Learn about snakes that may be in your garden in DeFuniak Springs May 1
Rick O’Connor, Sea Grant Agent from Escambia County, will educate gardeners about snakes we may encounter while outside. Most are not dangerous, but beneficial to our ecosystem. Learn to identify common ones in our area. Afraid of snakes? Why not allay those fears by becoming more familiar with the species.
The program will be hosted by the Walton County Master Gardeners on Wednesday, May 1, at 10 a.m. at the UF/IFAS Walton Extension Office, 732 N 9th Street, DeFuniak Springs.
Light refreshments will be served, and Master Gardener Volunteers will be on hand to help with gardening questions and soil samples. This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Save your place by emailing waltonctymg@gmail.com and indicate whether you will attend in person or via zoom. For more information call (850) 892-8172.
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Ranger led nature hike at Camp Helen State Park May 2
Enjoy a ranger-led nature hike at Camp Helen State Park on Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 10 – 11 a.m.
Join in for a ranger-guided nature hike. Camp Helen boasts nine distinct natural communities throughout the park with varied flora and fauna. Learn about our rare coastal dune lake, Lake Powell, as well as the park wildlife. Hike is suitable for all ages. Dress for the weather; water and bug spray are recommended.
The Friends of Camp Helen are excited to be open for kayak and SUP rentals 7 days a week from 9 am – 5 pm. Reservations can be made online at www.friendsofcamphelen.org or by calling (850) 238-1900. Walk ins are also welcome.
Park Fees
There is an honor entrance station. The fee is $4.00 per vehicle and $1.00 per bicyclist or pedestrian. Click here for park website.
Driving Directions
Camp Helen is located at 23937 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach, FL, just west of the Phillips Inlet bridge on the Bay County and Walton county line. The entrance is south of U.S. Hwy 98. ::MAP::
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Gulf Coast Salute air show in Panama City Beach May 4 – 5
Get ready to witness the skies come alive in Panama City Beach on May 4-5, 2024 at the Russell-Fields City Pier, as we proudly present the inaugural Gulf Coast Salute Airshow. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast, a thrill-seeker, or simply looking for a memorable weekend with your loved ones, the Gulf Coast Salute Airshow promises excitement and entertainment like no other. The show will be simulcast on Wild Willie 100.1. Please expect heavy traffic during the weekend events, and subscribe to text updates by texting “PCBAIRSHOW” to 888-777.
Russell-Fields City Pier is located on the Gulf at the end of Pier Park Drive, Panama City Beach. For more information go to https://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com/events/special-interest/gulf-coast-air-show/
Air Show Schedule
Friday, May 3: Practice Day: 10:00AM – 4:00PM
Saturday, May 4: Show Day: 10:00AM – 4:00PM
Sunday, May 5: Show Day: 10:00AM – 4:00PM
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Artsquest Fine Arts Festival at Grand Boulevard May 4, 5
ArtsQuest, the 36th Annual Fine Arts Festival produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA), is pleased to announce the 2024 Festival’s Featured Artist, Bradley Copeland. Copeland’s work will be featured at ArtsQuest, a beloved May tradition taking place May 4th & 5th in Grand Boulevard Town Center‘s North Park.
Bradley Copeland is a prolific 26 year-old artist living in Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Bradley’s passion for art has existed for as long as she can remember. After moving to Florida’s panhandle in 2020, her passion transformed into her career. She has since participated in numerous solo and group shows as well as other festivals and events. Her story and artwork have been featured in many different publications, including the cover story of Emerald Coast Magazine. And last year, she was awarded South Walton’s Artist of the Year Award by Visit South Walton.
ArtsQuest will feature over 100 other artists exhibiting and selling their work in Grand Boulevard’s North Park. Mediums include Ceramics, Sculpture, Glass, Oils, Acrylics, Mixed Media, Photography, Sculpture, Metal and Wood, Jewelry, Works on Paper, and more. These exhibiting artists from around the United States will compete for awards and cash prizes totaling $10,000 that will be decided by distinguished guest judges including Olga Guy, Watercolor Artist; Allison Galloway-Gonzalez, of Galloway-Gonzalez Consulting; and Katie Kehoe Assistant Professor, Sculpture and Expanded Media, Department of Art (FSU).
The Festival will also feature a variety of activities and attractions for art enthusiasts of all ages. Attendees can look forward to art demonstrations, a CAA member gallery featuring many artists from The Foster Gallery, a Walton County student exhibit, a special exhibit from the CAA’s Prison Art program, an interactive public art installation, Silent Auction, continuous live music and entertainment, and “ImagiNation: where kids rule.” Continuing this year is the popular Art on Demand Live series featuring educational sessions throughout the weekend. Interested participants may register for these sessions on the Cultural Arts Alliance website in advance of the event. A full cash bar will be available throughout the weekend in Grand Park.
ArtsQuest is a rain or shine event. The festival is open to the public, and a $5 admission donation is requested. Visit CulturalArtsAlliance.com for more information about ArtsQuest as well as other Art Month events, which are supported in part by Visit South Walton.
Grand Boulevard is located at 585 Grand Blvd. Miramar Beach. For more information go to https://www.culturalartsalliance.com/
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Guided wildflower tour at Rock Hill Preserve in Chipley May 4
The Florida Wildflower Foundation is teaming up with Florida Native Plant Society and The Nature Conservancy to see the incredible habitats of Rock Hill Preserve on Sat., May 4, 2024 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Usually closed to the public, Rock Hill is a unique site privately owned and well-managed by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). An epic sandstone outcrop overlooks Longleaf pine savannas and seepage slopes. The outcrop resembles archaeological dolmens but was naturally formed through differential erosion of the Citronelle Formation. Nowhere else in Florida will you find such significant sandstone outcropping, and this unique habitat is also home to plant species that are very rare in Florida: Nuttall’s rayless goldenrod (Bigelowia nuttallii), Southern pine aster (Eurybia hemispherica), and more, as well as many rare lichens. The site also hosts a beautiful seepage slope with Yellow pitcherplant (Sarracenia flava) and other carnivorous plant species. TNC has effectively managed these fire-dependent habitats, so they remain open and biodiverse.
Trip cost: $10 for members and $20 for non-members. To join as a member, visit www.FlaWildflowers.org/support.
Difficulty: Moderate. This trip will entail 3-4 miles of hiking along forest roads and off trail in uneven and potentially muddy or wet terrain. Please come prepared in appropriate field attire and wear sturdy hiking shoes. A hat and/or other sun protection is also recommended. Please pack snacks/lunch and bring a refillable water bottle. This is a remote location with unreliable cell service. There are no bathroom facilities at the site.
The trip location will be emailed a few days before departure, along with details for a carpool meet-up location. Carpooling is encouraged to limit the number of vehicles at the site.
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History tour at Camp Helen State Park May 4
Enjoy a history tour of Camp Helen State Park from 10 – 11 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month.
Join park ranger staff for a guided history tour of the grounds at Camp Helen. Follow along as staff share park history from the Hicks family building the historic structures that still stand on the grounds, all the way through the colorful history of Avondale Textile Mill’s utilizing the property as their employee summer retreat. Please dress appropriately for the weather, and bring water and insect repellent.
Program is free with paid park entry of $4 per vehicle.
Event Essential Eligibility Criteria
For further questions, feel free to contact the office at Camp Helen at (850) 233-5059.
Driving Directions
Camp Helen is located at 23937 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach, FL, just west of the Phillips Inlet bridge on the Bay County and Walton county line. The entrance is south of U.S. Hwy 98. ::MAP::
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Emerald Coast Native Plant Fair in Valparaiso May 4
Join Paradise Plants and Palms for a fun-filled day of native plant shopping, community engagement and education. Knowledgeable vendors will help you select the best plants for your growing conditions and answer any questions you may have about native gardening. There will also be conservation booths setup for educational purposes. This is a kid friendly and pet friendly event.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Paradise Plants and Palms is located at 695 Valparaiso Pkwy., Valparaiso, FL. For more information call 850-460-5154.
Vendors:
Paradise Plants and Palms
The Native Plant Company
Revive Native Nursery
The Crazy Native Plant Lady
Sandhill Native Nursery
Ladybug Native Nursery
Clay by Kim
Saneka’s Legacy Corp
Longleaf Pine Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society
Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program
Food Trucks for Birds
Bunny-lizer Organic Fertilizer
Hannah’s Treasures
Food Trucks:
Frutas Locas
Beachy Queen
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Lionfish Festival May 17–18 in Destin
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Destin–Fort Walton Beach invite everyone to celebrate the 10th annual Lionfish Festival May 17–18 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. CT at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar and HarborWalk Village in Destin.
This two-day outdoor festival is free, open to the public and will include conservation and art booths, live music, an interactive kid’s zone and the world’s largest lionfish tournament, the Emerald Coast Open.
Tournament Details
Are you interested in competing with the best lionfish hunters in the world in the Emerald Coast Open? The tournament will run May 17–18, and include categories for most lionfish, largest lionfish and smallest lionfish with nearly $100,000 worth of prizes up for grabs! For official tournament rules and registration instructions, visit EmeraldCoastOpen.com.
Lionfish Restaurant Week
Sample lionfish at one of Destin–Fort Walton Beach’s featured restaurants during the Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Restaurant Week. Local chefs will highlight lionfish in unique dishes in the week leading up to the event to help bring awareness to the lionfish invasion in the Gulf of Mexico.
Schedule:
May 10 – The Boathouse Landing – Valparaiso Harbor
May 11 – La Paz Restaurante & Cantina
May 12 – Crab Trap Destin
May 13 – Jasmine Thai
May 14 – Beach Walk Cafe
May 15 – Harbor Docks
May 16 – The Harbor Tavern
May 18 – AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar
What is LRAD?
To increase public awareness about the lionfish invasion and encourage removal efforts, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) signed a resolution creating Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day in February 2015. Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day is a statewide day celebrated the first Saturday after Mother’s Day each year.
Lionfish Challenge
The 2024 Lionfish Challenge is approaching quickly. This summer-long tournament is open to everyone and is completely free to enter. Participants in the Lionfish Challenge have removed over 1 million lionfish from Florida waters since the program began in 2014! Are you up for the Challenge? Visit FWCReefRangers.com to register for the Lionfish Challenge. The Challenge begins May 24.
Questions?
Contact the FWC Division of Marine Fisheries Management at 850-487-0554.
Links
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City of DeFuniak Springs hosts Lakefest May 17, 18
There will be something for everyone at the annual DeFuniak Springs Lakefest May 17 – 18, 2024. LakeFest is an annual festival in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, celebrating safe, recreational activities for the entire family on the water and banks of beautiful Lake DeFuniak. The 2024 event is comprised of a fish fry, kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, toy duck hunts, hilarious cardboard boat races, and the thrill of watching hydro-flight athletes performing for the crowds. There will be live entertainment, waterslides, a dunking booth, and many other activities in the kids zone, a variety of food and merchandise vendors, educational vendors, exhibits, and the 2024 LakeFest Car Show “Under the Oaks” sponsored by Krewe de Yak.
The 2024 program will include overnight primitive camping for those who sign up in advance for an event or who are vendors, sponsors, and educational booth hosts. Personal paddle crafts are welcome. Paddle crafts will need to be unloaded and the vehicle removed from the Lakeyard by 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. Canoes and kayaks will be available to rent. The fee is $10.00 per 1/2 hour. A hold harmless form must be signed by the renter. All Lucky Ducks on the water must be turned in at the canoe and kayak rental booth. Only one duck per person. All winners must be present to win and winners will be announced at the amphitheater at 2:15 p.m. after the car show winning results.
For more information go to: https://www.defuniaksprings.net/1101/LakeFest
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Tupelo Honey Festival in Wewahitchka May 18
Under the great mossy oaks of Lake Alice, people come from all over the world come to the small community of Wewahitchka, Florida each spring to taste and take home the locally grown rare, delicious delicacy – Tupelo honey. This year, the Tupelo Honey Festival will be held at Lake Alice Park on May 18, 2024 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Home of the country’s finest Tupelo honey, farmers from the area will have booths of honey at the festival in many different sizes and packages, accompanied by food vendors, art & crafts vendors, and live music right on the banks of mossy Lake Alice.
For more information, go to: http://www.tupelohoneyfestival.com/
Lake Alice is located at 111 Lake Alice Park Drive, Wewahitchka, FL. ::MAP::
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Guided plant walk at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park May 20
You’re invited to a plant identification walk at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on the third Monday of the month.
The walk starts at 9:00 am at tram stop #2, and is led by Bill Kuenstler, Master Gardener and Master Naturalist. Learn about the many native plants at the park.
Driving Directions
Located in Santa Rosa Beach, the park is located 1/4 south of U.S. Hwy 98 on western end of Scenic Hwy. 30A. ::MAP:
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