The fourth weekend (Oct. 20-21) of the 9th Annual Beaches to Woodlands Tour of Santa Rosa County serves up several Halloween-themed events, colorful cyclists, horse poker ride and camping, outdoor yard art, locally-created pottery, a scenic run over the Garcon Point Bridge, antique car show, golfer’s weekend and a season-appropriate chili cookoff. Also ongoing are weekly trail hikes, Santa Rosa history lectures, corn maze, hay maze, farm tours and pumpkin patches and two free fishing opportunities. “The great thing about our ongoing activities is if you’ve been busy other weekends there are still chances to get out and explore,” said Karen Harrell, Coordinator of the Beaches to Woodlands Tour of Santa Rosa County. “The kids love to get out and experience the fresh air and run and play.” Included among the events are the Gulf Breeze Zoo “Boo at the Zoo”; Milton Ghost Walk; Fenner McConnell/Matt Wantz Century Ride; Holley-Hill Pottery and Art Studio Kiln Openings; Garcon Point Bridge Run for Education; NABOR Antique Car, Truck and Bike Show; Navarre Beach Golf Festival; Juana’s Pagodas Chili Cookoff and Volleyball Tournament; Hay Days and Poker Ride and featured outdoor yard art and opening of the new outdoor area at the Courtyard at Local Colour Art Gallery. Ongoing all month are the Sweet Season Farms Corn Maze, Holland Farm’s Pumpkin Patch, Tours and Hayrides; Dixon Haystackular; Whispering Pines Christmas Tree Farms “Family Fun on the Farm; Arcadia Mill “Secrets of Santa Rosa Archeology & History in Your Own Backyard”; Florida Trail Hikes and Fall Foliage Zip Line Tours at Adventures Unlimited.
SCHEDULE Oct. 20 and 21 Boo at the Zoo –10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Children are invited to don their costumes and enjoy the zoo decked out for the Halloween holiday in a not-so-scary environment. The event features a Halloween Hay Maze, Monster Foam Play Party, animal encounters, and face painting. A trick or treat trail features stations for children to enjoy toys, treats and treasures. Businesses are encouraged to help sponsor the stations. Tickets are $12 for adults and children. Tickets are available through Oct. 27. Pre-purchase available. Details: 932-2229 or www.gulfbreezezoo.org.
Oct. 20 Arcadia Mill “Secrets of Santa Rosa Archeology & History in Your Own Backyard” – Marisa Foster, UWF Archeology Grad Student “Paradox on the Blackwater: Preliminary Investigations of the Swingbridge Wreck Site” Details: 626-3084 or www.historicpensacola.org/arcadia.cfm.
Oct. 20 Holley Hill Pottery and Art Studio Kiln Openings, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Gulf Coast Kiln Walk 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 sea life of the Gulf Coast. Details: Brenda or Marty Stokes 939-2744 or martyandbrenda@bellsouth.net
Oct. 20 Courtyard at Local Colour Art Gallery. 3 – 7 p.m. This growing local art gathering spot marks the grand opening of its new courtyard. The gallery supports the work of more than 80 local artists and musicians. Details: Sharon Myers-Mongue, 982-1894 or www.localcolourfl.com.
Oct. 20 5th Garcon Point Bridge Run for Education Run 4.8 mile across the scenic Garcon Point Bridge to north end of bridge. Participants will be bused across to the starting point. $25 adults, $20 under 18 (Oct. 17); $30. Register on-site morning of the run or at active.com. Details: 983-5043.
Oct. 20 Fenner McConnell/Mark Wantz Century Cycling Ride. Day of registration at 7 a.m. and ride starts at 8 a.m. at the Milton Community Center. Options include 18, 43, 62 and 100-mile rides through the Blackwater River State Forest. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northwest Florida and the Rails to Trails project. Details: Paula Shell 433-5437 or www.wfw-pensacola.com.
Oct. 20 12th Annual Navarre Beach Car, Truck and Bike Show – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 100 historical cars from all decades are on display in this popular event held at Navarre High School. Features music, food and vendor booths. Details: Dana Shelley, 939-3870 or www.navarrecarandbikeshow.com.
Santa Rosa County Horse Assistance Council "Hay Days Poker Ride"- Trail ride for a cause! Event includes a day trail ride, camping, live music Saturday night,mini-seminars and a “horsey stuff barnyard sale!” Campsites available in the Coldwater Recreation Area. Sponsored by the Santa Rosa Horse Assistance Councile. Details: 736-5287 or 582-8573. Registration form available at www.srcahc.org
Oct. 20, 21 Navarre Beach Golf Festival –Golfers can play a lush rolling terrain at the Club at Hidden Creek then take their clubs to Tiger Point Golf Club for a course that hugs the Santa Rosa Sound. Designed to deliver the full Gulf Coast golfing experience, this first-year event is presented by United Way of Santa Rosa County, with support from Navarre Properties and Hampton Inn & Suites, Navarre. On Saturday, a four-man scramble will tee off with a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start at Hidden Creek. On Sunday, Tiger Point will host a best ball round, also beginning at 7:30 a.m. Each club will offer golfing activities for kids. Teams of four that register by Sept. 30 pay $300 for both days of golf, which includes two rounds of 18 holes each. After Sept. 30, the fee is $400. To register, call United Way of Santa Rosa County at 850-623-4507 or visit www.unitedwaysrc.org for more information.
Oct. 21 19th Annual Charity Chili Cookoff and Volleyball Tournament at Juana’s Pagodas & Sailor’s Grill in Navarre. 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 – 2 p.m. with tastings from 2 – 4 p.m. Volleyball registration 10 a.m. and tournament at 10:30 a.m. raffle. Four-person co-ed teams any skill levels. Will be paired according to skill level. Details: 336-2660 or juanaspagodas.com. Sept. 29-Oct. 31 Holland Farms Tours, Pumpkin Patch and Hay Rides – Homer Holland Rd., Milton, Fla. Open 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday. The region is known for peanuts and Holland Farms is one of the biggest suppliers year-round. The Pumpkin Patch and Hay Rides are $5 each or $8 for both which includes a kiddie hay bale maze, petting zoo, double hill slide, corn box and. Details: BJ Holland, (850) 675-6876 or www.hollandfarmsonline.com.
Sept. 29-Nov. 4 Sweet Season Farms Corn Maze, Milton, Sat. – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun. 1 to 5 p.m. and Fridays only in Oct., 6-10 p.m. This 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 our corn cannon or have a family picnic at designated areas on the farm. Fun special events planned and themed days including Oct.6 “Pink on the Farm Day” sponsored by Cat Country 98.7. Visitors are encouraged to wear pink and bring a canned good for Manna Food Bank and get $1 off admission. Other special promotions include Oct. 13 Cancer Survivor Day (free gift for survivors); Oct. 20 – Scout Day (free patch) and Oct. 27 the 4th Annual Trick or Treat at the Maze and Costume Contest. Details: Trent or Sharon Mathews (850) 675-3573 or www.sweetseasonfarms.com.
Sept. 29-Oct. 31 Family Fun on the Farm – Whispering Pines Christmas Tree Farms –Hwy. 89 North Penton Road, Allentown Community – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. The event features “Fresh from Florida” products on sale; cow calling contest at 4 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday; farm animals on display and a playground area with campfire will feature a campfire with volunteer musicians “picking, grinning and singing” with an Wii Outdoor Video Screen. There will also be hayrides and a public educational demonstration of planting baby trees, trimming the trees and how trees are good for the environment. A cartoon cutout for taking Christmas Card photos and a ” Wacky Playhouse.” Haunted hay rides through haunted woods are offered October 20, and 21. Details: 449-4316 or www.floridachristmastree.com. Avalon Landing RV Park Free Saltwater Fishing – Sundays in October, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 2444 Avalon Blvd., Milton, Fla. Just south of I-10. The park provides loaner fishing poles and tackle for visitors to explore the inlets and marshes at the resort. Introduces and familiarizes locals and visitors to the unique saltwater fishing and recreational opportunities available on Santa Rosa County’s many saltwater inlets and estuaries, cultivating a love for our local fishing, serene waterways and outdoor experience. Also offers special Beaches to Woodlands RV rates in October. Details: (850) 995-5898 or www.avalonlandingrvpark.com.
Birding Gulf Breeze Zoo – 5701 Gulf Breeze Parkway, 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: 932-2229 or www.gulfbreezezoo.org.
Free Kid’s Fishing Weekends at Navarre Beach Pier, under age 12 children fish free weekends in October. Details: 936-1794 or www.navarrepier.com
Florida Trails Association Hikes – throughout the month of October. Hikers of all skill levels are invited to join adventures through some of Northwest Florida’s most beautiful terrain. For information on the Florida Trails Association’s monthly events, 725-4408 or www.meetup.com/ftawesterngate/
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: 934-2600 or www.nps.gov/guis
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Beaches to Woodlands enters week 4