The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) presents its 6th Annual Wiggin’ Out for a Cause presented by Great American RV Superstores on Thursday, Sept. 22, 6-10 p.m. at Shoreline Church, 140 Palmetto St., Destin. With a “Prom Night of Your Dreams” theme, ladies and gentlemen come dressed accordingly in your best (or worst) prom attire. The event will be filled with wine and punch cocktails, food, fun, photo booths and live DJ music with dancing. Both men and women will receive their own personal wigs. Tickets are $90 per person. Limited VIP tickets at $150 per person include a designer wig and attendance at a private VIP pre-party from 5-6 p.m. Proceeds benefit ECCAC. Purchase online at www.eccac.org, or call Ana Michalzik at (850) 420-4639.
Join the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida for its 2022 New Membership Drive. Come as a new member during Constitution Week to show your support of local history—preserving the past for the future. The Museum will host a new members Meet & Greet on Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. where you can enjoy light refreshments.
23rd Annual Emerald Coast Home and Boat Show
The largest, best and only combined free admission to the public Home and Boat Show in Florida will be held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 24 and 25, 10 a.m,.-4 p.m., at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center. This year’s event will feature more than 100 vendors in many different categories offering home show specials, mortgage info, realtors, AC, plumbing, electrical, windows and doors, remodelers, roofers, insurance, kitchens and baths, blinds and shades, painting, foundations, security, outdoor buildings, restoration and other service industries. plus, retail and home-based business vendors, health care evaluations, non-profit organizations and an end-of-the-season boat show and sale sponsored by Captain’s Choice Boats, Bluewater Bay Yachts, Florida Airboat Partners and Blue Coral Sport Fishing Towers. Vendors will also give away more than $20,000 in door prizes and free swag. Home Show sponsors include Floridian Brand, EcoView Windows & Doors, Defined Interiors, Horizon Improvements, 1st Choice Painting, The Final Touch Design Studio, Scentsy, Freeman Roofing, Life Media (Destin Life-FWB Life-Bay Life), Cumulus Radio and Omni Broadcasting. More information, visit https://www.paradisepromotionsfl.com/home-show.
Adult Tee-Ball: Fort Walton Beach Police vs. Community game!
The Fort Walton Beach Police Department will host its 2022 National Night Out on Tuesday, Oct. 4th, 2022, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Chester Pruitt Park, 8 Harbeson Ave, Fort Walton Beach. The community team is still being formed. So, anyone who wants to participate can contact Officer Randolph at ZRandolph@FWB.org. Booths will be set up to educate residents about home security and crime prevention. The city library will have a display of services they have available, many of which are heavily underutilized. National Night Out is essentially a crime-prevention block party, where residents are encouraged to come out of their homes and interact with law enforcement to build a relationship of trust and understanding. It is a free event.
FWB Fire Department, Station 6, Celebrates New Paramedics
On Aug. 17, the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department celebrated its newest paramedics at Station 6 with friends, family and city and elected officials. With the addition of these new paramedics, half of the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department are now paramedics. There are 20 paramedics within the department and more beginning paramedic school. Paramedic school is a year-long commitment filled with classes, tests, training and long clinical hours all while working full time. Congratulations! FWB Life appreciates your service!
Choctawhatchee Audubon Society is kicking off September with bird expert Malcolm Swan at two renowned Bird hotspots, the Okaloosa Holding Ponds and the Wright landfill pond. Saturday morning, September 3rd. If you’d like to participate, meet at the parking lot of Helen Back Pizza at Roberts Blvd. just off Lewis Turner Blvd. at 8 a.m. From there, the group will drive north less than a mile and look for migrating falcons, kingbirds, and wading birds (maybe avocet or phalarope among others) after parking between the main ponds. When birding, please wear muted (not white or black) colors, closed-toed shoes, long pants, and a hat. Bring your binoculars, scope, and/or camera; and bring water, snacks and sunscreen for this 2-3-hour field trip.
Sea turtle nesting season is a special time in Fort Walton Beach. Please be mindful of nesting turtles on the beach with these important tips:
• Refrain from using a flashlight or flash photography and use a turtle-friendly red flashlight.
• If your residence is on the Gulf, turn off your exterior lights and close your blinds at night.
• Fill any holes on the beach.
• Stop by the Welcome Center on Okaloosa Island, 1540 Miracle Strip Pkwy., for your own free turtle-friendly red flashlight!
Save the Date! The Emerald Coast Cribbage Club will host a national American Cribbage Congress (ACC) tournament Jan. 20, 2023. In the meantime, join the fun weekly on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. at the VFW on Carol Ave. Interested? Contact Jim Hearon at 850-866-7866 or visit Emeraldcoastcribbageclub on Facebook.
Saltwater Restaurants is thrilled to be a part of sponsoring the new Shorebird Habitat for local sea birds like the Great Blue Heron. For example, “Floyd,” a Great Blue Heron that was rescued by the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge team, was discovered at the Okaloosa Island Pier with lacerations from fishing lines and hooks wrapped around his leg. After a few weeks of treatment in their Shorebird Rehabilitation Habitat, Floyd was back on his feet and ready to take flight! Funding for this project is a part of our ongoing commitment to give back to our beaches and wildlife through our S.E.A. initiative.
This Labor Day Weekend, Friday, Sept. 2 through Sunday, Sept. 4, join The Village of Baytowne Wharf for Perfect Hues: Baytowne Art & Food Fest! Each evening from 5-10 p.m., stroll The Village streets as you browse a variety of artwork from local and regional artists, and savor bites from some of the area’s best restaurants and food trucks. Enjoy LIVE music throughout the festival and a spectacular fireworks show over the lagoon on Sunday at 9:30 p.m.
