Upcoming Events and Entertainment

MARCH

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.

Children’s Summer Fun Guidebook

The United Way of Okaloosa and Walton Counties is gathering information on children’s summer programs for the “2010 Children’s Summer Fun Guidebook,” designed to help parents find safe, fun and educational daytime summer activities for children. Programs offered must be for youth ages 4 through 18 and held during June, July and August. If your agency/business offers such summer programs, send a general description of the programs to have listed including dates, times, cost and any items the children may need to bring. Send information to United Way, Attn: 2010 Summer Fun Guidebook, by mail: 112 Tupelo Avenue, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548; fax: 243-6625 or e-mail events@united-way.org.  Deadline is April 9. The Guidebook will be available the first week of May. Call 243-0315 to request a copy or download it at www.united-way.org.

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.

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. 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 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. 

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.

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.

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

Gulf Place will host a St. Patrick's Day Celebration following the parade at 3 p.m. March13 featuring Irish food ,drinks, music, dance, search for the leprechaun with the pot of gold and more. Call 267-8458 or email permakat@gmail.com.

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.

•March 19-21: Canoe and camp at Okefenoke Swamp in Georgia at 8 a.m. Call 932-0125.

•March 20: A 3-, 6-, or 8-mile hike in the Cimarron section at 8 a.m. Eglin permit required. Call 682-6098.

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

•March 26–28: Annual Conference and Hiking Festival in Haines City, Fla. Call 877-HIKE-FLA.

•March 27: Kid’s Hike & Interactive Experience at 9 a.m. at the E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center. Call 974-2078.

•March 27: Hike on the Dunes Trail at 9 a.m. Call 932-546.

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.

Shop for a Job festivals

Silver Sands Factory Stores will host a “Shop for a Job” festival from 1 to 6 p.m. March 17, 24, 31 and April 7 at Shopper Services, near Michael Kors and laoste. High school and college student are encouraged to attend to apply for summer jobs.

On March 24, 31 and April 7, the JobsPlus 40-foot Mobile One-Stop vehicle will be stationed at Silver Sands from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. to facilitate the hiring process by allowing applicants to go online to corporate Web sites and apply for jobs at Silver Sands.

Seaside Repertory Theatre

Tickets are on sale for the reprisal of the hit musical play, Always…Patsy Cline, which will run at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, March 18 through April 10, in the Seaside Meeting Hall Theatre on Quincy Circle in Seaside. Tickets are $29, and $25 for members and can be purchased at SeasideRep.org or call 231-0733.

A pre-show 10th anniversary season celebration will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. March 20, featuring live music by Dread Clampitt, food, beer, wine and fun.

Think Pink

Think Pink when you join Colleen Duffley of studio b, Dr. Dennis Lichorwic and Dr. Fred Tepedino of Destin Center for Cosmetic and Family Dentistry for a Sinfonia Gulf Coast “Pink Martini Happy Hour” from 6 to 8 p.m. March 18 at studio b, 30 N. Charles Street across from Fonville Press in Alys Beach.

Enjoy pink martinis, wine and light appetizers prepared by studio b guest Nicole Aloni, author of “The Backyard Bartender.” The event is complimentary, but RSVP to 269-7129.

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.

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,

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.

Purple Passion Gala & Auction

Shelter House will host the Seventh Annual Purple Passion Gala and Auction from 7 to 11 p.m. March 20 at the Linkside Center at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Fundraiser includes dinner, dancing, musical entertainment Jones & Company and a live and silent auction.

Tickets are $75 per person and $100 at the door. Purchase tickets at www.shelterhousenwfl.org.

Auction items and corporate sponsorships are now being accepted! See this year's sponsors:

St. Rita Preschool culinary challenge

The St. Rita Preschool Cook-off is from 7 to 9 p.m. March 20 at Fonville Press at Alys Beach.

Spring Concert Series

Seaside presents free concerts from 6 to 8 p.m. in Central Square on Scenic Hwy. 30-A. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Call 428-0825.

Performers include:

•March 24: Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes.

•March 31: Hightide Blues.

•April 7: Sam Thacker.

•April 14: Dikki Du & the Zydeco Krewe.

Easter Egg Hunt

The Friends of the Coastal Branch Library will sponsor an Easter Egg Hunt from 11 a.m. to noon March 25 at 437 Greenway Trail behind the government center on Highway 331 South. Children will meet in the story time area of the library before the Egg Hunt. Party with refreshments will follow. Call 267-2809.

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.

Florida Scenic Highway Day

Walton County’s Scenic 30-A corridor will celebrate its natural, cultural, historic, recreational, archeological, and scenic resources during Florida Scenic Highway Day. An opening ceremony will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. March 26 at the Walton County District 5 office, 70 Logan Lane in Santa Rosa Beach.

That evening and the following day, visitors can stop by the office to pick up brochures, educational materials and other information about Scenic Highway 30-A. On Saturday March 27, visitors can tour the Scenic Highway on buses that will depart from the office.

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.

Choctawhatchee Audubon Society Fieldtrip

Take a fieldtrip to Ft. Morgan, Ala., for spring bird banding on March 27. Call trip leader Don Ware at 862-6582 for details.

APRIL

Artists at Gulf Place

The following events will be held 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.

 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. The cost is $20, but the fee has been waived for residents and business owners in Walton County. Registration deadline is April 6. Call 892-4859.

Business Finance workshop

The Walton County Economic Development Alliance will hold a Business Finance workshop from 10 a.m. to noon April 9 at the Northwest Florida State College South Walton Center, 109 Greenway Trail. Representatives from the UWF Small Business Development Center will provide information dealing with sector/government financing programs available or businesses and a bankers’ panel will explain how they evaluate business lending requests.

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.

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

Walton County Earth Day Festival

The Walton County Earth Day Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 17 at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. The free event includes interactive educational displays, guided hikes, storytellers, animal encounters, cooking demonstrations and more.

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.