Eden Gardens State Park Wesley House lights up for the holidays, candlelight tour Dec. 7
Are you seeing visions of sugarplums dancing in your head? Are you anticipating the patter of tiny hooves on the roof? Perhaps you may enhance your excitement about the holidays by taking a trip to Eden Gardens State Park. Not only will you be able to enjoy the grounds, with the early blooming Sasanqua camellias; but you will find an additional treat to add to your enjoyment.
This Walton County tradition will afford you an oasis of peace, and a chance to step back in time to the late 1800s, to contemplate Christmas traditions of families in years gone by. In keeping with the style of the Wesley House, this year’s theme for decorating the rooms and exterior will be a Victorian Christmas. The house and all the rooms are open for tours from Thursday, November 14, 2024 – Jan. 6, 2025. The House is open for tours each hour Thursday to Monday each week, from 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. You will be learning the history of the house, and getting a chance to enjoy the very creative ways in which each room has been decorated by an amazing group of dedicated volunteers.
The groups who have offered their time and talent to provide us with this glimpse into the past are:
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- • Coastal Seniors of South Walton
- • Daughters of the American Revolution, West Florida Chapter
• Friends of Eden
• Grace Corradino and Family, FOE
• Green Thumb Garden Club
• Historic Point Washington Association
• Ladies of Impact 100
• Master Gardeners of Walton County
• Point Washington Medical Clinic
• Seaside Kids
• Seaside
• South Walton High School Community Garden Club
The Christmas Candlelight Open House at Eden Gardens will be held on Saturday, December 7, from 5 to 8 p.m., weather permitting. You will enjoy a ride through luminary lined pathways at Eden Gardens after sunset, and be able to tour the historic Wesley House at no charge. Live music, cookies, and hot beverages will be provided by the Friends of Eden in the Pavilion.
Make plans to come and to bring along any visitors you have during this celebratory time of year. It will be a visit to remember, and an interesting way to learn about the history of Walton County before we end its Bicentennial Year (1824-2024). This effort is sponsored by the Friends of Eden, the citizens support group that provides assistance to the state park staff to repair, maintain and enhance the park.
Learn more about the history of the Wesley House here.
The Park is opened from 8 a.m. to sunset each day, with a fee of $4.00 per vehicle.
Directions
Eden Gardens State Park is located in Point Washington, off U.S. 98 on C.R. 395.
For more information, call (850) 267-8320.
181 Eden Garden Road, Point Washington, Fl. 32459 ::MAP::
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Christmas Reflections in DeFuniak Springs Nov. 29 – Dec. 31
Bring the entire family any night of the week or come and stay the weekend in beautiful, historic DeFuniak Springs, Florida Nov. 29 – Dec. 31, 2024. The annual Christmas Reflections display will show off more than 10 million lights reflecting off a perfectly round spring-fed lake glowing in holiday splendor.
Enjoy a holiday family tradition that is a delight to all ages as the City lights up Chipley Park with the annual Christmas Reflection displays. A variety of Victorian, animal, and toy soldier cutouts, Santa’s workshop, and the grandfather clock ticking away are among the thousands of decorations that adorn these historic grounds. This event is orchestrated and hosted by the City of DeFuniak Springs.
Details:
- Day after Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve. Open 7 days a week, 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. The last car is at 9 pm. Lights are out by 9:30 pm. Open as the weather permits. For more information
Christmas Reflections Information: (850) 892-8500, ext. 1121, Christmas Reflections Hotline (850) 253-7642, Volunteer Information or Cancellation (850) 951 – 3030 or email
Admission:
- $5 per person
- Free for children 5 and under
- Tuesday Discount for Military: $10 for a carload of up to 6 people
- Season Passes a vailable for $50
Directions:
3 Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435. Entrance on 331 and Live Oak Ave.
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- From Pensacola/Crestview:
Take U.S Highway 90 East; turn right onto U.S Highway 331 South. Turn left onto Live Oak Avenue (first red light); follow the Christmas Reflections entrance path. - From Alabama:
Take U.S Highway 331 South to DeFuniak Springs; turn left onto U.S. Highway 90 West; turn right onto U.S Highway 331 South. Turn left onto Live Oak Avenue (first red light); follow the entrance to Christmas Reflections. - From Tallahassee:
Take Interstate 10 West to Exit 85 (DeFuniak Springs); turn right onto U.S. Highway 331 going north; turn right onto Live Oak Avenue; follow to the entrance of Christmas Reflections. - From U.S. Highway 98:
Take U.S Highway 331 North; turn right onto Live Oak Avenue (sixth red light); follow the entrance into Christmas Reflections.
_________________________________________________Ranger led nature hike at Camp Helen State Park Jan. 2
Enjoy a ranger-led nature hike at Camp Helen State Park on Thursday, Jan. 2, 20245 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::_________________________________________________
History tour at Camp Helen State Park Jan. 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:: - _________________________________________________
- From Pensacola/Crestview:
Guided plant walk at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Jan. 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:_________________________________________________
Enjoy a first day hike at one of our area Florida State Parks
First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks to encourage people to get outdoors. On New Year’s Day, hundreds of guided hikes will be organized in all 50 states. Kids and adults all across America will be participating in First Day Hikes, getting their hearts pumping and enjoying the beauty of a state park.Camp Helen State Park – 10 am
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 10:00 am – 11:00 am CST
Join a Park Ranger on a guided nature hike through Camp Helen State Park. The hike at Camp Helen will meander through several distinct natural communities, and Rangers will share information about the flora and fauna found throughout the park. You are invited to savor the beauty of Camp Helen’s natural resources with the comfort of an experienced guide so you may be inspired to take advantage of these and other local treasures throughout the year.
Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear closed toe shoes. Gather at the Visitor Center/Park Office
23937 Panama City Beach Parkway
Panama City Beach FL 32413 The park entry/admission fee is $4.00 per vehicle, $2.00 per bicyclist or pedestrian. Camp Helen is an Honor park, place your entry fee into the iron honor box at the park entrance. To pay with a credit card, use the QR code on the fee sign.
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::Grayton Beach State Park 10 am
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 10:00 am – 12:00 pm CST
Enjoy a 2 mile first day hike to celebrate the new year along the flatwoods trail. The hike will be guided by a park ranger who will provide information about the environment and park ecosystems. Meet at the Flatwoods trail entrance north of the main park entrance a few minutes before 10 a.m. Wear appropriate walking shoes, water bottle. Fees $5.00 per vehicle.
Grayton Beach State Park is located in Walton County, South of U.S. 98 off of Scenic Road 30A. Take county road 283 south from U.S. 98, turn left at the stop sign on 30A (approximately 1/4 mile east of the intersection of C.R. 30A and C.R. 283 the main entrance is on the right). ::MAP::
St. Andrews State Park
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 10:00 am – 11:00 am CST
Join in to celebrate the new year with a nature hike around Heron Pond Trail. Learn about some of the different natural plant communities in the park and spot wildlife on this one mile hike.
Address: 4607 State Park Lane, Panama City, Florida 32408 ::MAP::
Admission Fee:
$8.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.
$4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle.
$2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.Contact john.larson@FloridaDEP.gov
Henderson Beach State Park
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 10:00 am – 12:00 pm CST
Come enjoy a first day hike and scavenger hunt on a nature trail. The park will hold a scavenger hunt on our nature trail. Participants will track down and record a series of hidden letters throughout the trail and decipher the hidden message these letters present. Nature trail is open for recreational wandering.
Contact michael.schuchhardt@FloridaDEP.gov
Admission Fee:
$6.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.
$4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle.
$2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.17000 Emerald Coast Parkway
Destin, Florida 32541
(850) 837-7550Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 10:00 am – 12:00 pm CST
Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park staff will host a first day hike to celebrate the new year. The hike will be guided by park rangers who will provide information about the environment and park ecosystems. Red Cedar Pavilion Day use area
Contact evan.r.hill@FloridaDEP.gov
4281 East Highway 20
Niceville FL 32578Fees $5.00 per vehicle
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Americana concerts return to Camp Helen with a music festival finale
Americana Concerts in the Lodge at Camp Helen State Park are back and better than ever Saturdays from January 11-March 1 at 6:00pm.
Tickets will be available for purchase for a suggested donation of $15 directly on the Friends of Camp Helen website (www.friendsofcamphelen.org) beginning Friday, November, 29 at 8 am. Members of the Friends of Camp Helen will receive a secret link Friday, November 22 to purchase their tickets early. Ticket price includes park admission, food, and beverages.
There will be limited seats available for each show. The doors open at 6 pm and the music begins at 6:30 p.m.
January 11, 2025 – Little Mercies, a young trio of talented Tallahassee musicians who trade instruments around like passing a plate of biscuits around a table full of hungry children, kick off the season January 11. Nikki Talley along with exquisite guitar and harmonies by hubby Jason Sharp are a sweet trip down the Appalachian trail with a little Florida seafaring thrown in for texture will perform January 25th.
February 8, Ben Gage takes the stage. Although he comes from the rust belt of Ohio, he is anything but rusty.
February 22 – Crowd favorites, Mike and Maggie Mckinney are back on February 22. Lucky Mud SwampyTonk, Folkabilly, harmony and discord, dark and light from a Florida and beyond perspective.
The last Saturday show March 1 features Paul Kamm & Eleanore MacDonald, quintessential folk musicians with the rarest quality of combined stellar songwriting, beautiful musicianship and unreal vocals and harmonies.
For the first time ever, the grand finale of the series will be the Roots and Wings XII Festival Sunday, March 2, from 10 am – 6 pm.
Tickets are $50 and include parking, lunch, concerts, and workshops. Tickets will be available to the public Friday, November 29.
Roots and Wings XII is a one day music festival which includes morning workshops and afternoon concerts by some of the finest touring Americana singer/songwriters in the country today.
The festival begins at 10am with one hour morning workshops, free with the purchase of a ticket, in guitar/mandolin/fiddle (choose your specific instrument) (workshop I) followed by vocal/harmony (workshop II) and ends with songwriting (workshop III). These workshops follow each other so that everyone can attend all three. They are totally immersive and interactive, everyone gets involved. It’s a sharing experience when we believe everyone, at any level, has something to add.
Scholarships will be offered to younger musicians. Concerts begin after our lunch break (1pm to 1:45), also included with the purchase of a ticket, at 2pm with local favorite duo Lucky Mud, purveyors of SwampyTonk & Folkabilly, Florida style, followed by David Singley, jazz influenced guitarist, former touring backing guitar player and former Minnesota professor with poetic lyrics and soulful melodies turned solo singer/songwriter. The duo Paul Kamm & Eleanore MacDonald from Northern California are the quintessential folk singer/songwriters who are the complete package of vocal/harmony beautiful songs with meaningful, heartfelt messages for today and always. Our final performer, Wyatt Espalin hails from the heart of Appalachia, Hiawassee, Georgia. He brings big beautiful vocals, multi instrumental talents and powerful songwriting.