Weekend Two Tour Highlights: Free Kids Fishing Clinic, Munson Heritage Festival, Mazes, Haunted Hay Rides and Christmas Tree Tagging, Sea Turtle Extravaganza, Depot Days, Elvis, St. Rose of Lima International Festival
The 11th Annual Beaches to Woodlands Tour of Santa Rosa County will mark week two with a variety of family-friendly things to do.
“Our first full weekend of events was a resounding success highlighted by the appearance of two-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson at the Sweet Seasons Farm Corn Maze carved and designed in his likeness. The weather was great and crowds were, too, at all of our venues. We hope this great weather continues throughout the month because we have some more great events and festivals to look forward to," said Karen Harrell, tour coordinator.
Farming events continue all month-long at Sweet Seasons Farm, Aquaponics Tours at Clear Creek Farm and a maze, peanuts and hayrides at Holland Farms. Also, fall season zipline tours continue at nearby Adventure Unlimited and Sundays there is free saltwater fishing at Avalon Landing RV Park.
Additional weekend highlights include the following:
Event details are listed below and available at www.thebeachestowoodlandstour.com.
Schedule through Oct. 12
Oct. 10 15th Annual Navarre Chamber Golf Classic, The Club at Hidden Creek, 3070 PGA Boulevard, 8 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. shotgun start. Proceeds donated for a scholarship for Navarre High School golf team member. Details: 850-939-3267 or www.navarrechamber.com Oct. 11
West Florida Railroad Museum Depot Days Celebration- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. West Florida Railroad Museum, 5003 Henry St Milton, Fla. Now more than 100 years old, the museum is one of the last remaining L&N depots that has not been converted for commercial use and is still on the location on which is was built. The museum houses many L&N and Frisco railroad artifacts as well as the seven railroad cars. A fun family event. Donations are encouraged. Details: George Wilson, (850) 501-6249 or www.wfrm.org.
Oct. 11 Free Kid’s Fishing Pole Giveaway and Clinic at Navarre Beach Pier. 8 a.m. First 500children under 12 receive a free fishing pole, t-shirt and hat. Participants are encouraged to pre-register at fishnavarre.com or if available, day of event. The event includes free bait and fishing instruction. Details: 850-529-8727or or http://www.navarresciencestation.org/.
Oct.11 and 25
Sea Turtle Extravaganza. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Activities will be at the Navarre Beach Park Pavilion and clear-bottom kayaks will be available to visit the near-shore reefs. 8740 Gulf Blvd. Navarre, Fl. Details: 850-565-0279 or www.navarrebeachseaturtles.org
Oct. 11 50's Fling with Elvis in the House, 5614 Church St. 7 p.m. 50's Fling Elvis will be in the house in person. Enjoy music of the 50's swing dancers and food. 50's attire encouraged. Tickets $20 and $10 children 12 and under Details: Michael Johnson 850-293-5349, michael@villagehomesandland.comor bagdadvillage.org
Oct. 11 Unlimited Horizons of the Emerald Coast Psychic Fair, Quality Inn, 51Gulf Breeze Pkwy., Gulf Breeze, Fla. 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Cost is $5 per person; children ages 3-11, $2. Spend the day with some of the area’s most talented and gifted psychics and mediums. Visit a few outstanding vendors and have you aura read – all under one roof, for one day only. Non-profit club raising $ through this event held twice yearly to fund speakers brought in monthly. Meet the second Sunday of each month at the Gulf Breeze Recreation Center from 2:30 p.m. To 5:30 p.m.. Also host the spring Health, Life & Spirit Expo. Details: www.unlimited-horizons.org/
Oct. 10-11 Friends of the Milton Library Sale – Fri. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sat. 9 a.m. to Noon. Milton Public Library, 5541 Alabama Street, Milton, Fla. Hard backs $1, paperbacks 4 for $1. Bring your own bag. Details: 850- 850-981-7323 or http://friendsofthemiltonlibrary.wordpress.com/
Oct. 10-12 32nd Annual St. Rose of Lima International Fall Festival- . Fri. – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ; Sat. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sun. noon to 5 p.m. 6450 Park Avenue, Milton, Fla. International foods, live entertainment, dancing, bingo, petting zoo, children’s activities and raffle. 1950s Coffee Café. Admission: Free. Details: Kate Lewis (850) 983-9936 or (850) 982-4345 or www.stroselima.parishonline.com
Oct. 11 St. Rose of Lima 5k Run, 8 a.m. St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 6451 Park Ave., Milton, Fl . Cost: $15 students, $15 One-Mile Fun Run, $20-$25 early registration, $30 day of race. Music and food after the race. Register at www.active.com. Details: iffrunwalk@mail.comor 850-623-3600. Oct. 11-12 Munson Community Heritage Festival – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, Blackwater River State Forest. One of the most popular events on the tour held at Krul Lake in the Munson, Fla. Visitors learn about old-time ways through hands-on demonstrations. There is a Civil War re-enactment camp, Native American displays, wood carving’ basket weaving, making corn-shuck dolls, dulcimer making, shoe cobbling; cross-cut sawing, old-time circular sawmill operation, turpentining, displays by local museums and more. A car show is set for Saturday, along with a muzzleloader shooting competition at 2 p.m. An archery contest is set for 2 p.m. on Sunday. Both days will feature live music, with a church service set for Sunday morning and a gospel tent coordinated by Blackwater Baptist Church.Cost: $5 per vehicle. Details: www.munsonheritagefestival.com
Oct. 11, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 31 & Nov. 1 Haunted Hay Rides & Christmas Tree Tagging at Whispering Pines Christmas Tree Farms – 1603 Penton,Hwy. 89 North Penton Road, Allentown Community, Milton, Fl. Gates open at 6:30 p.m and rides start at dark. Details: Mike Kelly 850-304-1559. Details: 850-449-4316 or www.floridachristmastree.com.
Oct. 12 Bridge to Bridge 5k, Race starts on the Pensacola side of the 3-Mile Bridge and ends in Gulf Breeze at the Bridge Bar at the base of the bridge. Cost: $35. Details: Katie Hagensick, 850-435-9222 or katie@werunwild.comor www.b2b5k.com
Events Staged All Month
Adventures Unlimited Fall Foliage Zipline Tours, Canoeing, Ropes Course, Camping and Kayaking- Fall is a great time to enjoy the many natural attractions at Adventures Unlimited located just north of Milton, Fla., in the Blackwater River State Forest. October is a great month to absorb the changing colors through a Fall Foliage Zipline Tour. Weekend stays at the resort’s camping sites or wooded cabins are available along with the ropes challenge course, canoeing and kayaking majestic Coldwater Creek. Details: (850) 623-6197 or (800) 239-6864 or www.adventuresunlimited.com.
Arcadia Mill “Secrets of Santa Rosa Archeology & History in Your Own Backyard” Saturdays in October, 11 a.m. Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site, 5709 Mill Pond Lane, Milton, Fla. Arcadia Mill is Florida’s largest antebellum industrial complex. The weekend lecture series events is presented by the University of West Florida, the Florida Public Archeology Network, West Florida Historic Preservation, Inc., and Arcadia Mill. Details: (850) 626-3084 or www.historicpensacola.org/arcadia.cfm.
Birding Gulf Breeze Zoo– 5701 Gulf Breeze Pkwy., Gulf Breeze, Fla. Explore the Gulf Breeze Zoo’s Walk-in Aviary and native bird observation area. Enrichment programs and meet-and-greet events scheduled throughout the month. Details: (850) 932-2229 or www.gulfbreezezoo.org.
Gulf Islands National Seashore, Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center – 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, Fla. Ongoing programs all month long. Be sure to stop by and pick up a Beaches to Woodlands program and map. Details: (850) 934-2600 or www.nps.gov/guis
Santa Rosa County History Museum– 5234 Willing Street, Downtown Milton, Fla. Saturdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Explore Santa Rosa County’s rich history and the ongoing effort by area volunteers to preserve and protect area treasures including the Imogene Theater. Details: (850) 623-9866 or www.santarosahistoricalsociety.com
Sept. 27-Nov. 2 Holland FarmsPumpkin Patch and Maze -Homer Holland Rd., Milton, FlaInformation: Mon-Sat 8am-6pm Sunday 10am-6pm (ONLY DURING PUMPKIN PATCH SEASON) Prices- $10 wristband per person for pumpkin patch (includes one pumpkin), hayride, and all other activities. $6 for single pumpkin. Maze only- $6 per person.
Details: BJ Holland, (850) 675-6876 or www.hollandfarmsonline.com.
Sept. 27 -Nov. 2 Sweet Season Farms Corn Maze 2260 Horn Rd., Milton, Fla.. Sat. – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun. 1 to 5 p.m. and Fridays 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in October with the exception of Oct. 31 for Halloween. This agritourism event features two-time Masters champion and Milton High School graduate Bubba Watson as the honoree in the 2014 maze design. The event gives families the opportunity to enjoy a day on a working Santa Rosa County Farm. Visitors can spend time navigating their way through an 8-acre corn maze, playing on 20 types of fun farm themed equipment including a playground, hayrides, cow train rides, corn popper jumping pillow and more. Details: Trent or Sharon Mathews (850) 675-3573 or www.sweetseasonfarms.com. Oct. 5, 12, 19 and 26 Saltwater Fishing At Avalon Landing RV Resort, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. 2444 Avalon Blvd., Milton, Fl. Locals and visitors enjoy complimentary saltwater fishing on Sundays in October. Wendy Behnke, 850-995-5898 or www. Avalonlandingrvpark.com
Oct. 1-31 Clear Creek Aquaponics Farming Tours, 6065 Clear Creek Road, Milton, Fl Reservations are required. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children, with 10 percent discount for active military and groups of 10 or more. The farm is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week Oct. 1-31, except Thursday and Sunday mornings. Special events include: Oct. 18, 9 a.m. – NoonContainer Gardening Workshop and Oct.25, Composting Workshop.
Details: Email only, raywanda@aol.com or visit clearcreekfarm.net.
Events Down the Road
Oct.14 Meet the Artist at a Special Place, 1900 Hwy. 87, Suite H, Navarre, Fl 32566. 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Featured artist is Tami Hostler. Details: Michelle Massey, 850-368-9500 or aspecialplacenavarre.com
Oct. 18 6th Annual Run for the Reef 5k & 10k and Kid’s One Mile Fun Run- 8 a.m. Navarre Beach Pier, Navarre Beach, Fla. Features an out-and-back course along scenic Gulf Blvd. New this year is a 10k race. Event is a fundraiser to help “Make Navarre Snorkelicious,” a benefit for the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary. Details: 850-939-6973 or www.navarrebeachmarinesanctuary.com. Oct. 18 Coastline 5k/10k,Coastline Calvery Chapel – 1122 Oriole Beach Rd, Gulf Breeze, Fl. 8 a.m. Details: Randy Pitman850.932.8197 or randy@coastlinelife.com Oct. 18 Clear Creek Aquaponics Farming Tours Gardening Workshop, 6065 Clear Creek Road, Milton, Fl. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Reservations required. Details: raywanda@aol.com or visit clearcreekfarm.net.
Oct. 11, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 31 & Nov. 1 Haunted Hay Rides & Christmas Tree Tagging at Whispering Pines Christmas Tree Farms – 1603 Penton,Hwy. 89 North Penton Road, Allentown Community, Milton, Fl. Gates open at 6:30 p.m and rides start at dark. Details: Mike Kelly 850-304-1559. Details: 850-449-4316 or www.floridachristmastree.com. Oct. 18 15th Annual Fenner McConnell/Mark Wantz Blackwater Heritage Century Ride. Cost: $45. Distance rides: 18, 40, 62 and 100. Day of registration at 7 a.m. and ride starts at 8 a.m. at the Milton Community Center 5629 Byrom St., Milton, Fla. The ride is through the Blackwater State Forest. A portion of the ride will be on the Blackwater State Heritage Trail (selected as one of Florida’s most scenic greenways). The 100/62/40-mile routes include some challenging hills, while the 18 mile is entirely on the rails to trails. All routes include rest stops. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northwest Florida and the Boys and Girls Club of Emerald Coast. Details: Paula Shell (850) 433-5437 or 1-866-646-3518 or 850-433-5437 or bbbsnwfl.org
Oct. 18 14th Annual Navarre Beach Car, Truck and Bike Show -8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Navarre High School, 8600 High School Blvd., Navarre, Fla. More than 100 historical cars from all decades are on display in this popular event. Features music, food and vendor booths. Details: Dana Shelley, (850) 939-3870 or www.navarrecarandbikeshow.com.
Oct. 19 21st Annual Charity Chili Cookoff and Volleyball Tournament, Juana’s Pagodas & Sailor’s Grill, 1451 Navarre Beach Causeway, Navarre Beach, Fla. Event is a fundraiser for Caring and Sharing of Santa Rosa County. $10 to enter a chili pot, commentate or the volleyball tournament. Ceramic chili mug for entry fee. Bring pots to set up between Noon to 2 with tastings from 2-4. Volleyball registration 10 am and tournament at 10:30. Raffle. Four person co-ed teams any skill levels. Will be paired according to skill level. Details: 850-336-2660 or juanaspagodas.com. Estimated attendance: 500
Oct. 18-19 and 25-26 Boo at the Zoo 2014- Trick-or-Treat with all your favorite animals at the Gulf Breeze Zoo! The Zoo's very special Trick-or-Treat Trail invites children to don their costumes and enjoy the zoo decked out for the Halloween holiday in a safe and not-so-scary environment. The event features over 25 candy stations, special animal encounters, daily costume contests, 3 bounce houses, face painting and balloon artists. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and children. Tickets are available through Oct. 26. Limited pre-sale tickets available. The zoo is located at 5701 Gulf Breeze Pkwy., Gulf Breeze, FL. For more information, (850) 932-2229 or visit www.GBZoo.com/zooboo
Oct. 24-25 Holloween Murder Mystery Dinner Show, 5614 Church St. Bagdad, Fl., 6 p.m. The Dream Plyers Theatre presents Halloween Mystery Dinner Show at the 1880 Historic Bagdad Museum. Tickets are $45 which includes dinner and the show. Details: Michael Fletcher 850-255-8892 or michael@villagehomesandland.com
Oct. 24 UF/IFAS West Florida Research & Education Center Fall Harvest Dinner,4253 Experiment Road, Hwy 182, Jay, FL 32565, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Event includes entertainment by comedian Jody Fuller and the band “ATouch of Blue.” Tickets are $50 in advance, $60 at the door. There will be a silent auction. The proceeds from this event will be used to convert an existing equipment building at the Jay Research Facility into a conference facility for faculty, students, and the public. Details: 850-393-7334 or http://wfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/
Oct. 25 5K Dead Pirate Glow Run/Walk, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Public parking lot by Juana’s Pagodas, Navarre Beach Causeway, Navarre Beach. Prizes for Best Pirate costumes and Glow runner costumes. Event features a DJ and music and after party. Register at www.active.com. Cost: $25. Details: Tina Hernandez at 850-218-8487 or kreweofkaribbean.org Oct. 25 Clear Creek Aquaponics Farming Tours Composting Clinic, 6065 Clear Creek Road, Milton, Fl. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Reservations required. Details: raywanda@aol.com or visit clearcreekfarm.net.
Oct. 24-25 Science Spookatular by the Sea presented by the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station. Free. From creeps of the deep, an endangered species cemetery, to science that glows in the dark, amazing sea creatures await you. Explore sea-themed stations for tricky-treats and experience science by some of yoFur favorite teachers. The family friendly event features glow in the dark science demonstrations, spine chilling dissections, haunted beach walk, hands-on activities, and crafts for children. Event is from 5 p.m. -9 p.m. Admission is $5 per person, children under 2 are free. Pre-register at www.navarresciencestation.org. Details: (850) 623-3868. 850-449- 4295. Oct. 24-25 Ghost Walk, Imogene Theatre, 6866 Caroline St; Milton, Fl. Walks start at 6 p.m. each day. Not your typical “ghost” walk, this event features historical characters in period costume and the walk will feature up to 10 stops. Proceeds are used to help with the maintenance costs of the Imogene Theatre. Cost is $10 or free for under age five. Details: http://santarosahistoricalsociety.com
Oct. 25 Bagdad Plein Air Paint Out, Village of Bagdad. Dragonfly Gallery, 6815 Caroline Street, Milton, Fl. 32570. Artists meet at 8 a.m. to register and then paint. Artists meet at gallery in late morning to frame and hang work. Work is judged and prizes are awarded. Morning breakfast snacks and lunch are provided to participants. Reception and prizes are awarded at 1:30 p.m. at the gallery. The public is invited to observe artists at work and attend the reception. Paintings may be purchased at the reception. Cost to participate: $35. Details: 850-981-1000 or 850-910-0561 or thedragonflygallery.org or santarosaarts.com.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: See Beaches to Woodlands Weekend 2 Highlights here