Upcoming Events and Entertainment

All area codes are 850 unless specified.

Florida Trail Association

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

•July 3: Leisurely 2-mile hike at the EO Wilson Biophilia Center in Freeport at 9 a.m. Call 341-1389.
•July 10: Bring your canoe or kayak for a float trip down Titi Creek to Shoal River to the Hwy. 85 bridge at 9 a.m. Call 682-6098.
•July 17: Bring your canoe or kayak and for a float trip in Santa Rosa County at 10 a.m. Call 623-1646.
•July 18: Volunteers needed for trail maintenance in the Yellow River Ravines at 8 a.m. Call 474-5359.
•July 24: Bring your canoe or kayak for a float trip on Juniper Creek in
Santa Rosa County at 8 a.m. Call 484-9111.
•July 27: Monthly meeting at Bayou Blues Restaurant in Niceville at 6 p.m. Visitors welcome. Call 682-6098.
•July 31: Hike from Karick Lake to the Wire Grass Trail at 8 a.m. Call 623-1646.

Topsail tours

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach will hold the following tours. A $6 park entrance fee is required, except for Breakfast with a Ranger. Outside tours are canceled during severe weather. For information, call 267-8330.

•Learn the differences between venomous and non-venomous snakes and how they help the environment at 1:30 p.m. July 8.

•Ask the Rangers questions at breakfast at 9 a.m. July 10. To cover the cost of food, bring $4, which goes to Friends of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park to enhance the park, or bring your own breakfast.

•Learn about the imperiled Coastal Dune Lakes at 1:30 p.m. July 15.

•Learn the facts about common Sea Turtles at Topsail at 1:30 p.m. July 22.

•Come and join the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge as they present their rehabilitated wildlife for your viewing pleasure.  Learn about the fascinating critters in the park and in Okaloosa and Walton County as the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge presents Owls and other Critters at 11:30 p.m. July 31.

Music in Grand Park

Local musician and performer Cheryl Jones plays from 5 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday night through Aug. 15 in Grand Park at Grand Boulevard. Concerts are free and open to the public. Bring a chair or blanket. Grand Boulevard at Sandestin is at the entrance to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

Stories by the Sea
The Seaside Repertory Theatre presents one-of-a-kind storytelling experiences for children of all ages at 4 p.m. Monday through Fridays in the Lyceum Gateway Arch in Central Square.

Groovin’ On The Green

The Carillon Beach Institute presents a free concert with Tidewater from 7 to 9 p.m. July 5 on the Village Green in Carillon Beach. Bring chairs or blankets, a cooler and snacks. Call 234-7819.

•July 12: Tidewater

•July 19: Heat & The Zydeco Gents

•July 26: Return To Zero

•Aug. 2: Jones and Company

•Aug. 9: The Conch Republic

•Sept. 5: Emerald County Line

Seaside Summer Concert Series
The Seaside Summer Concert Series brings popular acts from across the country to the stage in the Seaside Amphitheater at 7 p.m. Scheduled performers include:
•July 7: Reed Waddle
•July 14: Jacob Jeffries Band
•July 21: Mem Shannon & The Membership
•July 28: Ryan Kinder

•Aug. 11: Moreland & Arbuckle

Rosemary Beach

The following free events will be held in Rosemary Beach. Call 278-2900.

•Children’s Theatre, “Shakespeare’s The Tempest,” presented by The Rep Theatre at 6:30 p.m. June 30 on the West Long Green and July 7, 14, 21 and 28 and Aug. 4 on North Barrett Square.

•4th of July Celebration with bike parade, field day games, music, food and fireworks.

•Kids Rock The Block party from 6 to 8 p.m. July 13 at Western Green and Gigi’s.

Moonlight and Movies

Enjoy a Hollywood classic or new release under the stars at 8:15 p.m. July 8, 15, 22 and 29; and Aug. 5 and 12 on the Western Green in Rosemary Beach. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair. Movies are free and open to the public. Concessions are available. Call 951-2148.

New student information sessions

Northwest Florida State College will host “The Basics” information sessions for prospective new students to answer questions about admissions, enrollment, programs of study, financial aid and more from 6 to 7 p.m. July 8 in Niceville at the Learning Resources Center, Room 131. Call 729-6467.

West Indies Markets

Applications are being accepted for the 2010 West Indies Market to take place 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. 

Pottery workshops

The Cultural Arts Association of Walton County will present three workshops led by local potter Debby Orr from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 10, 17, and 24 at Santa Rosa Pottery, 462 Don Bishop Road in Santa Rosa Beach. All materials and tools will be available at the studio; however, you might benefit from having your own spray water bottle, an old towel, a sharpened pencil, plus six or seven "texture" items that you might have on hand and find interesting (shells, coins, leaves, sticks, old jewelry, buttons, etc.).

On July 10, students will make a clay mask choosing using the draped slab form of construction along with other hand-building techniques. On July 17, students will make a clay platter using the slump slab form of construction along with other hand-building techniques, and on July 24, participants will make a clay vase using the slab form of construction along with other hand-building techniques. Cost per class is $60 plus $25 for supplies.  Call the CAA office at 622-5970 to reserve a space.

Musical “Grease”

NICEVILLE – The musical “Grease” hits the stage at 7:30 p.m. July 14-17 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College. A pre-show with members of the cast and a small pit band will perform period rock and roll music from 7 to 7:30 p.m. to set the mood for the curtain rising.

Tickets are $20/adults and $15/youth age 18 and younger. Contact the NWFSC Mattie Kelly Arts Center box office at 729-6000 or purchase tickets on-line at www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.

Celebrity Waiter Dinner

The Fourth Annual Celebrity Waiter Dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. The Red Carpet Reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $75 per person. Corporate tables may also be purchased for $1,000. To purchase tickets or inquire about sponsorships, call the Chamber at 850-267-0683. 

Le Grand Cirque

Featuring more than 40 champion acrobats and performers from Brazil, Canada, Russia, Mongolia, Europe and China, Le Grand Cirque at Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach will continue throughout the summer. Performances are at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and matinees are at 2 p.m. Visit www.cirquedestin.com for days, times and ticket prices or call 866-973-9610.