5 things to do this weekend in Santa Rosa County

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1. ENJOY SPRING. The Spring Festival of Flowers is set 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 7 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 8 and 9 at Pensacola State College's Milton campus, 5988 Highway 90 in Building 4900. The event is hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Pensacola State College; admission is free. Festivities will include arts and crafts; plants, flowers and herbs; garden supplies; food and music; and educational booths. Contact Robin Vickers at 983-7134 or rvickers@ufl.edu to become a vendor or for more information.

2. GAMBLE FOR A CAUSE. The cost is $40 per person for a fundraising round trip to Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, and $15 free play at Hard Rock. Participants will depart 10 a.m. April 8 from Avalex Technologies at 2665 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze. They will return 10 p.m. that night. Payment must be made by cash or check payable to the American Cancer Society. Personal coolers and a snack are welcome. Contact Lyn Kelley at 343-1161 or lkelley@avalex.com to register.

3. EAT CRAWFISH. The second annual Milton High School Band Crawfish Festival is set 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 8 at the Park Avenue side of MHS's campus, 5445 Stewart St., Milton. The event will feature a Louisiana-style crawfish boil, children's craft area and vendor booths. Entertainment includes the MHS Bands and other local music groups. The MHS Band Parent Association will sell shish-ka-bobs as well as hamburgers, hotdogs and Coca-Cola products. Tickets cost $5 at the gate. Children age 5 and under enter free. All proceeds raised by the band will be used to purchase instruments and equipment. Call 983-5611 or visit miltonhighschoolband.com for more information.

4. EXPLORE THE PAST. Learn more about Milton's history from 4-6 p.m. April 8 at Bagdad Park Community Center, 4591 School St., Bagdad. Participants will explore what life was like in a possible slave cabin from Arcadia Mill; learn about incorporating archaeology; and hear stories from the Bagdad Sawmill. Guest speakers will include University of West Florida graduate students Emma Dietrich and Katherine Sims, as well as Bagdad son Dr. Richard Lewis. Bagdad Village Preservation Association will provide the display, which is sponsored by Blackwater Pyrates. This event is free to attend. Contact Captain Fins Up at 529-3565 for more information.

5. SHOP FOR BARGAINS. The Family Promise Spring Sale is set 8 a.m. until noon April 8 at Milton Storage Center, 6065 Vanity Fair Road, Milton. Admission costs $3. Housewares, automotive goods, clothing, furniture, bicycles and electronics are among available items. Proceeds go to Family Promise of Santa Rosa. Event organizers accept all forms of payment. Call 623-5300, or email familypromise123@bellsouth.net for more information.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: 5 things to do this weekend in Santa Rosa County