Community Calendar
Saturday, Feb. 6
Beach Mardi Gras Festival and Parade
The Second Annual Panama City Beach Mardi Gras Festival and Parade will be held Feb. 6 at Pier Park. Magic Broadcasting’s Island 106 radio personality, “That Guy Kramer”, will broadcast live starting at 10 a.m. as festivities kick-off with a children’s parade, followed by the Mardi Gras parade at 2 p.m. along Front Beach Road through Pier Park. The street party celebration continues with live entertainment, costumes, masks, beads, trinkets, Cajun and low-country cuisine, and more.
Visit www.visitpanamacitybeach.com for more information.
Topsail tours
Join the Rangers and ask questions about park life at 9 a.m. Feb. 6 at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach. To cover the cost of food, please bring $4, which goes to Friends of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park to enhance the park, or bring your own breakfast. Call 267-8330.
Farmers Market
The Seaside Farmers Market s 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.
Used Book Sale
The Friends of the Coastal Branch Library will hold a Used Book Sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Coastal Branch Library, 427 Greenway Trail.
To donate books, take them to the library before noon Feb. 5. Call 850 267-2809.
Ed Asner as FDR
Veteran stage and screen actor Ed Asner will perform in the national tour of the one-man show, FDR, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at the NWF State College’s Mattie Kelly Fine and Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $30 and on sale through the center's online box office at www.mattiekellyartscenter.org and in-person or by phone at 729-6004.
Sunday, Feb. 7
Art in Public Places
The Walton County Tourist Development Council and Friends of Coastal Brach Library will exhibit the works of Lois Kennedy during the Art in Public Places exhibit in February.
Monday, Feb. 8
Panama City Music Association
The Panama City Music Association presents The Israel Ballet, Don Quixote at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Panama City Marina Civic Center. Tickets may be purchased at 763-4696 or visit www.marinaciviccenter.com for more information.
Tuesday, Feb. 9
CVHN open house
Children's Volunteer Health Network, Inc. will celebrate their new location, 82 Lynn Drive in Santa Rosa Beach, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9. Light hors d'oeuvres and beverages. RSVP to admin@cvhnkids.org or call 622-3200.
Thursday, Feb. 11
Girl’s Night Out
An intergenerational Girl’s Night Out will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Walton County Health Department, 362 State Hwy 83 in DeFuniak Springs. Reservations are not required. This is a tobacco-free event. Childcare services will not be available. Adolescent girls must be accompanied by an adult. Call 892-8015.
Mothers or guardians and young ladies in the fifth to eight grade are invited to spend a special evening together. Door prizes and light dinner/refreshments will be provided. This free event is designed to help parents and girls get accurate and current information about their uniquely female concerns, often uncomfortable to discuss in the home or school environment.
Topics featured will include communication between teens and adults on alcohol and tobacco, self defense techniques against bullying and unwanted advances, breast health and adolescent protection against cervical cancer. With parent/guardian permission, free vaccinations will be provided for girls under the age of 18, e.g. Gardasil vaccination against cervical cancer and/or Menactra vaccinations against meningitis and meningococcal disease. Break out sessions will include personal feminine hygiene, reproductive health, protection against pregnancy and disease, nutrition and weight issues, and tobacco prevention including smoking cessation assistance.
Friday, Feb. 12
Movie night
National Treasure: Book of Secrets will be shown as Seaside celebrates President’s Day Weekend with an outdoor movie under the stars at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 on the lawn of the Holl Building.
Pruning workshop
A pruning workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 12 at Alaqua Animal Refuge, 914 Whitfield Road in Freeport. The Seagrove Garden Club is sponsoring a sustainable garden at the refuge and the existing fruit trees need to be pruned. Master Gardener Eddie Powell will demonstrate basic pruning techniques. There is no cost for the workshop but a donation to Alaqua is always appreciated. Bring pruning tools and gloves. Rain or shine. Call 916-316-6820.
Saturday, Feb. 13
Art to Wear
Carolyn White, Tennessee fiber artist, will be the guest artist at Newbill Collection By The Sea from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 13. Her trunk show will include a hand knitted and felted collection of jackets, wraps, scarves, hats and purses. Newbill, at 309 Ruskin Place, is open in the winter from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and from 12 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Call 231-4500.
Krewe of Wee-De-Leis Mardi Gras celebration
The Fourth Annual 4KIDS Mardi Gras Parade starts at 2 p.m. Feb. 13 in front of 4KIDS on the south side of 30A and all kids, both young and young at heart, are welcome. Visit the store between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to make a mask and other crafts with Abrakadoodle. Live music continues throughout Seaside with a band from New Orleans featuring The Michael Foster Project until 4 p.m.
Constitution class
A free seven-hour constitutional class on DVD will be offered from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 13 at the South Walton Coastal Branch Library.
There will be one-hour segments with a 10-minute break between each hour, with a one-hour lunch break.
Speaker Michael Badnarik was the presidential nominee for the Libertarian Party in 2004 and in November 2009 sat as the president for the Constitutional Convention held in St. Charles, Ill. For information, e-mail patriot8@embarqmail.com.
Hands Across The Sand
Join thousands of Florida citizens to draw metaphorical and physical lines in the sand at Hands Across the Sand at 1 p.m. Feb. 13 on the beach in Seaside. This organization is devoted to protecting our coastlines and waterways from the environmental effects of oil exploration and support industries.
Heartworks Kids fundraiser
Heartworks Kids, an organization that spreads acts of kindness by encouraging children to take the lead, will host a pancake breakfast fundraiser from 8 to 11 a.m. Feb. 13 at the Point Washington United Methodist Church’s Family Life Center on County Road 395 in Point Washington. The cost is $5 per plate. Call 543-0323.
Florida Trail Association
The Florida Trail Association will hold a 9-mile hike on the Nokuse section at 8:15 a.m. Feb. 13. Call 862-1903.
History program
Walton County historic locations off Interstate 10 will be noted during a “Next Exit History” program at 2 p.m. Feb. 13 hosted by the Walton County Heritage Museum and Association, 1140 Circle Drive in DeFuniak Springs. University of West Florida history professors Dr. Jay Clune and Dr. Patrick Powell of Pensacola will present PowerPoint and project. Public comment is welcome and citizens are encouraged to share historic site information. Admission is free. Call 951-2127.
First Arts Concert Series
The First Arts Concerts presents Intersection Trio at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 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.
Upcoming
St. Rita Preschool culinary challenge
Sign yourself or your team up to compete with the friends and parents of St. Rita Preschool at the Second Annual “So…You Think You Can Cook” Challenge during the 2010 Spring Fundraiser. The People’s Choice winner of the competition will claim the “Secret Award”, acknowledgement in the Saint Rita Cookbook and major bragging rights.
Teams are required to provide sampling portions of their entry for each patron to taste at the event. The winner will be judged by popular vote and will be announced at the end of the evening.
The St. Rita Preschool Cook-off is from 7 to 9 p.m. March 20 at Fonville Press at Alys Beach.
Deadline for registration is Feb. 26. For information e-mail stritacookoff@yahoo.com or call 238-5444
