Community Calendar

Saturday, March 6

Bird Walk

Members and non-members of all levels of experience are invited on a bird walk caravan around the Valparaiso area on March 6. Bring binoculars, bird book and weather appropriate clothing. Meet at Niceville Badcock Furniture parking lot at 7:30 a.m.

Topsail tour

A 2010 Step-Up Florida dune ecosystems hike will be held at 10:30 a.m. March 6 at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach. Visitors will be guided down the paved tram path to get to the beach where they will learn about the plants and animals that live in a dune ecosystem. A $3 park entrance fee is required. For information, call 267-8330.

Green Thumb Garden Club

The Green Thumb Garden Club of Santa Rosa Beach will host a program by author, entertainer, columnist, artist and floral designer Mark Ballard from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 6 at the Sandestin Hilton Golf & Beach Resort. Proceeds will benefit the Genevieve Mercer Horticulture Scholarship. Tickets are $40. Make reservations at 880-6066 or coolbreeze485@hotmail.com.

Farmers Market

The Seaside Farmers Market is held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at the Amphitheater behind Raw & Juicy. Find fresh produce, baked goods and other unique offerings, and enjoy local specialties, cooking demos and activities.

Artists at Gulf Place

The following events will be held from March 6 through April 10 at Artists at Gulf Place, Corner of 393 and 30-A in Santa Rosa Beach. Call 622-0400.

•Recycled Art Workshop, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Monday.

•Jewelry Making, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Tuesday and 2 to 4:30 p.m. every Thursday.

•The Dye Workshop, 3 to 5 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday.

•Kids Art Workshop, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday.

•Happy Sign Painting with Wendy, 2 to 5 p.m. every Wednesday.

Sunday, March 7

Cash 4 College workshop

Northwest Florida State College will hold a free “Cash 4 College” financial aid workshop to help students and parents complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid from 1 to 4 p.m. March 7 on the Niceville campus in building C-1 and C-2. Call 729-5370 or e-mail bennettp@nwfstatecollege.edu.

Monday, March 8

Art in Public Places

The works of acrylic artist Judi Bludworth will be featured during March at The Walton County Tourist Development Council and Friends of Coastal Branch Library Art in Public Places exhibit at the Coastal Branch Library. Call 267-1216.

Tuesday, March 9

Artist reception

The Walton County Tourist Development Council will host a reception for 2009 Artist of the Year, Michael McCarty from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. March 9 at the Walton County Courthouse Annex, 31 Coastal Centre Blvd. in Santa Rosa Beach. His commissioned artwork is to be placed at South Walton Courthouse Annex. Michael’s commissioned artwork, “Twenty Six Miles of Paradise,” is a large, vibrant reflection of life along the Beaches of South Walton. Michael’s signature style, colorfully captures the wonderful natural and whimsical elements of people and places that set Beaches of South Walton apart from anywhere else in the world.

Wednesday, March 10

Panama City Music Association

The Panama City Music Association presents Annie March 10 in the Panama City Marina Civic Center. Tickets may be purchased at 763-4696 or visit www.marinaciviccenter.com for more information.

Thursday, March 11

Steak & Burger Dinner

The University of Alabama’s Team Chaplain and former NFL Player, Jeremiah Castille, will share his personal story on what it takes to be a champion at The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast DeFuniak Springs Teen Center’s second annual Steak & Burger Dinner at 6 p.m. March 11 at the DeFuniak Springs Community Center. Proceeds will support the annual operating costs of the Teen Center. Tickets are $25 and available at The Teen Center or Tax Collector’s Office.

Friday, March 12

First Arts Concert Series

The 21st season of First Arts Concerts presents Proteus 7 at 7:30 p.m. March 12 at First United Methodist Church in Fort Walton Beach.

Season and individual tickets can be purchased at www.firstartsconcerts.org or call 243-6083 for a brochure. 

Wine Over Water

Local artists will display their work, area restaurants will showcase their food and wine and live music will be played during Wine Over Water, March 12-14 on Market Street in Carillon Beach. Local talent will include this year's featured artist Dominic Williams. Tickets are on sale at all Carillon Beach merchants, by phone at 397-4185, or at www.wineoverwater.net

Activities include:

•March 12, Carillon Ballroom: 6 p.m., champagne hour; 7 p.m., Wine-pairing dinner and silent auction. Limited seating, $100.

•March 13, Carillon Market Street: 11 a.m., Chef Cook-off and Ice sculpting/GCCC, free; 1 p.m., Chef Jim Shirley, wine/food pairing, free; Tommy Ward, Buddy Ward & Sons Seafood seminar, free; 2 to 5 p.m., Grand Wine Tasting, $45. Live music and artist exhibits throughout the day.

•March 14, Carillon Market Street: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Walk Around Brunch, $25. Live music and artists exhibits throughout the day.

Saturday, March 13

Booksigning

Author Deborah Brodie will sign copies of her Christian Romance novel, In His Love, from 4 to 6 p.m. March 13 at Sun Dog Books, 89 Central Square in Santa Rosa Beach.

History Fair and Antique Farm Day and Tractor Pull

The Walton County History Fair will be held March 13 at the Fairgrounds on Hwy. 83 in DeFuniak Springs. The bi-annual fair will join the Walton County Fair Association’s Antique Farm Day and Tractor Pull. Admission to the History Fair and Antique Farm Day and Tractor Pull is $6/adults, $3/ages 12 – 15, and free under 12.

Share your Walton County history and prepare a display. There is no charge to display a history exhibit.  There is a $20 charge for those wishing to sell items. March 9 is the deadline to display information to be included in program.

History display applicants should complete a form available at the Walton County Heritage Museum at 1140 Circle Drive in DeFuniak Springs. Call 850-951-2127.

To participate as an artist or vendor, e-mail info@monarkevents.com or call 728-9476. This event is free and open to the public. Friends, family, pets, picnics, music and food are welcome.

Florida Trail Association

The Florida Trail Association will hold the following events. Visit http://westgate. floridatrail.org or call the listed number. 

•March 13: Bike ride on the Timberlake trail at 9 a.m. Eglin permit required. Call 683-0803.

•March 13-14: Camp/hike at Little River State Park in Alabama at 8 a.m. Call 995-4267.

Upcoming

Call to Artists: Digital Gaffiti

Alys Beach has announced that it will host the third annual Digital Graffiti, the world’s first outdoor projection art festival, on June 12. Organizers are now calling for submissions from artists around the globe for inclusion in the 2010 competition.

All entries should be submitted via e-mail as soon as possible to events@alysbeach.com. The deadline for all submissions is March 15. For complete rules and information, visit www.digitalgraffiti.com

Art in the Park

A variety of artists and vendors will exhibit their works at The WaterColor Community Association’s Fifth Annual Art in the Park from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. March 20 in WaterColor’s Town Center and Cerulean Park.

The Association is seeking interested artists to feature mediums including, but not limited to, oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings, charcoal, chalk, pastel and color pencil drawings, photography, printmaking, digital art, glass art, jewelry, fabric art, pottery, woodwork and fashion design,