Celebrate Mardi Gras In Niceville!
New Orleans-style food, a great band and fun for the whole family will highlight a Mardi Gras celebration 5- 9 p.m., Sat., Feb. 11, at 3rd Planet Brewery in Niceville. Sponsored by the Northwest Florida Symphony Guild, a non-profit organization, the fundraiser will support the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra (NFSO) and the Symphony’s youth programs.
Featured New Orleans-style cuisine provided by Niceville’s Café Bienville will include chicken or shrimp gumbo, red beans and rice and muffuletta sandwiches for $5 per item. A food truck will also be available. The band “Purple Monkey” will entertain from 6 to 9 p.m.
Join your neighbors and friends at this fun-filled family-friendly event that will include free face painting for children along with various games.
Play Golf for the Heritage Museum
Call The Heritage Museum today to register for the 7th Annual Heritage Museum Mardi Gras Golf Scramble. (850) 678-2615, or visit heritage-museum.org to register. Registration deadline is Wed., Feb. 15. Included will be a buffet lunch, door prizes, raffles, silent auction and the chance to win a car! Tee off will take place Sun., Feb. 26, 8:30 a.m., at Regatta Bay Golf Course. 465 Regatta Bay Blvd., Destin.
Renew Your Vows for Valentine’s Day!
Looking for a romantic Valentine’s Day present for your spouse? Celebrate your love and commitment by officially renewing your wedding vows at LuLu’s Tropical Re-Union, 2 p.m., Sat., Feb. 11. Couples can pre-register anytime at the restaurant or at LuLu’s website to be LuLu’s will have Certificates of Reunion ready for each couple. There will be complimentary champagne toasts, wedding cake, flowers for the “brides” and photos for the couples. Prizes will be awarded to the couples who were married the longest, shortest, and who are dressed the most festively. LuLu’s Destin is located at the foot of the Mid Bay Bridge, next to Legendary Marina. To register or for more information, visit www.LulusFunFoodMusic.com/destin or call (850) 710-5858.
Help Purchase A New CT Scanner For Sacred Heart
Tickets are now on sale for the Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation’s 2023 Emerald Ball to benefit Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast, Saturday, February 4 at 6 p.m. at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort Golf and Spa. Celebrating its 20th anniversary and presented by Howard Group, Grand Boulevard and Silver Sands Premium Outlets, proceeds will go toward purchasing a new computerized tomography (CT) scanner for both adults and kids. The previous two events each raised approximately $200,000. A new CT scanner will improve diagnostic image quality and save patients time during the scan. The hospital plans to install the scanner next year. Tickets are $150 which includes reserved seating, dinner, two drinks, live music and dancing. Visit sacredheartemeraldball.com. For more information on tickets or sponsorship, contact Lisa Wainwright at lisa.wainwright@ascension.org or 850-278-3702. Guests are encouraged to wear shades of emerald for this elegant evening. The event also includes a wine and bourbon pull, a GIF photo booth and an opportunity drawing for a $5,000 shopping spree at McCaskill and Company.
Have a blast for Habitat!
Calling all ladies! Habitat for Humanity Walton County invites you to kick off the 2023 Women Build Season at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa for its signature women’s luncheon Friday, Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The 5th Annual Hard Hats & High Heels luncheon is back and better than ever as Habitat celebrates GALentine’s and female empowerment. This event is brought to you by Presenting Sponsor Vacasa and Founding Sponsor The Merchants of Rosemary Beach. Tickets ($75) can be purchased online at HardHats2023.eventbrite.com. “This has become a sellout event year after year, and we are thrilled to host an event that is loved by so many women in our community and helps them build strength, stability and self-reliance,” said Teresa Jones, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Walton County.
This year’s featured speaker is Nancy Francis. As a woman who co-founded a creative consulting company with dozens of Fortune 500 clients, Nancy helped U.S. and global teams change their mindsets as they developed and launched successful new products.
The silent auction, featuring furniture pieces donated to the ReStore and then upcycled by local creatives, will feature work by local artists Lee Hensley of Lola’s on 30A, Jennifer Jones of Compass Builders of Florida and Laura McKee of L. Hamilton & Co. Help Habitat raise money through fun games, raffles, and a silent auction. Funds raised will help us work toward our vision of assisting families in our community to build safe and affordable places to call home. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Email manager@waltoncountyhabitat.org for more information.
Tour Beautiful Homes for CAA
Valentine’s weekend typically means romantic dinners and flowers for most, but for locals and visitors alike, it also signals the highly anticipated annual Valentine Tour of Homes. You will enjoy a two-day self-guided tour through some of South Walton’s most unique homes representing diverse architectural styles, beautiful interior design, historic significance and fine art collections. And, you’ll be helping to raise funds for the CAA’s “Art For All” Program. To volunteer, visit culturalartsalliance.com/volunteer. All tickets are valid for the entire weekend with one entry per house. Please note that as most of these homes are private residences, they cannot be guaranteed as ADA compliant.
The CAA is committed to ensuring access for all to its programs, including for people with disabilities or limited mobility. Please notify the CAA office in advance for questions regarding access, and best efforts will be made for accommodations. Hours February 11, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.; February 12, 12– 4 p.m. Tickets: culturalartsalliance.com/valentine-tour-of-homes. Call 850-622-5970 or visit culturalartsalliance.com.
Do You Love Football and Dogs?
Join Dog-Harmony for Love & Football: A Dog Promenade from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Grand Boulevard. Fur parents are encouraged to dress up their pups in a uniform of their favorite football team or a Valentine’s Day theme. The event will feature Gulf Coast gourmet from JC’s Gourmet, hot dogs served by the Residence Inn by Courtyard, as well as beer and wine offered for donations. The $15 entry fee includes a professional digital photo of your doggie celebrity sponsored by Mills Photo Design and the chance to win fabulous prizes! Prizes will be awarded in two weight categories for Best Dressed, Most Creative and Most Enthusiastic pups. Visit dog-harmony.org to learn more, volunteer, donate or adopt.
Enjoy the Beauty of Camellias
The Friends of Eden Gardens State Park invite you to the annual Camellia Festival Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Eden Gardens State Park. Stroll through amazing gardens full of unique Camellias, see displays and demonstrations, historic reenactments, and learn about Camellia propagating and growing. Camellias will be available for a donation from the nursery. Attendance is free with paid park admission ($4 per car). Additional parking for the event will be at Bay School with tram service to the park.
Are You An Art and Food Lover?
Make plans to attend Blue Dog benefiting Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation at Bijoux on Thurs., Feb. 9 at 11:30 a.m. This one-day-only creative event includes the culinary masterpieces of Chef Jack McGuckin of Bijoux Restaurant + Spirits in Miramar Beach. Purchase Tickets at mkaf.org. Also, See George Rodrigue’s Blue Dog paintings like never before in this mini-exhibition of rarely seen original artworks from the artist’s private collection, shared by his widow, Wendy Rodrigue. This unique experience benefits the ongoing partnership between MKAF and Wendy’s Life & Legacy Foundation, engaging students of all ages through storytelling and the arts.
Join the Opera Brunch on Saturday, February 18 at Crosspoint Methodist Church in Niceville, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Choctaw Bay Music Club, proceeds will benefit music students through scholarships of roughly $10,000 yearly. Students entering college as music majors, graduating high school seniors who have studied music, and children desiring to attend summer music camps are all eligible to receive the scholarships. The event includes a brunch, live music presented by the Pensacola Opera Artists in Residence Program and a guest singer as well as a raffle. A 501c3, the Choctaw Bay Music Club was organized in 1977 and has held this event year for more than 20 years. Tickets are $40 adults and $25 for students and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
