Upcoming Events and Entertainment 8-14

All area codes are 850 unless specified.

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.

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

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. 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 Perry's Legendary Seafood & Steaks 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.

Wednesday Night Concerts

Enjoy a free concert with The Shrimpboat Cowboys from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 25 in the Plaza on main stage at The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin.

Youth orchestra auditions

The Northwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra will hold auditions for musicians in 6th to 12th grade Aug. 22 and 29 in the orchestra room of the Music Wing at the Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College.

Auditions for interested advanced Strings will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 22. Auditions for woodwinds, brass and percussionists will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 29.

Registration forms and audition materials are available at www.imastringteacher.com. Call 651-4308.         

Junior Orchestra

The Junior Orchestra, a string ensemble of Northwest Florida State College, is open to young Okaloosa and Walton County string students (violin, viola, cello and string bass) in fourth through eighth grade who have at least two years of musical experience. The group meets from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday mornings. A registration fee for the semester is $125, payable at the first rehearsal Sept. 11. Call 651-4308.

Auditions: Schola Cantorum

Auditions will be held at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 23 and 30 in the music wing of the Mattie Kelly Fine and Performing Arts Center, Bldg. J, Room 312 on the NWFSC Niceville Campus for additional members for Northwest Florida State College’s Schola Cantorum. Auditions can be arranged by calling the director, John Leatherwood, at 830-2062. Individuals interested in auditioning should be able to read music. Previous experience reading music and singing in choral groups is desired.

Sandestin Labor Day and the Baytowne Art Expo.
Enjoy the Art Expo with music from 5-10 p.m. Sept. 3-5 at the Village of Baytowne Wharf.

Kids Rock The Block

Bring the family for a rockin' night of fun from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 4 on the Western Green in Rosemary Beach. Moonwalks, face painting, airbrush tattoos, arts and crafts with Gigi's, hula hoops, bubble machine and more are featured at the free event sponsored by the Merchants of Rosemary Beach.

Alys Sound

In celebration of Labor Day weekend, Alys Beach, in conjunction with Escape to Create, will host ‘Alys Sound’ from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 4 along the pedestrian path. In addition, live jazz will be performed by Sean Dietrich from 5 to 8 p.m. at Caliza, with artwork by Steve Penley at Caliza Pool.

Groovin’ On The Green

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

A Musical Farewell to Summer

The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation presents “A Musical Farewell to Summer” at 7 p.m. Sept. 5 at Grand Park in Grand Boulevard. Enjoy an evening of live music with David Seering featuring The Joe Occhipinti Orchestra. Food and beverages will be available for purchase by Cantina Laredo in Grand Park. Admission is $10, children under 12 free. Visit www.mattiekellyartsfoundation.com or call 650-2226.

Moonlight and Movies

Enjoy a Hollywood classic or new release under the stars at 8:15 p.m. Sept. 5 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.

E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center Open House

The E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center at Nokuse Plantation will host its first Open House from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 11. The exhibit hall will be open, guided hikes will be available, scheduled films will be featured, and activities for all ages will be scheduled. Drop in or pack a lunch and stay a while. The public is welcome.

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.

Car Show

Grand Boulevard at Sandestin and the Destin Porsche Club will host the Fifth Annual Charity Car Show organized by the North Florida Region of the Porsche Club of America from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 11. More than 100 cars, including Porsches, Lamborghinis, Lotus, Ferraris and BMWs, will line the boulevard of the Town Center. Admission is free and will include live music from Cheryl Jones. Call 654-5929. To register your car, contact Scott Roberts at 850-974-6060 or scottandjan@cox.net.

Yard sale

The Point Washington United Methodist Church Women's Group will have a yard sale from 9 a.m. to 3 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.

Taste of Home Cooking School

A night of fun can be had at the Taste of Home Cooking School show at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at South Walton High School. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. During this interactive two-hour event, watch culinary expert Michelle Roberts demonstrate 10 new recipes, from a sweet and zesty Apricot Beef Stir Fry to Cookie Dough Truffles and more. A gift bag will include an assortment of products and coupons, including two Taste of Home magazines.

Tickets are $10 and will be available at the studios of WZEP AM 1460 Radio Station in DeFuniak Springs or on line at www.wzep1460.com or TasteofHome.com. Call 892-5130.

Community Yard Sale

The Seaside Community Yard Sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Seaside Amphitheater. The largest yard sale in Walton County will have more than 100 vendors.

Download a registration form online at www.seasidefl.com/yardsaleregistration or request an application at 231-6107. 

Fifth Annual Camp Helen Park Ghost Walk and History Tour

Ghosts, spooks, pirates and witches will hang out at Camp Helen State Park from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 9 for an adventuresome evening of continuous storytelling and historic re-enactment.

The Fifth Annual Ghost Walk and History Tour, hosted by the Friends of Camp Helen, is suitable for children. Costumes are encouraged and flashlights are recommended. Tickets are $5/adults and $3/children 12 and under.

Camp Helen State Park is at 23937 Panama City Beach Parkway near the Walton/Bay County line. Call 215-4651 or e-mail lcherry@cdc-s.com.

Annual Arts and 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. Booth rental is $35 and table rental is $10. Call 231-2706.

Blue Angels Air Show

The Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, will close the 2010 season at their annual Homecoming Air Show aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola Nov. 11-13. Prior to the Blue Angels F/A 18 Hornet performances, the Blues’ C-130 Hercules transport known as “Fat Albert” will perform short field take-off and low level passes. Civilian and military aircraft will perform aerobatics throughout the day with the gates opening at 8 a.m. and shows starting at 10 a.m. A night show will begin at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 11 as aircraft light up the sky with full afterburner and pyrotechnics.

Admission and parking for all shows is free. Areas will be reserved for the physically challenged. Food and memorabilia will be available at numerous concession stands. Call 452-3100, ext. 1534 and 1539.