not only house stray animals but also find new homes for homeless pets, rescue strays, rehabilitate injured and abused animals, reunite lost pets with their original families, and more! Animal shelters provide necessary animal control and deserve more than to be underfunded and understaffed. Consider adopting from or supporting a local animal shelter today! 

Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival is coming to Pensacola. From today until November 6th, there will be a free art show featuring over 200 artisans and craftsmen taking place in Seville Square. The event will also feature live music as well as a Children’s Art Festival. The Children’s Festival includes hands-on art activities and a Student Art Show. It will run on Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 4pm. The Arts Festival will be open from 9am – 5pm today and tomorrow; on Sunday it will run from 9am – 4pm. Learn more by visiting the official event website. 

National American Beer Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is National American Beer Day! Celebrate by visiting a local brewery. This is an annual event designed to help celebrate domestic lagers and ales brewed across the United States. Today’s blog highlights the local favorite, Blountstown Beer Company. Blountstown Beer opened in February 2022, and is the creation of Josh Parker and Randal Martina. The brewery features excellent brews and wonderful recipes, the brewing knowledge provided by Parker and the culinary skills by Martina. Visit their Facebook page here to learn more.

Fall In Love With JaCo: Business Expo & Community Showcase

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Business Expo & Community Showcase on Thursday, October 20th from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Citizen’s Lodge.

The Showcase will be a free event highlighting local businesses and community organizations. Participating businesses/organizations will have a table to display their products and services. The Expo will feature exhibits, networking, giveaways, raffle prizes, music, and entertainment. There will also be a number of local food trucks available on site. 

If you would like to take part in the exhibition, call the Chamber of Commerce at (850)482-8060. The Expo’s theme is “Fall” in Love with JaCo. Participants are encouraged to decorate their booths in a fall theme. The Chamber will also be holding an Expo 101 class on Tuesday, September 20th from 8am to 9am. The class will be repeated on (1) Friday, September 30th from 11am to 12pm and (2) Tuesday, October 4th from 3pm to 4pm. The class will cover what makes a great exhibit, setup do’s and don’ts, and more. Participating businesses/organizations will also receive a special exhibitor-only networking lunch during setup prior to the 3:00 p.m. public event.  

For more information contact the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce at 850-482-8060 or info@jacksoncounty.com or visit the Facebook event page here. 

National Bookshop Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Tomorrow is National Bookshop Day, an annual celebration of all things books, reading, and local! It was conceived by the Bookseller Association. It is celebrated by individuals and businesses associated with the book trade, including publishers, authors, local bookshops, book lovers, and booksellers. See the list below for a selection of local bookstores to support tomorrow in the Panhandle and surrounding areas:

National Coffee Day 2022

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is National Coffee Day! The exact date of its origin is unknown, however, it is believed to have first been celebrated in Japan circa 1983. The celebration was then introduced to the United State in 2005. It is celebrated annually on September 29th. This annual celebration should not be confused with International Coffee Day which was first celebrated on October 1, 2015.

See below for a list of businesses that are offering National Coffee Day(NCD) deals or freebies:

  • Barnes & Noble: receive a free tall hot or iced coffee with the purchase of any baked item from B&N Cafés nationwide.
  • Dunkin’ Donuts: DD Perks members can get a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase at Dunkin’.
  • Panera Bread: new Unlimited Sip Club subscribers receive two months free if they sign up on NCD. Existing Sip Club members receive $2 off select barista beverages and smoothies.

Bookstore Coming to Marianna

Debbie Roney Smith on

A new bookstore is coming soon to Marianna! It will be moving into what used to be the Sweet Beans Cafe on Caledonia Street in downtown Marianna. Currently, the bookstore is going by the name Books & Such. However, the name is subject to change as per the owner’s Facebook announcement. Books & Such will be stocking new books as well as a limited selection of used books. They also hope to carry journals, stationery, greeting cards, and other “such” items. Keep an eye out for an opening date announcement!

Benefits of Backyard Bats

Debbie Roney Smith on

Sandhills Native Nursery is opening for Fall hours on September 22nd. To celebrate, they are hosting a Benefits of Backyard Bats class with Cre8ive by N8ure. The class will run from 9:30am – 10:30am on September 23rd and 24th. Led by Nate, creator of Cre8ive by N8ure and bat educator, the class will focus on how the bats provide insect management, their reproductive cycle, their habitat and diet, and flora and fauna that is beneficial for bats. Due to parking limitations, the class has only 10 spots and you must register to secure your parking spot; the cost is $10 per car. However, these spots are counted by the vehicle not individual, so the nursery encourages carpooling with friends or family. 

Additionally, there will be a second class opportunity on both days. If you are interested in building your own bat house to take home, hang out at the nursery for roughly 30 minutes after the Benefits of Backyard Bats. The delay is designed to give participants time to grab a drink, walk around the nursery, or have a quick lunch. Please note that the Build Your Own Bathouse class costs $45 per person. All required materials and instruction from bat house building expert Nate will be included in the cost. 

Proceeds from both classes will be donated to a local organization that assists bats (organization TBA). Visit SNN’s event website HERE to sign up for the class and/or Bat House creation event.