Upcoming Events and Entertainment

FEBRUARY

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.

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.

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.

Topsail tours

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach will hold the following tours. A $3 park entrance fee is required, except for Breakfast with a Ranger. Outside tours are canceled during severe weather. For information, call 267-8330.

•Join the Rangers and ask them all the questions you can think of about park life at 9 a.m. Feb. 6 and 13 and March 13. 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.

•A 2010 Step-Up Florida dune ecosystems hike will be held at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 20 and March 6. 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 Step-Up Florida tracking animals walk will be held at 9 a.m. March 20. An outdoor interpretive will focus on tracking animals and finding out how many are in an area. Be sure to wear sunscreen and boot and be ready to hike at lest two miles. 

Mattie Kelly Arts Center

The 2009-2010 season at the NWF State College’s Mattie Kelly Fine and Performing Arts Center will include a Broadway season package for four shows for $165 per package or $45 per individual ticket. A six-show Broadway/Artist combo package will be $200, with $30 individual ticket prices for Artist Series shows.

Season packages are available by phone, in-person or by mail only from the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box Office. Individual show tickets go on sale through the center's online box office at www.mattiekellyartscenter.org and in-person or by phone.

Broadway package includes:

•Feb. 17: Le Grand Cirque.

Artist Series includes:

•Feb. 6: Ed Asner as FDR.

A series of children's shows which will be matinee performances for school groups include the following. Limited seating for the public may be available for $6 each.

•March 9: Frog and Toad.

•April 13: Click, Clack, Moo.

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.

•March 4: Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra with William De Rosa

•March 10: Annie, Broadway Musical

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.

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.

Sinfonia Pink Martini Dinner

Cafe Thirty-A and Pish Posh Patchouli present an evening featuring the music of Pink Martini and an incredible meal in preparation for Sinfonia’s season gala event, An Evening in Vintage Hollywood featuring Pink Martini. The dinner will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 11 at Cafe Thirty-A in Seagrove Beach. Cost is $75 per person.

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.

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.

Florida Trail Association

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

•Feb. 13: A 9-mile hike on the Nokuse section at 8:15 a.m. Call 862-1903.

•Feb. 12-14: Weekend of camping, hiking and socializing at Cheaha, Ala., at 8 a.m. Call 995-4267.

•Feb. 19-20: Camping and a bike ride around Bear Lake at 10 a.m. Call 683-0803.

•Feb. 20: Awards banquet and potluck dinner at Bear Lake at 11:30 a.m. Call 932-0125.

•Feb. 21: Volunteers needed for trail maintenance in the Yellow River Ravines section at 8 a.m. Call 474-5359.

•Feb. 23: Monthly meeting at 6 p.m. at Bayou Blues in Niceville.  Visitors welcome. Call 682-6098.

•Feb. 27: Hike on Tarkin Preserve Park at 8 a.m. Call 554-7255.

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.

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 21st season of First Arts Concerts Saturday 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. 

Other concerts include:

•Feb. 26: Thomas Pandolfi, piano

•March 12: Proteus 7, brass

Emerald Coast Chamber Ensemble

The Emerald Coast Chamber Ensemble will present a special Valentine’s Day concert at 3 p.m. Feb. 14 in Christ the King Episcopal Church, 280 N County Rd. 393 in Santa Rosa Beach. Emerald Coast artists Carol Wolowsky and Kate Kelley, violin, and Chun-Hsin Chang, cello, and guest violist Rebecca Henry from the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University, will perform a program by Mozart, J.S. Bach, Vivaldi, Puccini, music from the movie Titanic and other romantic favorites. 

Concert tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door ($10 for ages 18 and under). Advance tickets are available at Playground Music in Fort Walton beach, Bayou Books in Niceville, Kitchenique in Destin, 3 Graces Taverna in Sandestin’s Marketplace and Sun Dog Books in Seaside. Call 650-5448.

Combine the concert with dinner at Enzo’s after the performance. Advance purchase ticket holders receive a $5 discount for the concert and a $10 discount for dinner subject to a reservation by calling Enzo’s at 267-3003.

Valentine's Day concert

A Valentine’s Day concert featuring Roman Street will be held at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Meeting Hall Theatre in Seaside.

Vienna Boys Choir

The Vienna Boys Choir will perform Feb. 16 at Gulf Beach Presbyterian Church in Panama City Beach. Tickets are available at 230-1991.

Florida Chautauqua Assembly Art Show and Sale

The 2010 Florida Chautauqua Assembly, Inc., celebrating its 125th year, will feature a three-day Art Show and Sale at the DeFuniak Springs Civic Center, 361 N. 10th Sts. in DeFuniak Springs. Show hours commence with a gala opening from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 18 and continue Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no charge for admission.

Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra

Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra at Northwest Florida State College, under the baton of Jeffrey Rink, announces its 2009-10 concert season and the availability of season tickets. The 23rd season of the region’s professional orchestra will include five concerts, special events and new benefits for season subscribers, award-winning guest artists, the premiere of a new work written for the NFSO, collaborative performances with the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorus and more.

Regular season subscriptions for the 2009-10 series of five NFSO concerts are now available for $100. NFSO season tickets are available for purchase in-person or by phone from the college’s Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box office at (850) 729-6000 or online at www.nfsymphony.org.

Conductor’s Circle memberships, for subscribers who make a tax deductible gift of at least $250 to the symphony in addition to their purchase of the $100 season subscription, are also available.

The Mattie Kelly Arts Center is on the Niceville campus of Northwest Florida State College at 100 College Blvd.

•Feb. 19: Annual “Stars of Tomorrow” concert featuring the winners of the regional Concerto Competition.

•April 10: “European Masters” features the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorus and orchestra.

Camellia Festival and Heritage Day

Celebrate the camellia from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 20 at Eden Gardens State Park in Pt. Washington. Stroll through the camellias, picnic on the grounds and attend talks and demonstrations on plant care. National camellia judge Manson Markette will be available throughout the day to discuss camellia care and to identify blooms, with leaves, brought in by the public.

Emerald Coast Flowers and Gifts owner Russ Barley will demonstrate flower arranging at 1 p.m. Learn air layering to propagate camellias and take home a plant air layered from Eden. Waxing of camellia blooms will also be displayed. The Park will also celebrate our industrious past by hosting heritage craft demonstrations of moonshine and turpentine production, candle dipping, soap making, butter churning, blacksmithing and more. This event is free with admission to the State Park, $4/car or $2/bike or pedestrian. The Park is north of U.S. 98 on CR 395. Call 246-0046 or 267-8322.

Concert

Escape to Create presents American tenor, Nathan Granner, in concert at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at a Seaside Avenue residence. Seating is limited. Cost of $75 includes wine and hors d’oeuvres. All proceeds benefit Escape to Create artist-in-residence program. For tickets, call 504-534-0000 or e-mail escapetocreate@gmail.com.

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

 Sinfonia Gulf Coast

The 2009-2010 season of the Sinfonia Gulf Coast will include the following events. Season subscriptions and tickets are available at www.SinfoniaGulfCoast.org or call 269-7129.

•Feb. 28: Time Travel at 3 p.m. at Good News United Methodist Church in Santa Rosa Beach features the Manhattan Piano Trio and Demetrius Fuller, clarinet.

•March 23: The Sinfonia Gala Event,  “An Evening in Vintage Hollywood featuring Pink Martini,” will be held at 6 p.m. at the Emerald Coat Conference Center.

MARCH

First Friday

The First Friday ArtWalk will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. March 5 at Ruskin Place & Central Square. Enjoy live music and view works of art and artist demos at the galleries and shops.

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.

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.

Corporate and community sponsors are being sought for the event. Tickets are $25 and available at The Teen Center or Tax Collector’s Office. If interested in sponsoring the event, contact Fundraising Chair Mike Morris at 585-1718 or mmorris@chelco.com.

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.

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

Stories by the Sea

Join the Seaside Repertory Theatre as they present a one-of-a-kind storytelling experience for children of all ages at 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, March 15-31 and April 1-9. Each day will offer a new story and there might even be opportunities for participation

Shamrocks in the Square

The Merchants of Seaside invite everyone to all things Irish during the Second annual St. Patrick's Day celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. March 17 at the Seaside Amphitheater. Enjoy the sounds of Irish/Celtic music and The Drake Irish Dancers of Fort Walton.

Coffee with the Conductor

Maestro Demetrius Fuller's free coffee klatche will be held at 10 a.m. March 19 at The Café at Barnes & Noble's in Destin. Fuller will discuss the Pink Martini Gala event. Call 269-7129.

Northwest Florida Ballet

An E. T. A. Hoffman tale takes center stage in the spring when the NFB performs Dr. Coppelius’ Magic Toy Shoppe at 7:30 p.m. March 20 and 2:30 p.m. March 21 at the Arts Center. A Tutu Couture party for girls will be held in conjunction with this event at Toy Magic in Uptown Station. Call NFB for more information and to purchase tickets.

The season concludes with NFB’s free outdoor Starlight Ballet performances at Rosemary Beach. Call ballet’s offices for further dates and times.

Spring Concert Series

Seaside presents a series of free concerts from 6 to 8 p.m. March 24 and 31 in the Seaside Amphitheater.

Guitar Hero Tournament

The Second Annual Guitar Hero Tournament will be held March 19 and April 9. Anyone interested in participating will sign up prior to the event. Qualifying rounds will be held in the Seaside Meeting Hall and finalists will perform in front of a large audience in the Amphitheater. Sign up at seasiderep.org.

Cinema Friday

Grab your blankets and head to the Amphitheater for movies under the stars at 7:30 p.m. March 26, April 2 and 6 in Central Square.

Antique and Vintage Car Show

Join antique and vintage car collectors, clubs and owners as they gather on the lawns of Rosemary Beach for the Ninth Annual Rt. 30A Antique and Vintage Car Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 27.

 The event will include entertainment throughout the day, demonstrations, a People's Choice award, and a chance to see automotive history. This event is free and open to the public.

Applications are now being accepted for automobiles manufactured before 1970. Entry fee is $20 per vehicle in advance and $25 the day of the show, with proceeds going to the recovery and rebuilding funds for the earthquake victims of Haiti.

For more information or registration, call Hilltop Productions at 951-2148 or visit www.hilltopproductionsinc.com.

APRIL

 First Friday

The First Friday ArtWalk will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. April 2 at Ruskin Place & Central Square. Enjoy live music and view works of art and artist demos at the galleries and shops.

MAY

West Indies Markets

Applications are being accepted for the 2010 West Indies Market to take place May 8 and 9, June 12 and 13 and July 10 and 11 at Rosemary Beach. The markets are open to all vendors who have hand-crafted or fine arts and crafts in the media of pottery, yard art, stained glass, hand-crafted jewelry, handmade furniture, watercolor, oil or pastel paintings, metal sculpture, or anything handmade by the artists.

For information or for a vendor application, call Hilltop Productions at 951-2148, or visit www.hilltopproductionsinc.com.