What’s Happening in North Okaloosa County

[Pixabay.com]

CRESTVIEW — Here’s a calendar of upcoming events in North Okaloosa County and surrounding areas. 

SATURDAY IN THE PARK FESTIVAL: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 29, Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso. Family-friendly event. Historical re-enactments, craft demonstrations, vendors, kid zone and car show.

COLLEGE ADVISING SESSIONS: 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. May 1 and May 8, Northwest Florida State College, 100 College Blvd., Niceville. For new students starting summer and fall classes. Bring school transcripts. Register at https://nwfstatecollege.formstack.com/forms/form_1__fsform2530100 to attend. Current students may call 729-5234 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

RAIN BARREL CONSERVATION PROGRAM: 10:30-11:30 a.m. May 2, Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview. Presentation by Sheila Dunning. Attendees will be entered into a drawing for the demonstration rain barrel made during the free class.

KIERNAN ART RECEPTION: 6-7:30 p.m. May 2, Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive. For artist Rebecca Lu Kiernan, whose art exhibit will be on display May 1 through June 30 at the library. Refreshments will be served. 682-4432.

OKALOOSA ARTS ALLIANCE POSTER CONTEST: for Okaloosa students in K-12th grades. What do you consider "summer fun?" Posters must be created on 8.5-inch by 11-inch paper with markers, pencils, paint, pastels, charcoal or crayons. $25 to $75 gift cards for winners. Deadline to enter is May 4. Mail entries to OAA Poster Contest, P.O. Box 4426, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549, or drop off from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at Arts & Design Society, 17 1st St. SE, Fort Walton Beach. One poster per student, with the name of the artist, their grade, and their school. Poster contest reception and winner announcement is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 6 at Young Philosophers Society, 144 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach. Email Amy Baty, amybaty1@gmail.com for contest details.

EOD MEMORIAL WEEKEND: Explosive Ordnance Disposal Warrior Foundation activities are below. Register for tickets at http://www.eodwarriorfoundation.org/2017eodmemorialweekend.

●Golf Tournament, 6:30 a.m. May 5, Eglin Golf Course, 1527 Fairway Drive, Niceville. Shotgun start, 8 a.m. Registration: $70 per person or $280 per team; includes green fees, cart rental, lunch, and gift bag.

●Live and silent auctions, 5 p.m. May 5, Emerald Coast Convention Center, 1250 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach. Free. Includes nachos, Buffalo Wild Wings, and a cash bar. Bidding for Savvy Travelers, WonderWorks (indoor amusement park), the new Alcatraz East Crime Museum, BiGR Audio, concert tickets and CDs from Grammy award-winning jazz bassist extraordinaire Christian McBride.

●48th Annual EOD Memorial Ceremony, 9 a.m. May 6, NAVSCOLEOD, located on Range Road, Niceville. The names of six fallen EOD warriors will be placed on the memorial wall.

●8th Annual EOD Memorial Crawfish Boil, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 6, in the Winn-Dixie parking lot in Bluewater Bay Niceville. Stop by for crawfish and refreshments. Other food items can be purchased at participating restaurants. 

●49th Annual EOD Ball, 5:15 p.m. May 6, Emerald Coast Convention Center, 1250 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach. Attire is semi-formal, formal, and military equivalent. Keynote speaker: Admiral John Richardson, chief of Naval Operations since September 2015. Tickets: $75 per person.

FAMU RATTLER RUMMAGE SALE: 7:30-11:30 a.m. May 6, Florida A&M University Pharmacy School, 153 West Woodruff Ave., Crestview. Clothing, household collectibles, books and more. FAMU Alumni Association, Saundra Daggs, 279-6555.

TAX-FREE INVESTING SEMINAR: 6-7:30 p.m. May 11, Samuel's Roadhouse, 114 John King Road, Crestview. "Tax-free Investing: It's Not What You Make, It's What you Keep," with Yvonne Shanklin, Edward Jones financial advisor in Crestview. Free; dinner provided. Details: Marcia Fleming, 682-2497.

‘ALICE IN WONDERLAND’: 7 p.m. May 12 and 13, and 2:30 p.m. May 14 at Florida Chautauqua Theatre, 840 Baldwin Ave., DeFuniak Springs. Tickets: $12 for students 22 and younger, $15 for adults. Call 892-9494 or email infor@fcweb.org to purchase or for details.

MOTHER’S DAY VICTORIAN TEA: 2 p.m. May 13, Heritage Museum, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso. Relax and enjoy light refreshments while learning about etiquette and customs of taking tea in Victorian England. For ages 6 and up. Cost: $16 per person; $13 for museum members. Reservations required; call 678-2615.

‘COMING HOME’ PERFORMANCE: 6 p.m. May 13, Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Northwest Florida State College, 100 College Blvd., Niceville. The Calling Dance Company presents a faith-based story centering on hope amid loss. A portion of the proceeds benefits Covenant Care's Camp Connect, a grief counseling camp for children. Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and free for children age 4 and under. Purchase at www.TheCallingDanceCompany.org.

PINE NEEDLE BASKETRY CLASSES: 5-8 p.m. May 16 and May 23, Heritage Museum, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso. Learn Seminole techniques. $55 to $60 per person. 678-2615.

MAY DAY PARADE ENTRIES: The Carver-Hill Memorial & Historical Society is accepting May Day parade entries through May 20. It is free to participate. The parade is 10 a.m. May 27, with line-up at 9 a.m. at the Carver-Hill Center, 461 School Ave., Crestview. Get application forms at Carver-Hill Museum, 895 McClelland St. S, or J&P Glitz and Glitter, 604 US Highway 90 W and turn in at the museum.

HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS: Crestview High School Hall of Fame nominations are sought. Nominees must have graduated at least 10 years ago and have demonstrated outstanding leadership and athletic accomplishments. All submissions must include verifiable information.  If possible, supply the nominee’s contact information. You may resubmit previous nominations for consideration. May 26 is the application deadline. File applications with CHS’s front office or email them to Coach Tim Hatten, tim.hatten@mail.okaloosa.k12.fl.us, or Chris Moore at tcbjmoore@cox.net.

PEANUT PRODUCERS SCHOLARSHIP: The Florida Peanut Producers Association will award two $1,200 scholarships to high school seniors and/or college students in 2017. The applicants or one of their family members must be actively producing peanut growers, not necessarily a member of the FPPA. Award recipients should attend a Florida junior college or four-year university. Winners receive $600 each. The remaining $600 is awarded after the completion of one semester and documentation of passing grades is submitted. Details: 526-2590. Deadline: July 1.

CRESTVIEW HIGH CLASS OF 1977’S 40-YEAR CLASS REUNION: 6 p.m. July 15, Warriors Hall in Crestview. “We are searching for classmates that we have lost contact with,” an event organizer said. “If you haven't already received information about the reunion, contact Sharry, krustin@cox.net." Tickets must be purchased in advance due to the caterer needing to prepare for the correct number of attendees.

SISTER CITY FRANCE TRIP: The Crestview Area Sister City Program welcomes residents to join the Sept. 7-18 journey to Noirmoutier, France. Participants stay with host families in this immersive cultural and educational experience. Participants must join the Crestview Area Sister City Program and assume responsibility for their own air travel arrangements to and from France. Dues are currently $20 per individual, $2 per full-time student, and $30 per family. Details: www.CrestviewSisterCity.org.

BAKER GATOR REUNION: Baker School Class of 1967 graduates seek classmates for their 50-year reunion Sept. 9 at the Baker Arena Community Center, 5503 U.S. Highway 4, Baker. Call 537-9191, 758-7966, 978-2135 or 978-1974 for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: What’s Happening in North Okaloosa County