ONGOING


George Snow Hill's 1941 Post Office Mural "Pulpwood Logging" Homecoming

Old Post Office Antiques 6821 Caroline Street Milton, Fla. All month. Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.. Sun. Noon to 5 p.m. Details: (850) 232-9548 or MainStreetMilton.org

The mural was commissioned for the Milton Post Office located on Caroline Street. Home to Milton's first post master Kate McDaniel the formal dedication was on Nov. 11, 1940. The Old Post Office is an historical anchor building and the gateway to Milton. The building is the new home of Main Street Milton's Information Center.

 

Tours of Jay Historical Museum. Highway 4 Jay, Fla

Open Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Details: 675-6480 or jmd@erec.net

The Jay Historical Museum preserves the unique heritage of North Santa Rosa County including, but not limited to, Munson, Berrydale, Fidelis, Chumuckla, Allentown, Mr. Carmel and Jay. The living history museum provides schoolchildren ,civic groups, local citizens, history lovers and researchers written records, artifacts and photographs of pioneer life.

 

Gulf Islands National Seashore, Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center

1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, Fla. Details: 850) 934-2600 or www.nps.gov/guis

Ongoing programs all month-long! Be sure to stop by and pick up a Beaches to Woodlands program and map!

 

Adventures Unlimited. Back to Nature Santa Rosa County

Tours and excursions on the hour 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. all month.

Participants with a Beaches to Woodlands program and map receive $10 off canoe rental.



 



Sept. 24-26


Phunfest, Jimmy Buffet Parrothead Celebration

Juana's Pagodas and Navarre County Park on Navarre Beach, Fla. Thurs. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fri. 9 a.m. - Sat. 12:15 p.m. to 11 p.m. Cost: $25. Details: 850-501-2244 or www.panhandlephunfest.com.

Parrot Heads from all over the country will be coming to Navarre for three days of fun in the sun. Live bands, arts and crafts, food vendors. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Fisher House for the 'comfort home' being built on Eglin Air Force Base. Hotel specials available for event. Check website.



Sept. 29-Oct. 31


Dragonfly Flight "Sand to Sawdust" Juried Exhibit

Dragonfly Gallery, 5188 Escambia St, Milton, Fla. All month Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Cost: Free admission. $25 for art entry. Details: 850-981-1100 or sracf.org.

This juried art exhibit offers a display of many different art mediums and artist creations showcasing SantaRosa County. The Dragonfly Gallery is a mission of Santa Rosa Arts and Culture Foundation, Inc.



Oct. 2


Main Street Milton First Friday

Downtown Milton, Fla. Friday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Cost: Free. Details: 850-626-6246 or www.mainstreetmilton.org

Downtown Milton comes alive with Music, Cars and Fun on the first Friday of the month, starting in Feb and running through Nov. Businesses stay open till 8 pm providing a great opportunity to shop, eat and have a great time.



Oct. 3-Nov. 8


Sweet Seasons Farm Corn Maze

2260 Horn Road Milton, FL. Saturdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays Noon to 7 p.m. Details: 850-675-3573 or www.sweetseasonfarms.com

Agritourism event gives families the opportunity to enjoy a day on a working Santa Rosa County Farm. Visitors can spend time navigating their way through a 5-acre corn maze, playing on the farm themed playground, enjoying hayrides, cow train rides, firing a corn cannon or have a family picnic at designated areas on the farm.



Oct. 3


A Splash of Spirit, St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church

7810 Navarre Parkway, Navarre Fla.6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.. Cost: $10 per person. Details: 850-939-2261 or www.staugustinesnavarre.org

Event includes a silent auction of local art and wine tasting. A fundraiser for the "Building Our Future" fund of the parish.

 

Riverwalk 5k, Parks and Recreation. Downtown Milton

Cost: $15 until Noon Oct. 2 or $20 day of race. Details: 850-983-5466 ext. 208 or www.cityofmiltonpr.nexo.com/riverwalkrun

Unique USATF-certified 5k course takes participants through historic parts of Milton on to a section of the Blackwater Heritage State Trail and ends at the Riverwalk Boardwalk. Post race party with live music, awards. Proceeds to help youth sports and senior citizen activities.

 

Coastal Encounters, Navarre Beach Marine Science Station

Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost: Free. Navarre Park on Navarre Beach, Fla. Take left at stop sign and follow road to last left. Park in lot north side of building. Details: 850-623-3868 or chrismv@ufl.edu

Open House and Grand Opening event for the new Navarre Beach Marine Science Station. Activities include touch tank, kayaking and fishing, arts and crafts. Educational displays focus on protecting area waterways and other coastal habitats.

 

Blue Jeans & BBQ Festival & Bull Riding Competition at Hayes Ranch

5097 Berryhill Road, Milton, Fla. Cost: $10 advance or $15 at door. Children under 5 free. Details: 850-208-7122 or www.covenanthospice.org

Bull riding competition, live entertainment, food and crafts, kiddie korral and drawings. Guests encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Event is a benefit for Covenant Hospice.

 

Santa Rosa Art Association Community Yard Sale

SS Dixon Primary School Playground on the south side US 90, Pace, Fla. Cost: Free admission. Details: 850-623-8493 or 850-983-8310 or www.santarosaartassociation.com

Fundraising event to benefit the Santa Rosa Art Association Teacher Grant Program.

 

Holley Hill Pottery Gallery/Studio Open House

Corner of Hwy 87 and Buckeye Dr Navarre, Fl. Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: Free. Details: 850-939-2744 or martyandbrenda@bellsouth.net

The Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society has also been a Beaches to Woodlands venue for 5 years. The Society has the largest wood fueled anagama kiln and the only reconstructed wood fueled kiln from the 1940's in the State. Holley Hill Pottery has been making pottery in Santa Rosa County for over 30 years using local clays capturing the lifestyle, scenery and sealife of the Gulf Coast.

 

Taste of Navarre

2 p.m. - 4 p.m., Navarre Park

Showcase event of area restaurants. Sample food and wine and enjoy live jazz. Hosted by the Navarre Chamber of Commerce. Tickets: $20 in advance or $25 if available day of the event. Details: 850-939-3267 or www.navarrechamber.com



Oct. 3-4


20th Annual Jay Peanut Festival, Gabbert Farm

3604 Pine Level Church Road, Jay, Fla. Cost: Free. Details: 850-675-6823

One of the largest and most popular events held annual along the Gulf Coast. Peanuts - green, boiled, roasted, fried, and candied. Baked goods with peanuts. Event includes arts, crafts, antiques, anvil shoot, grist mill, a pig chase, a Pet Parade & Contest, inflatable rides, train rides, wagon rides, pony rides, wall climbing, games, face painting, t-shirts, tattoos, hair-coloring, foods of all kinds. The 1930s Farm Museum will be open for tours with a surprise addition. The antique shop will also be open. Live entertainment will be available both days; Saturday-mixture of music, Sunday-Gospel music. A church service will be held Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for those wishing to attend.

 



Oct. 4th


Bagdad Village Preservation Association Presents Dr. John Bratten

2 p.m. at the Bagdad Community Center, corner of Pooley and School Streets in Bagdad, Fla. Cost: Free. Details: 850- 293-5349 www.bagdadvillage.org

The Bagdad Village Preservation Association will offer a very special program to the public in conjunction with the celebration of the 450th Anniversary of the Spanish discovery of this part of Florida. Dr. John Bratten, Chairman of the Archaeology Institute at UWF will share his department's most current findings of local Spanish shipwrecks with artifacts and other records of interest. This annual meeting of the BVPA will also share news of other history-related activities including the Dec. 5 Annual Christmas Heritage Tour in Bagdad,, new books and authors, Museum Gift Shop selections, and refreshments.



Oct. 6 and 20


Dinner and Line Dancing at Red Barn Bar-B-Que

5887 Highway 90, Milton, Fla. Tuesdays Oct. 6 and 20 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Cost: Music and dancing free. Dinner extra. Details: (850) 723-4052

Line Dance for free with instruction and great music by Kingry's Kickers. Partners not needed.

 



Oct. 9


Friends of Milton Library Book Sale

5541 Alabama St Milton Fla. Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost: Free. Details: 850-626-9853 or www. friendsofmiltonlibrary.org

Gently used book sale at bargain prices. Event is a fundraiser for the Milton Library.

 



Oct. 9-10


Navarre Beach Fall Festival of the Arts '09

Highway 98 & the Navarre Bridge at Navarre Park. Friday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sat. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: Donations. Details: (850) 939-7964 or www.gnbaa.org

An International Festival of Art, Music, Song and Dance. Friday is "Latin Night" in the Park - Latin music on the GNBAA stage in Navarre Park. Saturday art displays, music, song, dance groups, entertainment, food, etc. featuring the International members of our community. Event showcases cultural experiences from many cultures in the area: Latin, Philipino, Native American, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Middle Europeans, etc. to showcase the wonderful and diversified community we live in.

 



Oct. 9-11


3rd Annual Butterfly Festival

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Panhandle Butterfly House 8581 Navarre Pkwy., Navarre, Fla. Cost: Donations. Details: 850-623-3868 or www.panhandlebutterflyhouse.org

Popular festival highlights the annual migration of the Monarch Butterfly through Northwest Florida. See for yourself the butterfly life cycle, our butterfly nursery, and butterflies in flight. There is also a notable collection of mounted butterflies from around the world.

 



Oct. 10


Santa Rosa County Horse Assistance Council (SRCHAC) Horse Fair

Chumuckla Arena. Chumuckla, Fla. Cost: Details: 850-916-3490 or srchorseassistance.org

Horse fair designed to showcase and educate on the healthcare, maintenance, training and ownership skill for owning horses. Regional event draws equine enthusiasts from as far as New Orleans, Birmingham and Tallahassee.

 

Blackwater Heritage Trail Bike Festival

Blackwater Heritage Trail Visitor's Center 5533 Alabama St. Milton, FL. Sat. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost: Free. Details: 850-758-5305 or www.blackwaterheritagetrail.org

Bicycle enthusiasts from around the region and as far as Louisiana showcase different kinds of bikes including unicycles, four-wheel cycles, low rider muscle bikes and more. Includes a bike contest and prizes.

 

Run for the Reef 5k & 1-Mile Kid's Fun Run

Navarre. Friday, packet pickup 3 p.m. -7 p.m. Sat. packet pickup 6 a.m. 5k race 7:30 a.m. Kid's Fun Run 8:30 a.m. Cost: Fun run $10. 5k $18 before Sept. 10, $22 after and $25 day of race. Details: 850-677-1875 or www.navarrebeachmarinesanctuary.com/run-for-the-reef

The Run for the Reef is a benefit fundraiser for the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary to make it "Snorkelicious!" The run features a beautiful out and back Certified 5K (3.1 mile) course paralleling the Gulf of Mexico. Features a 1-mile kid's fun run along the Nature Trail of Navarre Beach Park that is closed to motorized traffic and parents can accompany their children on the run. Runners receive inaugural Run for the Reef T-Shirt for Helping Make Navarre Snorkelicious. The run benefits the creation of snorkeling and diving reefs at Navarre Beach through the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation 501 (c) 3. After party and awards at Juana's Pagodas on Navarre Beach. Special rates on website from local lodging.

 

St. Rose of Lima International Fall Festival & Sunset 5k Run

6450 Park Avenue, Milton, Fla. Friday 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.; Sat. Noon to 10 p.m. and Sun. Noon to 5 p.m. Admission: Free. Details: Vendor applications (850) 477-8220, (850) 623-8493. 5k Run: 850-623-8458. Public information: 623-3600. www.fallfestival.ptdiocese.org

The festival grounds are located behind the classic Spanish-style St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. Event includes Sunset 5-K Run/Walk. The festival features free admission, continuous musical entertainment and a variety of ethnic and All American favorite foods! games are offered for children, and carnival rides for all ages. Vendors will offer jewelry, toys, decor, health items and more. This year's festival offers a chance to win $5,500 in cash prizes. Colorfully decorated booths feature Polish, Italian, Cajun, Hispanic, Filipino specialities as well as seafood chowder & Fish Po'Boys, Elephant Ears, Ice Cream, fried Twinkies, and more. Also new is a '50's-style Coffee Cafe.

 



Oct. 10-11


Munson Community Heritage Festival

Krul Recreation Area, Munson, Fl. Cost: Free. Details: 850-957-6140 or www.fl-dof.com

Held at scenic Krul Lake Recreation Area, this festival features heritage artisans, live bluegrass music, and living history exhibitions on old-time ways of life in the rural Florida panhandle; nearby Red Rock Masonic Lodge and Munson Community Volunteer Fire Department also provide festival activities.

 

125th Anniversary of Mae Edwards Memorial United Methodist Church

5052 Mulat Road in Milton, Fla. Sat. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Cost: Free. Details: 850-626-9567

Theme is "Celebrate The Past... Seize The Future." Event is open to the public. Heritage Artists will be present demonstrating their crafts-of-the-past. Games and hands-on arts venues for the children. Quilts will line the pews in the church during the 'old-fashioned singing.' Complimentary old-fashioned picnic. A "Circuit Rider Preacher" will ride to church on Saturday from the south part of Mulat Road on horseback. The 125th Anniversary oral history of Mae Edwards will be shared by church members dressed in 1884-2009 clothing during October 11th church service. Founded in 1884, church venues will also include the celebration of Mulat Elementary School that was a physical building on the present church site. The one-room schoolhouse held sessions at present church location in beginning in 1896 six months a year.

 



Oct. 11


Chili Cookoff and Volleyball Tournament at Juana's Pagodas

Navarre Beach, Fla. Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $10 for volleyball, $5 to enter chili cookoff. Public free to watch. Details: 850-939-2130 or www.juanaspagodas.com.

Charity event held at the lively Juana's Pagodas restaurant and entertainment complex on Navarre Beach. Entry fees donated to Caring & Sharing of South Santa Rosa County. Vball players should arrive around 11:30 for registration, 4 Person teams for A, B+ & B-. Chili cookoff participants should bring their precooked & warmed chili in a crockpot between 2 p.m. -4 p.m. Chili ballots handed out to everyone present. You be the judge!

 



Oct. 16-17


Octoberfest

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 4257 Gulf Breeze Pkwy., Gulf Breeze, Fla. Fri. 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Sat. 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Cost: Free admission. Details: 850-934-9802 or www.goodshepherdgulfbreeze.org

Popular annual event includes German food, live entertainment, church and local crafters; great food; outstanding local entertainment (The Sawmill Band on Oct. 16); rides and games for the children.

 



Oct. 17


11th Annual Fenner McConnell/Matt Wantz Blackwater Heritage Century Ride

Starts at Milton Community Center, 5629 Byrom St. Milton, Fla. Cost: $25 pre-registration at www.active.com or $35 day of event. Details: 850-549-3646 or wfw-pensacola.com

Event is sponsored by West Florida Wheelman. The ride starts on the Blackwater Heritage Trail. Ride distances are 42, 62 and 102 miles, and include stocked rest stops, fantastic volunteers and beautiful scenery. Registration includes pre-ride and post-ride food, event T-shirt, limited sag support, well marked and signed roads and maps.

 

2nd Annual Mediacom Garcon Point Bridge Run for Education

Meet at Lowe's Parking Lot in Gulf Breeze, Fla. for bus (last bus leaves 7:10 a.m.) to race start at north end of the Garcon Point Bridge in Milton, Fla. Race starts at 7:30 a.m. Cost: $20 under 18, $25 over 18 before Oct. 14. $30 after Oct. 14. Details: 850-380-3383 or www.santarosa.k12.fl.us/sref

This scenic 4.8 mile race takes you from one end of the Garcon Bridge in Milton, Fla., to the peninsula of Gulf Breeze, Fla., across the Santa Rosa Sound. Packet pickup is Oct. 16 , 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at West Navarre Intermediate School, 1970 Cotton Bay Lane, Navarre, Fla., or B. C. Russell Elementary School, 3740 Excalibur Way, Milton, Fla. Day of race registration and packet pick-up starts at 6:00 a.m. in Lowe's parking in Gulf Breeze. There is no parking available on north side of bridge. Lodging specials available for out of town guests.

 

Centennial Celebration for L&N Depot

5003 Henry St. Milton, Fla. Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: Free. Details: (850)623-3645 or www.wfrm.org

The Centennial Celebration will include historic displays from many local exhibitors, including vintage tractors, turpentine tools, spinning and quilters, civil war renactors will be camped on the property. Three different scale model railroads will be operating and our riding train will be available for the children. Music on Saturday will feature local school choirs and bands, Sunday's entertainment will feature Jourdan Pace and Rusty Whitfield. Meals and drinks will be reasonably priced, admission is free and The Museum displays and restored railroad cars will open for touring.

 

Gulf Islands National Seashore "Soundside Serenade"

Sat. 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Naval Live Oaks Picnic Area, 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, Fla. Cost: Free. Details: 850-934-2634 or www.nps.gov/guis

An "Arts in the Parks" event. Enjoy an afternoon of music and fun.

 

9th Annual Navarre Car and Bike Show, hosted by NABOR at Navarre High School

Entry registration 8 a.m., judging Noon and Awards 4 p.m. Public welcome Sat. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: public admission is free. Entry registration fee $25 until Oct. 12, $30 after that date. Details: 850-939-3870 or www.navarrecarandbikeshow.com

Features a host of whacky racers, hyped up Harley's, collectible classics, and rare vintage autos. Event features music, vendor booths and bouncy fun for the kids. Event is a fundraiser for Navarre High School sports teams.

 

Main Street Nights Summer Concert Series

S. Willing Riverwalk Park, Downtown Milton, Fla. Sat. 6 p.m. – 8 p.m

Free outdoor concert series, which runs May - October is the hottest summer spot every third Saturday night downtown Milton. This concert features the music of Rusty Whitfield. The popular series features local artists representing a range of genres including rock, pop, country, blues and folk. Enjoy live music, fresh air and a beautiful view. All ages show. Bring a lawn chair. Details: 850-626-6246 or www.mainstreetmilton.org.

 

Pet Nation 6th Annual Halloween Pet Costume Contest

1890 Andorra St. Navarre, Fla. Sat. 2 p.m. Cost: Free. Contestants must pre-register due to the large volume of entries. Registration begins Sep. 17 and runs through Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.. There are no new entries the day of the event. Register by phone or come into store for form. Details: 850-936-8201 or www.petnation.org.

A pet-lovers' favorite event! Categories: Dogs under 40 pounds, Dogs 40 pounds and over, Cats, Ferrets, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters/gerbils/rats/mice, Reptiles, Birds and Exotic pets. Hard to dress pets or pets that spook easily may have a cage or carrier decorated and entered with the pet inside! All contestants receive a "goody bag" of pet products just for entering, and huge pet product prize packages are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in every category. Onlookers encouraged to bring a chair and arrive early for a good spot.

 

Holley Hill Pottery Gallery/Studio Open House

Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Corner of Hwy 87 and Buckeye Dr Navarre, Fla. Cost: Free. Details: 850-939-2744 or martyandbrenda@bellsouth.net

The second weekend event for the Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society in the Beaches to Woodlands Tour. The Society has the largest wood fueled anagama kiln and the only reconstructed wood fueled kiln from the 1940's in the State. Holley Hill Pottery has been making pottery in Santa Rosa County for over 30 years using local clays capturing the lifestyle, scenery and sealife of the Gulf Coast.

 



Oct. 23-24


Ghost Walk

Imogene Theater, Hwy. 90. Downtown Milton, Fla. Tours leave at 6 p.m. Fri. and Sat. Cost: $10 donation. Details: 850-572-5775 or www. santarosahistoricalsociety.com

A fun way to learn about Milton's past, while meeting some of its more famous, and infamous citizens along the way. It consists of a one mile walk through the historical district, led by tour guides dressed in period costumes. These guides regale tour goers with tidbits of history while leading them to approximately 13 locations that are haunted by real, live ghosts, who recreate scenes from their past. Perhaps they relate tales of woe, perhaps tales of foolishness, but all haunt the same area where they once walked in happier days past.

 

Main Street Milton's Annual Haunted House

North Willing Street, Downtown Milton, Fla. Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. - until. Cost: $5. Details: 850-626-6246 or MainStreetMilton.org

Tour through a historic downtown Milton building filled with monsters, ghosts, and other scary stuff. This is a fundraiser for Main Street Milton.

 



Oct. 24


ReCycle

South Santa Rosa at Navarre Park, Navarre, Fla. Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free to public. $50 vendor fee. Details: 850-939-7964 or www.gnbaa.org

Environmentally-friendly event. A day to bring your recyclables and enjoy local art. A major recycler of electronics will be on site to take your old computers, cell phones, televisions ($10 fee) and any other electronics you want to get rid of in an environmentally safe way.

 



Oct. 25


Navarre Beach Ghost Chase Triathlon

Navarre Park, Navarre Beach, Fla. Sat. 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. Cost: $50 before Sept. 15, $60 to Oct. 15 and $75 race day. Spectators free. Details: 850-549-5454 or www.racepensacola.com

Event held at the new Navarre County Park. It includes a 300-yard swim, 8-mile bike ride and 2-mile run. Open to athletes of all levels. Post-event party and awards ceremony.

 



Oct. 28-31


Main Street Milton's Annual Haunted House

North Willing Street, Downtown Milton, Fla. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. - until. Cost: $5. Details: 850-626-6246 or MainStreetMilton.org

The second weekend of the event. Tour through a historic downtown Milton building filled with monsters, ghosts, and other scary stuff. This is a fundraiser for Main Street Milton.