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01 February 2011
January 2012
2012 Calendar Packed with Fun Festivals
By Chuck Spicer
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It wasn’t that long ago that you could count off the number of Forgotten Coast major festivals and special events using just YOUR fingers and toes. Now you need an abacus or even a computer. There is not only a significant event happening every month of the year, there is nearly one every weekend. Residents and visitors will be able to pick and choose among more than 150 fun activities.
Thanks in large part to the several tourist development councils in Forgotten Coast counties. Your bed tax dollars redistributed and put back to work in an effort to lure you back again. And to stay another day. Also, a reminder that the vast majority of our festivals are conducted by volunteers and you encouraged to says thanks and forgive minor mistakes. Plus many are for a good local cause. Ranging from volunteer fire departments to our four-legged friends.
LOTS OF (SEA)FOOD !
If you plan on attending the majority of 2012 festivals you are advised to also participate in an exercise program. Food (especially seafood) is the central theme of many of these celebrations. Ranging from oysters, stone crabs and mighty mullet to blue crabs, scallops and a combination all Florida Seafood.
And it isn’t just about celebrating fresh, local seafood. We’ve got gumbo in Mexico Beach and Lanark Village, pork in Eastpoint and Beacon Hill, ribs in Eastpoint, chili on St. George Island. A Chef’s Sampler in Apalach
Then there are special events focused on our fabulous fishing. The Big bend and MBARA build artificial reefs with their proceeds. BlueWater Outriggers loves “Wounded Warriors” and combines with two other tourneys to form the $5,000 Panhandle Slam. C-Quarters Marina contributes to the Leukemia Foundation. Wewahitchka is not only the Tupelo capital but also the flathead catfish capital. There are also several kids fishing tournaments along the Gulf Coast.
Into exercise? Two triathlons are staged on St Joe Beach and we run for Apalachicola Bay in October; run at the Chili Cookoff, Florida Seafood Festival and at Wakulla Springs.
We celebrate Monarch butterflies and even grunt for worms. You can tour extra special homes on St. George Island and in Apalachicola.
Hey, we even got us some culture! For the first three months of the year the Dixie Theatre in Apalachicola (“The Heart of the Forgotten Coast”) presents a ton of entertainment while the Trinity Episcopal Church in Apalach also enriches the cultural scene. Port St Joe has a “First Fridays” art event.
And talk about music! It’s wafting in the Gulf winds every month. The Scallop Fest in Port St Joe (“The Constitution City”) has added music and the Nashville Songwriters are a real blast in Port St Joe, Indian Pass and Mexico Beach. Apalach has really jamming “Second Saturday” celebrations during the summer plus a blues concert. Good vibrations and bluegrass at worm gruntin’
Observe “primitive” craft demonstrations at Ochlockonee State Park and Wakulla Wildlife at Wakulla Springs State Park. All military veterans are honored at Camp Gordon Johnston Days in March and on Veterans Day in Carrabelle. Browse among the antique & classic boats in Apalachicola and watch the truly unique fashion show at the Carrabelle Riverfront Festival.
For those with an artistic appreciation 10 days in May are set aside for our annual Plein Air Paintout, which takes place all across the Forgotten Coast. You can attend and purchase produce at Saturday markets in the summer in Port St Joe and Sopchoppy.
Let’s take look at upcoming major activities month by month. On January 13-14 there’s an Oyster Benefit Cookoff with proceeds going to the Apalachicola Volunteer Fire Department.
The first ever St. George Island Tour of Homes will be held Feb. 4 with ticket sales limited to 200. On Feb. 7 the island hosts its annual Snowbird Day for all visitors to the area. Entries close Feb. 15 for the annual St. George Plantation juried art show. Feb. 18 is the date of the 14th Annual Mexico Beach Gumbo Cookoff and on the same day the annual “Pig Party” (Swine Festival) takes place in Crawfordville.
The first weekend in March is always reserved for the annual rite of spring known as the St. George Island Charity Chili Cookoff and Auction and the same weekend a Civil War reenactment takes place in Woodville in Wakulla County. Later in the month the Camp Gordon Johnston Association in Carrabelle hosts a full weekend of activities (including a parade) for veterans. Mark March 16-17 on your calendar if you love ribs as the Eastpoint Volunteer Fire Department holds its annual fundraiser. And also on March 17 the best “butt” on the beach will be determined at Beacon Hill.
An Apalachicola Art Walk will be staged March 24 and on the same day there will be a St. Vincent island Open House.
APRIL
In April we expect to see some power lifting on St. George Island (Blue Parrott) and the annual four-day “Rock by the Sea Music Fest”. On April 7 they’ll be searching for Easter Eggs in Port St. Joe and the Salt Air Farmers Market kicks off in the same city. Meanwhile a 5K Rabbit Run/Walk will take place on Cape San Blas. Gulf County has announced a “Tagged Trout & Redfish Tournament” for April 13-14 while all eyes turn towards the ground on April 14 for the Worm Grunting Festival and Worm Grunters Ball in Sopchoppy . Its kicks off Wild About Wakulla Week which culminates with the April 20-21 Wakulla Wildlife Festival at Wakulla Spring.
There are four lighthouses on the Forgotten Coast (St. George Island, Cape San Blas, Carrabelle, & St. Marks) and they will have several significant activities during the year including a Lighthouse Challenge. Veterans Memorial Park at St Joe Beach is the site of the Beach Blast Sprint Triathlon April 28 while the April 27-29 dates are set aside for the 38th Annual Stephen Smith Memorial Regatta with proceeds going to the Cancer Society
MAY
The annual Plein Air Paintout is slated for May 3-13 and on May 5 the 36th Blue Crab Festival will fill the Wakulla County Community of Panacea and 19th Annual Spring Tour of historic Homes will take place in Apalachicola. Port St. Joe’s Kids Win Fishing Tournament is May 11-12 and on the following weekend the 22nd Tupelo Honey Festival will take place in Lake Alice Park in Wewahitchka. On May 19 a “Run for Wakulla Springs” will take place.
June
The Forgotten Coast Classic Fishing Tournament gets things kicked off June as anglers attempt to get a leg up on the Panhandle Slam. The St. George Island Mullet Toss will again take place on the beach (June 9) and on Father’s Day Weekend the Annual Big Bend Saltwater Classic will attract fishermen from throughout the Southeast. Headquarters is Carrabelle but weigh-ins take place all along the Forgotten Coast. June 29-30 are the dates of the Gaskin Park Flathead Catfish Tournament.
JULY
The scallop Season opens July 1 and this day will also likely be the day selected by several communities to stage their Independence Day celebrations. Port St Joe is definitely one of those cities. Fun events will also be held in Sopchoppy, St. George Island and Mexico Beach. Don’t know about Carrabelle yet.
The 8th Annual Mexico Beach Marina Offshore Classic is slated for July 27 and a run will likely be held in July on St. George.
