10th Annual Back To Nature Festival Oct. 14-16, 2011

[Gwen Break]

South Walton Community Council’s 10th Annual Back To Nature Festival is Oct. 14-16, 2011. The cool fall season and natural beauty of South Walton are the perfect backdrop for the annual festival. Each fall South Walton Community Council hosts the Back to Nature Festival to inspire visitors and locals alike to discover the wonders of our unique coastal environment.

“It’s one of the ways we like to say thank you to the community who has supported our efforts over the years. We want everyone to come out, explore and celebrate this amazing place we call home,” said Jacquee Markel, president of the South Walton Community Council. “This year we have added some new events including a juried art show featuring our beloved coastal dune lakes. There is something for everyone, so please come out and enjoy the fun.”

• Opening Night Party on Oct. 14 in the Backyard of Love located at Hibiscus Coffee and Guesthouse in Grayton Beach. Enjoy a low country boil, live music under the stars and preview the silent auction items.

• Enjoy Outdoor Adventures with experienced guides Oct. 15 – 16. Sunrise meditation, Deer Lake shorebird and beach walk, Peach Creek kayak tour, Stand up paddling at Grayton Beach State Park, wildflower and butterfly hike in Point Washington State Forest, longleaf Greenway trail bike cruise, astronomy walk at Grayton Beach State Park, tracking the wild critters at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Western Lake kayak tour, forest ecology hike and Hogtown Bayou sunset paddle.

Most outdoor adventure events are about two hours long and cost $10 unless otherwise noted.

• Explore Nature at Grayton Beach State Park on Saturday, Oct. 15. Walton Outdoors will be hosting a hands-on day geared towards introducing children to the wonders of exploring the outdoors. Activities include learning to fish in the Gulf with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, rod/reel giveaways, kayaking and YOLO boarding on Western Lake, a guided hike along the sand dune trail, sea life touch tank, Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge wildlife exhibit and interactive activities.
This event is free and geared for children ages 6 and up.

• Celebrate Nature at the Seaside Amphitheater on Saturday, Oct. 15. Live music from Chris Alvarado, E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center wildlife exhibits, Choctawhatchee Audubon, Florida State Parks exhibits, Shoal Sanctuary, local community groups, arts and crafts for the kids, green business exhibits, demonstrations, farmers market and silent auction.

• Silent Auction Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Seaside Amphitheater. Bid on great items with proceeds going to the South Walton Community Council.

• Art Show at the Hidden Lantern Gallery Sept. 26 - Oct. 29. Located at Rosemary Beach, “The Jewels of 30A,” a juried art show, will feature artwork inspired by our globally rare and imperiled coastal dune lakes. Artwork will be available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds supporting the South Walton Community Council.

For more information and registration, go to www.SouthWaltonCC.org

[kurt]

Yay! One more reason why October is great in SoWal.

[Teresa]

Back to Nature events:

• Opening Night Party Friday, Oct 14 @ Hibiscus Coffee & Guesthouse 6:30-8:30 pm. Live music of Chris Alvarado, food and fun! Join the party!
• Silent Auction Saturday, Oct 15th All Day @ the Seaside Amphitheater. Coolest Art, hippest things in town. Proceeds benefit SWCC.
• Outdoor Adventures Saturday & Sunday, Oct 15-16th throughout Walton County. Our classic adventures of hiking, biking, boating, kayaking, riding, & astronomy. See our schedule and try something new or enjoy an old favorite!
• Explore at Grayton Beach State Park Saturday Oct 15th from 10 am-2 pm @ Grayton Beach State Park. This event will be hosted by Walton Outdoors & feature activities geared for kids 6 and up (must be accompanied by an adult). Activities will include fishing in the Gulf, kayak & YOLO boarding, sealife touch tank, Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge's rehabilitated wildlife exhibit, sand castle building and more, with plenty of giveaways for the kids. Sounds like family fun!
• Celebrate Nature at Seaside Saturday, Oct 15th 12:30-4:30 pm @ the Seaside Amphitheater. A celebration of nature & community, this event has something for everyone. As the music of Kyle LaMonica and Elizabethtown plays, explore the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center wildlife exhibits, green business displays, Farmer's Market goodies, learn about local community groups & watch the kids get creative with arts & crafts. Join the celebration!

Outdoor Adventures Event Details

• Wildflowers & Butterflies: A Hike through Pt. Washington State Forest
• Forest Ecology: A Hike through Pt. Washington State Forest
• Hogtown Bayou Sunset Paddle
• Deer Lake State Park Interpretive Hike
• Deer Lake Shorebird & Beach Walk
• Longleaf Greenway Trail Bike Cruise
• Astronomy Walk
• Peach Creek Kayak Tour
• Lake School
• Coastal Dune lake Tour
• Swamp Tromp
• Choctawhatchee River Day Safari
• Choctawhatchee River Night Safari

[Danny Burns]

Yay! One more reason why October is great in SoWal.

...and the fact that the weather is almost always perfect here in October!

[kurt]

True dat!

[Teresa]

To register for each event you may click on the event name or you may go to the Schedule and register from the link by the event name.

Saturday

6:30am Sunrise Meditation Register
8:00am Deer Lake Shorebird and Beachwalk Register
9:00am Lake School Register
9:00am Tracking Wild Critters Register
9:30am Choctawhatchee River Day Safari Register
10:00am Peach Creek Kayak Tour Register
11:00am Forest Ecology Hike Register
1:00pm Wildflower and Butterflies Register
6:00pm Choctawhatchee River Night Safari Register
6:30pm Astronomy Register

Sunday
6:30am Sunrise Meditation Register
8:00am Deer Lake State Park Interpretive Hike Register
10:00am Choctawhatchee River Day Safari Register
10:00am Swamp Tromp Register
2:00pm Coastal Dune Lake Tour Register

2:00pm Longleaf Greenway Bike TourRegister
4:30pm Hogtown Bayou Sunset Paddle Register

See SWCC Website to register for individual adventures and to see descriptions.

[Caroling]

... after the fact, for the record, this is my view of the Swamp Tromp with Anita Page, Jacquee Markel, and a bunch of nature lover hikers.