Upcoming Events and Entertainment 7-31

All area codes are 850 unless specified.

Food donations

Shelter House is collecting donations of unopened, canned and non-perishable food items that summer tourists may have left over after their stay on the Emerald Coast. Food donations will be used to feed the women and children who stay in the emergency shelter. Donations may be dropped off at 102 Buck Drive in Fort Walton Beach or 78 Lynn Drive in Santa Rosa Beach.

Florida Trail Association

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

•Aug. 11: Hike in downtown Pensacola at 6 p.m. with dinner following. Call 207-7390.
•Aug. 13-15: Camp/bike/hike/swim at Falling Waters State Park at 8 a.m. Call 434-8861.

•Aug. 14: Bring your canoe or kayak for a float trip down Yellow River from Milligan to Gin Hole Landing at 9 a.m.  Eglin permit required.  Call 682-6098.
•Aug. 18: Hike in downtown Pensacola at 6 p.m. with dinner following. Call 207-7390. 
•Aug. 22: Bring your canoe or kayak for a float trip on Blackwater River from
Kennedy Bridge to Peaden Bridge at 9 a.m. Call 484-9111.
•Aug. 24:  Monthly meeting at 6 p.m. at Bayou Blues Restaurant in Niceville. Visitors
welcome. Call 682-6098.
•Aug. 25: Hike in downtown Pensacola at 6 p.m. with dinner following. Call 207-7390. 
•Aug. 28: A three -mile hike on the Jackson Trail to Peaden bridge at 8 a.m. followed by a swim in the river. Lunch afterwards at the Gator Café in Baker. Call 776-5147.

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 The Conch Republic from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 9 on the Village Green in Carillon Beach. Bring chairs or blankets, a cooler and snacks. Call 234-7819.

•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:

•Aug. 11: Moreland & Arbuckle

Wednesday Night Concerts

Enjoy a free concert with Roy Schneider Duo from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 11 in the Plaza on main stage at The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin.
•Aug. 18: Grady Champion

•Aug. 25: The Shrimpboat Cowboys

Moonlight and Movies

Enjoy a Hollywood classic or new release under the stars at 8:15 p.m. Aug. 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.

Pro Arte Chorale

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 about the habitat of the dolphins, what they eat and which ones can be seen in Florida, at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 7.

•Ask the Rangers questions at breakfast at 9 a.m. Aug. 14. 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 the differences between venomous and non-venomous snakes and how they help the environment at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 19. 

•Join a Beach Mouse interpretive program and learn about their habitat and behavior at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 26.

Financial Seminar

A Wine and Cheese Small Group Financial Seminar, hosted by Arbor Wealth Management, will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Aug. 10 at 8955 Emerald Coast Parkway,
Suite 104,
in Miramar Beach. Call 608-6121 to reserve seating.

Workshop

The City of DeFuniak Springs will hold a workshop regarding the facility planning update at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Chautauqua Building, 96 Circle Drive in DeFuniak Springs.

Student orientation

South Walton High School will have Orientation from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 10. Students may pick up their schedules for the 2010-2011 school year and meet their teachers.

Van R. Butler Student Orientation

Van R. Butler Elementary School will host student orientations for the 2010-2011 school year Aug. 11. Kindergarten students and their parents are invited to attend “Sneak-Peek” for a chance to meet their teachers and become familiar with the school. Sneak Peak will last from 9 to 11:15 a.m. and is only for kindergarten age students. Teachers for other grade levels will not be available during this time.

Students in grades 1-5 can stop by the school on the same day between 1:30 and 3 p.m. to meet their teachers. Class rosters for all grades will be posted just prior to orientation.

Students planning to attend Butler for the first time are encouraged to register for school as soon as possible to insure appropriate plans are made for our student enrollment. The school office is open during the summer from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The Sandestin Music Festival
Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort presents for the first time The Sandestin Music Festival Aug. 13 and 14. The event is free and open to the public.

Scheduled performers include:

Aug. 13:

•6 to 8 p.m.: Marty Dodson & Kree Harrison — Hammerhead’s Bar & Grille
•8 to 10 p.m.: James Slater & Lauri White — Rum Runners Dueling Piano Bar

•10 p.m. to midnight: Delbert McClinton & Jeffrey Steele — Funky Blues Shack
Aug. 14:

•7 to 10 p.m.: Steve Cropper, Delbert McClinton, Lee Roy Parnell and Band plus special guests — Village of Baytowne Wharf Events Plaza Stage

Endless Summer Fling

The Band of Oz will headline the Endless Summer Fling from 6 to 11 p.m. Aug. 14 in the Magnolia Ballroom at the Village of Baytowne Wharf. Ticket price of $75 includes entrance to the event, a buffet dinner and an opportunity to bid on items through both a silent and live auction. All proceeds benefit Children’s Volunteer Health Network, Children in Crisis and the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation. To make reservations, call 864-4242.

CAA jewelry workshop
Learn how to make a Cha Cha bracelet made entirely with sterling silver and beads when the Cultural Arts Association of Walton County presents a daylong jewelry workshop with artist Mary Yates on Aug. 14. Cost is $60/CAA members, $70/non-members plus a $25 supply fee. To register, call 622-5970.

Rock the Beach 2

The iconic Lynyrd Skynyrd will perform live for the Rock the Beach 2 concert at 6 p.m. Aug. 15 on the Boardwalk at Okaloosa Island. Bring a beach chair. Ride the free shuttle from Fort Walton Beach or Destin and be eligible to win a prize.

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.

Grit & Grace

“A Box of Grace” will be presented by Grit & Grace at 7 p.m. Sept. 9-11 and 2 p.m. Sept. 12 at Walton High School in DeFuniak Springs. Admission is $10/adults and $5/students. For tickets, call 892-0872 or e-mail hinsonharmony@yahoo.com.

Yard sale

The Point Washington United Methodist Church Women's Group will have a yard sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 11 at the church, 1290 N. Hwy. 395. Proceeds will go to the new garden. Anyone wanting to donate good useable items can bring them to church after 3 p.m. Sept. 9 and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 10.

Via Colori

The 13th Annual Via Colori will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 18 at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin Town Center. All proceeds benefit Seaside Neighborhood School. Enjoy live music as artists paint on the streets. To participate, call 231-0396. Art supplies, lunch and goodies are provided for artists.

Craft fair

The Point Washington United Methodist Church annual craft fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 16 in the new gymnasium.