News Details (Posted: April 2, 2008):

Community Happenings

Full Description:

WEEK OF MARCH 29 - April 4

Sixth annual Beer Festival Chan’s Wine World in Destin will host its sixth annual Beer Festival on March 29 from 3 to 6 p.m. The event with beer, blues and barbeque will take place under a big tent out front on the Mid-bay Bridge Road. Tickets are $20 day of the event with an instant $5 rebate toward the purchase of beer and include a commemorative beer glass. Drawings will be held for giveaways throughout the day. Tickets may be purchased at any Wine World location or by phone at 269-2909.

Seaside Repertory Theatre Comedy Hour with Kevin Boyle will be held at 8 p.m. March 29 in the Seaside Meeting Hall Theatre. Cost is $10. The one-man comedy hour is family friendly.

Silver Sands Factory Stores Enjoy free live entertainment with Steve Hall from 8 p.m. to midnight March 29 at Cheeseburger In Paradise at Silver Sands Factory Stores. Call 650-2615.

Pensacola Children’s Chorus The Pensacola Children’s Chorus presents The Sound of Miracles at 7 p.m. March 29 at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church in Pensacola.

Alys Beach concert Andy McKee, guitarist and composer, will perform a free live outdoor concert at 7 p.m. March 29 in Alys Beach’s new Central Park, just north of Caliza Pool. Coolers are prohibited; food, wine and beer will be available for purchase. Bring low-back lawn chairs or blankets to sit on. Call (866) 481-8387.

Seaside Repertory Theatre The Seaside Repertory Theatre presents E. T. The Extra-Terretrial at 8 p.m. March 30 on a big screen on the Seaside Lyceum Lawn. Cost is $5. Tickets will be sold at the door. Call 231-0733.

U.S. Army Parachute Team The U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, will visit the University of West Florida at 9 a.m. March 31 for a tandem jump with UWF President Cavanaugh, 11 a.m. for a tandem jump and noon for a Golden Knights live parachute demonstration. The ROTC Cadet Club will have food concessions available for purchase at all events. The event takes place on the UWF Intramural Field behind the UWF Field House. Call 474-2198.

Spring Break concerts Seaside hosts a series of Spring Break concert with The Beach Mice at 7 p.m. April 1 in the Amphitheater. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Call 231-5424.

Wednesday Night Concert Series The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin presents a free concert with Sarasota Slims from 6 to 8 p.m. April 2. Call 267-8117.

University of West Florida Center for Fine and Performing Arts The UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts presents Romancing Notes featuring works of Delibes, Beethoven, Franck, Chopin, Debussy and Mozart as performed by vocalists, instrumental duos, trios, chamber and percussion ensembles, at noon April 2 at old Christ Church in downtown Pensacola. Call 857-6285 or visit uwf.edu/cfpa/.

Strings and Stories The Fort Walton Beach Library presents Strings & Stories with guest Michael Walker from Playground Music from 10 ti 11 a.m. April 2. Geared toward 6 to 12 year olds. Make reservation at 833-9590.

First Friday ArtWalk The L2 Gallery at Seaside presents The First Friday ArtWalk at Seaside introducing “Art You Can Wear” featuring belt buckle artist Paul Pearman, pearl jewelry artist Wendy Mignot and leather artist Jimmi wZ in person for a public reception from 5-8 p.m. April 4. Enjoy music in Ruskin Park as models stroll amidst the galleries wearing the latest fashions from FABS of Seaside while showing off works of the featured artists. The L2 Gallery is on Highway 30-A, at 123 Quincy Circle in the Ruskin Artist Colony. Call 231-1091.

First Friday Concert Destin Commons presents a free concert with The Waco Ramblers from 6-10 p.m. April 4 in Center Plaza. Other highlights of the evening include Zachary, the balloon sculpting stilt walker. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged.

Festival on the Green The University of West Florida will hold its annual Festival on the Green April 4 on the UWF Main Campus. Events will include a crafts fair with crafts exhibited and sold by regional crafters, a dog agility and fly ball exhibition, fine arts show displaying regional works, diversity showcase, library book sale and a children’s festival. Call 474-2610. For a complete schedule of events, visit uwf.edu/festival.

ART

Meet the Artist Meet Beaches of South Walton 2008 Artist of the Year Donna Burgess in her gallery at The Market Shops at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort from 12 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 837-1887.

UWF Student Art Exhibition The UWF Art Gallery will feature the annual UWF Student Exhibition featuring works by students throughout the campus through April 5 in the UWF Art Gallery, Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour prior to all CFPA events.

Art exhibit: DOA (Definitely Odd Art) Artel Gallery presents “DOA (Definitely Odd Art)”, a juried exhibit, through April 11. Artel is at 505 South Adams Street near Seville Square in Pensacola and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Call 432-3080.

Art exhibit: Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center The Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center at Okaloosa-Walton College in Niceville are open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 1-4 p.m. Sundays. The galleries are closed Friday, Saturday and college holidays. Call 729-6044. Upcoming exhibits include: •Through April 17: “OWC Arnie Hart Juried Student Show” in the McIlroy Gallery and “OWC Arts Faculty Exhibition” in the Holzhauer Gallery. •May 4-June 5: “ADSO 16th Southeast Regional Fine Arts Show” in the McIlroy Gallery and “2007 Best in Show Winner” in the Holzhauer Gallery. •June 15-July 24: Haitian artist “Edouard Duval-Carrie´ in the McIlroy Gallery and Selections from the OWC Permanent Collection” in the Holzhauer Gallery.

Art exhibit: Art Students League of New York The Pensacola Museum of Art presents “The Art Students League of New York, Highlights from the Permanent Collection” through April 20 on view in the Kugelman Family and Thornton Galleries.

ArtsQuest 20th anniversary The Cultural Arts Association marks the 20th anniversary of ArtsQuest May 4-11 and needs the commitment of local businesses to be a flag sponsor. For a tax-deductible $75 contribution, the CAA will place a 3-by-5-foot flag bearing the new ArtsQuest logo in front of your businesss or home. The flags will fly all around Walton County from April 26-May 13. In addition, your name will be listed as a Flag Sponsor in the ArtsQuest Souvenir Program Guide that will be distributed to 75,000 people. For an application to become a sponsor, call Lee at 622-5970 or e-mail culturalarts@embarqmail.com.

Call to artists: Saturday in the Park festival The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida is seeking artists, artisans and craftspeople for the 32nd annual Saturday in the Park festival to be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 26 in Valparaiso. All art/craft must be original. Spaces are 10 foor by 10 foot and are available for $50. Call 678-2615 for an application. Vendor forms are also available at www.heritage-museum.org

Art exhibit: Sosaku Hanga: Modern Japanese Prints The Pensacola Museum of Art presents “Sosaku Hanga: Modern Japanese Prints” through April 26 in the Lewis Bear Family Galleries. The works presented in this exhibition create a vivid picture of the eclecticism and renovation of Japanese printmaking in the mid-twentieth century. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and through Friday and 12 to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is $5/adults and $2/students and active duty military. Call 432-6247.

ON STAGE

Rent Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center presents “Rent” April 8 on Mainstage, Okaloosa-Walton College, Niceville. Call 729-6000 for ticket information.

Florida Chautauqua Theatre The Florida Chautauqua Theatre, 840 Baldwin Ave. in DeFuniak Springs, presents High School Musical at 7 p.m. April 17-19 and at 2:30 p.m. April 20. Tickets are $15/adults and $12/ students 22 and under. Call 892-9494 or e-mail info@fcweb.org.

OWC’s Dance Facets 2008 Okaloosa-Walton College’s Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts Division will present its annual dance concert, Dance Facets 2008, at 7:30 p.m. April 25 and 26 at the Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center on OWC’s Niceville campus. Tickets are $15/adults and $10/youth age 18 and younger and are available at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box Office in-person, by phone at 729-6000.

Gypsy The Mattie Kelly Fine and Performing Arts Center at Okaloosa-Walton College presents “Gypsy” July 9, 10, 11 and 12 in the Mattie Kelly Arts Center’s mainstage theater. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for youth and are available at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box Office in-person, by phone at 729-6000.

MUSIC

Coconut Radio Sing along to the sounds of Coconut Radio, The Village of Baytowne Wharf’s house band, at 6:30 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in March and April in the Village Events Plaza at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Sing, dance and play instruments along with the band. Call 267-8117.

Spring Break concerts Seaside will host a Spring Break concert with Dread Clampitt at 7 p.m. April 8 in the Amphitheater. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Call 231-5424.

Wednesday Night Concert Series The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin presents free concerts from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 267-8117.
Scheduled performers are: •April 9: Michael Warren Band. •April 16: The Shadow of Elvis with Ron Adams. •April 23: Tribute to Elton John and Billy Joel. •April 30: The Return, Tribute to the Beatles.

American Gospel Concerts American Gospel Ministries presents free concerts at 6 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 622 Bayshore Drive in Niceville. A love offering will be taken.
Performers include: •April 5: Carolina Sonshine. •May 3: The Crist Family. •June 7: Bama Blu-Grace. •July 5: The Watkins Family. •Aug. 2: Forgiven Trio. •Sept. 6: The Ball Brothers. •Oct. 4: Sons Of The Father.

Christian Symphonic Band and Cinco Baptist Praise Team Christian Symphonic Band and the Cinco Baptist Praise Team present “Forever Praise,” a praise and worship concert, at 7 p.m. April 11 at Cinco Baptist Church, 26 Yacht Club Drive in Fort Walton Beach. The concert is free with a love offering taken during the performance. Call 939-6552.

Classical guitar workshop The Fort Walton Beach Public Library will offer a free and informative program with classical guitarist Jimmy Chandler from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 12. Explore classical guitar music from Brazil, Spain and other European countries in this hands-on workshop. Attendees are asked to bring their guitars. They will learn the basics of classical guitar technique and become familiar with reading guitar music. The group will learn and play a work from Renaissance period guitar literature. Ages 15 and up only. Call 833-9590 to reserve a seat.

Flutes Furioso The flute ensemble “Flutes Furioso” of Okaloosa-Walton College will perform at 2 p.m. April 13 in the atrium at the Westwood Retirement Resort, 1001 Mar Walt Drive in Fort Walton Beach and at 2 p.m. April 20 in the Tyler Recital Hall of the Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center at OWC in Niceville. Both concerts are free and open to the public. Call 243-2609 or 729-5382.

Mattie Kelly Fine and Performing Arts Center The Mattie Kelly Fine and Performing Arts Center at Okaloosa-Walton College in Niceville announces its 11th season of Broadway’s best touring shows for 2007-08. Call 729-6000. Children’s shows that will be matinee performances for school groups include: •April 14: “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” at 9:45 and 11:30 a.m. Call for ticket informtion at 729-6065.Nov. 1: The Mitchum Brothers.

Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra The Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra at Okaloosa-Walton College will hold the following concerts at the Mattie Kelly Fine and Performing Arts Center on the OWC Niceville campus. Individual concert tickets are available through the Mattie Kelly Fine and Performing Arts Center box office and may be purchased by Web or phone. Season tickets are available in-person or by phone. Call the box office at 729-6000. •April 18: Season finale “Beethoven and Friends” at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $22.50/adult and $16/youth age 18 and younger. Call Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box Office at 729-6000.

Sinfonia Gulf Coast The Sinfonia Gulf Coast presents ETA3, a Juilliard School of Music chamber group, at 7:30 p.m. April 12 at Good News United Methodist Church, 4747 U.S. 98 West in Santa Rosa Beach. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at (850) 267-1478 or patrons may purchase and print their tickets online at www.SinfoniaGulfCoast.org Sinfonia will also present a free concert, Baytowne Pops!, at 8 p.m. May 3 at The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Bring blankets or lawn chairs.

Andre Rieu Andre Rieu and The Johann Strauss orchestra will appear at 8 p.m. April 24 at The Pensacola Civic Center. Tickets range from $53-$73 and are available at The Pensacola Civic Center Box Office, all TicketMaster outlets or wwww.ticketmaster.com or call 434-7444 to charge by phone.

Okaloosa Chamber Singers The Okaloosa Chamber Singers present spring concerts April 25 and 27. Call 682-9651.

OWC Jazz band concert The OWC Jazz Band, “Raiders of the Lost Art,” will perform a free concert at 7:30 p.m. April 29 in the Mattie Kelly Arts Center mainstage theater, 100 College Blvd. in Niceville.

OWC Madrigals and Bella Voci Spring Concert The free Spring concert for OWC Madrgials and Bella Voci Women’s ensemble will be held at 7:30 p.m. May 1 at the Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center, Tyler Recital Hall, Okaloosa-Walton College, Niceville.

OWC Soundsations Show Choir OWC’s fine and performing arts scholarship students perform their season finale at 7:30 p.m. May 2 at Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center, Mainstage, Okaloosa-Walton College, Niceville. Tickets are $15/adults and $10/youth at 729-6000 or on-line at www.owc.edu/arts.

Northwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra The Northwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra will perform classical and pops musical selections during their free spring concert at 3 p.m. May 2 at Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center, Mainstage, Okaloosa-Walton College, Niceville.

Concerts in the Park The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation presents its summer concert series at 7 p.m. May 8-June 26 on the Event Lawn at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village, adjacent to Grace Lutheran Church on Commons Drive. A $5 donation per adult for admission is requested and children under 12 are free. Call 650-2226.
•May 8: Mr. Big. •May 15: Ron Adams & Relix. •May 22: Banjorama. •May 29: Clark & Company. •June 5: Michael Warren (has opened for Gladys Knight, Diamond Rio & Taylor Hicks). •June 12: Retroactive. •June 19: 313th U S Army Band (free to military with proper military ID). •June 26: Deja vu

Choral Society of Pensacola “Songs for the Heart and Soul” – An Evening with Soprano Daisy Jackson at 7:30 p.m. May 10 at East Brent Baptist Church, 4801 N. Davis Hwy. Call 484-1806

Pensacola Children’s Chorus The Pensacola Children’s Chorus presents Showtime 2008 at 7:30 p.m. May 16 and May 17 at the Pensacola Civic Center.

FESTIVALS/EVENTS Pensacola JazzFest The free 25th Pensacola JazzFest will be presented April 5-6 in historic downtown Seville Square. Music begins at 11:30 a.m. April 5 and at 11 a.m. April 6. Music ends each day at 6 p.m. Music on the Youth Stage in Fountain Park, adjacent to Seville Square, begins at noon April 5 and at 12:30 p.m. April 6. Headliners include Butch Thompson’s Big Three, Shelly Berg Trio, saxophonist Dayve Stewart, clarinetist/saxophonist Bob Maksymkow and The Jazz Guardians Big Band from Fort McPherson, Ga. Platinum recording artist Alan Hewitt will present a clinic “Making Music for Movies” at 2 p.m. April 6 on the Youth Stage in Fountain Park. Bring chair or blanket and leave dogs and pets at home. Call 433-8382 or 206-9811.

Seaside Repertory Theatre The Seaside Repertory Theatre presents the following events. For more information on Rep programming, or to learn how you can become involved, visit www.seasiderep.org, or call 231-0733. •Starlight Movie Series will be held at 8 p.m. Sundays through October on the Seaside Lyceum Lawn. Cost is $5. A feature film will be shown on a big screen. Tickets will be sold at the door. –April 6: The Wizard of Oz. –April 13: Across the Universe.

3-D concerts Rave Motion Pictures, Destin Commons, has brought a new age of concerts to the movie screen with 3-D concerts. Shine A Light, a Rolling Stones Concert/Documentary directed by Martin Scorsese, opens April 4.

Kidtoons at The Rave Kidtoons is a year-long program that provides only G-rated movies at The Rave at Destin Commons. Each program includes a movie, cartoon shorts and music videos. New programs begin on the first Saturday of every month and run for the whole month. Show times will be scheduled for Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday of each week. Full listings will be available at www.destinrave.com, in local newspapers and at the Destin Commons information kiosk. Each program runs between one hour and ten minutes and one hour and thirty minutes. Tickets are $7.50 per person at the box office and theater kiosk. Tickets can also be purchased at www.movietickets.com. Each child that attends a Kidtoons program receives a free gift. Schools, day care centers and groups of 50 or more may apply for discounts. Call 650-4539. •March: Peter Cottontail: The Movie. •April: Bob the Builder: Built to be Wild. •May: Tom Sawyer. •June: Bear in the Big Blue House: Party Time!

Spring boat show Legendary Marine, Treasure Island Marine and more present the fifth annual Destin Commons Spring Boat Show April 11-13 in the front parking lot at Destin Commons.

Movie night The Friends Guild of the Destin Library will sponsor a monthly movie night featuring award winning independent film, “The Way I Spent the End of the World,” at 7 p.m. April 15. The program is free and open to the public. Films are unrated and directed toward mature audiences. Call 837-8572.

Fun Fest The Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is inviting artist and craft vendors to participate in the 2008 Fun Fest May 17 and 18. Fun Fest celebrates with music and entertainment throughout the entire weekend and a fireworks show, in addition to a children’s area, a variety of food vendors, and more than 50 arts and crafts vendors. Applications for consideration must be submitted no later than April 15. Fun Fest will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 17 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 18. Sponsor applications will be accepted through April 4. For information or an application, visit www.navarrechamber.com and click on “Special Events” or call 939-3267.

Festival on the Green The University of West Florida will hold its annual Festival on the Green April 4 and 5 on the UWF Main Campus. Events will include a crafts fair with crafts exhibited and sold by regional crafters, a dog agility and fly ball exhibition, fine arts show displaying regional works, diversity showcase, library book sale and a children’s festival. Events also include an alumni jazz brunch and awards celebration, Time Portal to the Past, three musical stages, festival food and a classic car showcase, featuring about 25 classic cars, some dating back to the 1920s, exhibited by the Panhandle Cruisers. The final round of The Kathleen T. and Philip B. Phillips, M.D., Jazz Piano Competition will be held as a free public performance at 7:30 p.m. April 5 in the UWF Mainstage Theatre in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82 on the UWF Main Campus. Tickets are required since seating will be limited. Call 474-2610. For a complete schedule of events, visit uwf.edu/festival.

Seagrapes Wine Bar & Gifts Wine Tasting Taste and enjoy featured fine wines from around the globe in this wine bar and gift boutique beginning at 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday evenings. Cost is $7.50/person.

Wine Tasting Raise a glass to summer with hand-selected vintages showcased by Sandestin Wine World as part of the shop’s weekly Wine Tasting at 5 p.m. every Friday. Cost is $10/person. Call 622-0802.

Sandestin Wine Festival The 22nd annual Sandestin Wine Festival at Baytowne Wharf will be held April 10-13. In addition to the Grand Wine Tastings, special wine dinners at the resort’s restaurants and the Destin Charity Wine Auction will take place. Tickets to the Grand Wine Tasting are $65 per day. Musician Eric Jerardi will perform Saturday and Sunday. For more information and ticket prices for all other Wine Festival events, visit www.sandestinwinefestival.com or call 267-8117.

Pro Am Skim Jam The 10th annual ZAP Pro Am Skim Jam is open to the public and will take place from 10 a.m. to noon April 11 and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 12 at the Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort in Panama City Beach. A pool deck party follows the competition and at sunset a double feature of Surf’s Up and Big Wednesday will premier as a dive in movie at the lagoon pool. Contest finals are April 13 with awards ceremony to follow.

Seabreeze Jazz Festival WSBZ Radio presents the 2008 Seabreeze Jazz Festival April 16-20 at the Gulf Place Outdoor Amphitheater just east of Destin. A free Thursday evening All-Star Jam Show will celebrate the event’s 10th Anniversary. A Weekend Pass is $130 including all performances at Gulf Place with individual single-day tickets $50-$80 each. Additional tickets for the Smooth Jazz Dinner Cruise, Golf Tournament, and After-Party are sold separately. Order tickets online at seabreezejazzfestival.com or by phone at (800) 595-4849. Free shuttle bus service will be provided from the Grand Boulevard parking lot at Sandestin next to Publix. Bring a blanket or a lawn char. Coolers welcome, but no alcohol. Cash bar and food vendors available at the event. Call 267-3279.

Jazz Dinner and Silent Auction The Niceville High School Eagle Pride will present the fifth annual Jazz Dinner & Silent Auction from 6-9 p.m. April 26 at the Niceville First United Methodist Church Community Life Center. Tickets are $30 per person or a table for 8 may be reserved for $300 and may be purchased at Bayou Book Company, 118 E John Sims Parkway, or in the NHS band room from 12-2 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. Proceeds will benefit the entire Eagle Pride Band. Call 897-4379.

BamaJam Music & Arts Festival Enterprise, Alabama will host the inaugural BamaJam Music & Arts Festival June 5 to 7 at Boy Scout Road and Highway 167. Presenting 30 award winning acts from country, classic rock, alternative and bluegrass, BamaJam will be host Bama Market, Bama Music Lounge, Bama Media Lounge, BamaJam Sponsors Plaza, Bama-a-Rama Kids Zone and BamaJam Park. World-class artists will perform on the three separate stages. Randy Owen, former member of Alabama, kicks off the festival June 5 with Little Big Town (“Boondocks”) and Darryl Worley (“Have You Forgotten?”). ZZ-Top performs June 6 and Hank Williams, Jr. and Lynyrd Skynyrd will perform on June 7. Other performers include Miranda Lambert, Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury, Ralph Stanley, Dan Tyminski and Nanci Griffith. Tickets can be purchased online at www.bamajammusicfestival.com or at (877) 4BAMAJAM.

Seaside Jazz Festival — A Journey Through Jazz The Merchants of Seaside present two weekends of music at the Seaside Jazz Festival: A Journey through Jazz, to be held May 16-18 and 23-26 in the town’s amphitheater. The festival headliner, The Neville Brothers, will perform May 26 at 6 p.m. The first festival weekend will feature Latin Grammy winner Nestor Torres, The Rebirth Brass Band, Shamarr Allen, Ted Shumate and Jesse McBride. The Memorial Day weekend line up will shine with stars such as the Neville Brothers, The Hot 8 Brass Band, Glen David Andrews, Little Freddie King, Dayve Stewart, Marva Wright, and Walter “Wolfman” Washington. Tickets for the first weekend are $100 and provide access to all performances. The Memorial weekend tickets cost $150 and also give access to all performances. Tickets go on sale March 10. For tickets call toll free (866) 579-5424 or visit www.SeasideFloridaJazzFestival­08.com.