Apalachicola Antique Boat Show April 18
Apalachicola will host the 16th Annual Apalachicola Antique & Classic Boat Show  Saturday, April 18, 2015.  Watch a video preview here. Antique boats, examples of classic and traditional vessels, workboats, and fiberglass and aluminum classics will all be on display throughout the day. Special highlights include authentic oyster boats, workboats, and home-built boats by skilled craftsmen, antique outboard engines, plus antique automobiles and art booths.  The restored 1877 gaff-rigged schooner the Governor Stone will also be on display at the city dock in the center of town. Click to learn more.
Historic Society Hosts Spring Ghostwalk April 18
Stay in Apalachicola after the boat show Saturday, April 18 and enjoy the  Apalachicola Historic Society's annual Spring Ghost Tour walk of the Historic Chestnut Street Cemetery in Apalachicola. History enthusiasts take on the personna of several of the cemetery’s more notable inhabitants to tell of life in Apalachicola more than 100 years ago. The walk will be held from 6:30-8:30 pm. (ET).
Carrabelle Coastal Art Exhibit
 The Carrabelle Artists Association is presenting its Annual Coastal Art Showcase at the Rio Carrabelle Gallery in Carrabelle through April 26. The exhibit features local noted artists in a variety of medium. Click here for details.
FSU Marine Lab Open House 

The FSU Coastal & Marine Laboratory will hold Open House Event on April 25, 2015 from 10 am to 3 pm. It only happens every other year, so mark your calendars! From tiny tots to the most mature adults and those of us who never quite grew up -- there will be something to educate, fascinate and entertain everyone! Click here for more information. 

Camp Gordon Johnston Days May 8th
The 20th annual Camp Gordon Johnston Reunion days, created to celebrate the historic wartime Carrabelle museum together with the service of veterans from WWII and beyond, will be held Friday, May 8 through Saturday, May 9. Attendees will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with tours of WWII Army vehicles that have seen combat. Audiences will also get the privilege of touring the “New Orleans” Landing Craft ( LCU 2034) and the United States Coast Guard Cutter, “Seahawk” if these vessels are in port. Tours of each craft will be conducted by vessel crew members. Click here for more information.
Plein Air Paint-out
May 1-11
More than 20 nationally acclaimed artists will gather on Florida's Forgotten Coast in early May to participate in the 10th annual Florida's Forgotten Coast Plein Air Invitational, America's Great Paint-Out, May 2-10, 2015. Painters will set up their easels and pull out their brushes to document the landscape and culture of authentic "Old Florida" The 10 day event will include activities at 18 venues stretching more than 100 miles across Franklin, Gulf and eastern Bay Counties. Click here for more info.
Carrabelle Riverfront Festival April 24
Carrabelle will host the 25th Annual Carrabelle Riverfront Festival on Saturday, April 24. The theme will again be "Pirates of the Caribbean." This year's event will also feature an Antique Car Show. Watch a video preview here. The Festival will be held on Marine Street along the riverfront and arts and crafts, seafood, pet parade, live music, maritime exhibits, a fishy fashion show, food booths, and a childrens' zone. Click here to learn more.
Gag Grouper Season Opens April 1st
Gag grouper season opens April 1 and the fishing tournament season is heating up countywide.
 April 4-5 also marks the beginning of several license-free fishing days in State waters. Free fishing days provide an excellent opportunity for parents who don't yet have licenses to take youth fishing, or avid anglers to introduce a friend to fishing without having to purchase a license. On these days, the fishing license requirement is waived for all recreational anglers (residents and non-residents). Click here for a list of all 2015 free fishing days.
Fishing Tourneys
Here are a few of the upcoming fishing tournaments scheduled throughout the county.

June 6 - Fisherman's Choice Youth Fishing Tournament. Charles and Rex Pennycuff will host their 15th annual Fisherman's Choice Youth Fishing Tournament on June 6th. Kids 16 and under will fish for fresh and saltwater species. Each entry receives a t-shirt, and after the tournament, entrees are invited to attend a cookout at Fisherman's Choice in Eastpoint. Entry is free and generally about 200 kids sign up. 

June 19-21 Annual Big Bend Saltwater Classic
The Moorings of Carrabelle will host the 24rd Annual Big Bend Classic on Father's Day Weekend, June 19th through the 21st, 2015   All of the proceeds from the Big Bend Saltwater Classic are used to develop artificial reefs in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico.  

For a complete list of tournaments planned for later this summer as well as other events in the county, click here. For area marina, charter and general fishing information, click here.

Panhandle Players Present Duck Hunter Shoots Angel
The Panhandle Players present Duck Hunter Shoots Angel Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $15. Watch a video preview here.
Duck Hunter Shoots Angel is the story of two bumbling Alabama duck-hunting brothers who think they accidentally shot down an angel.  The themes of redemption, race, media and north vs, south are all explored in hilarious fashion, and the play features a surprise ending that playgoers don’t see coming. For more information, click here.
Rock By The Sea Concert
May 17 on SGI
Make plans to be on St. George Island for Rock By The Sea Music Event May 14-17, 2015. Get Weekend Music Passes or Register for Golf Tournament. Rock By The Sea is dedicated to organizing music festivals and events where we raise money to assist deserving charities who provide direct services to those in need. For more information, click here.
Florida Lighthouse Day April 11
Climb Free!
Franklin County lighthouses are front and center this month as the State celebrates Florida Lighthouse Day on Saturday, April 11. In honor of Florida Lighthouse Day, there will be no charge to climb the Cape St. George Light.The Crooked River Lighthouse at Carrabelle will offer free climbs for children and a reception.

Full Moon Climb
The St. George Lighthouse will host a full moon climb April 4 from 6-7:30 pm. Climb to the top of the Cape St. George Light to watch the sunset and the rise of the full moon. The Sunset/Full Moon Climb includes light hors d'oeuvres and a sparkling cider toast to the full moon.  Cost is $15.00 for the general public and $10.00 for members of the St. George Lighthouse Association. Click here for details.
Historic Apalachicola Home & Garden Tour May 1-2
Apalachicola's annual home and garden tour is scheduled for May 2 and will feature a variety of homes ranging from century-old houses to charming bungalows and contemporary homes. Watch a video preview here. An Evensong service at Trinity Episcopal Church will be held on Friday, May 1 at 5:30 p.m. This service provides the traditional opening for the home tour.  It will be followed by a reception to which all are invited. Homes will be open only on Saturday, May 2, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
For more information, click here. 
ANERR Hosts April
Lectures
The Apalachicola National Research Reserve (ANERR) will host two lectures in April as part of their ongoing weekday lecture series about the area's wildlife and habitat. There will be a rattlesnake lecture on Thursday, April 2 and a songbird migration lecture on Wednesday, April 15.  Learn more here.
Ilse Newell Concert Schedule
Bay Area Choral Society Sunday, April 19, Trinity Episcopal Church, Apalachicola. 
Concert In The Park, Sunday, May 17, Lafayette Park, Apalachicola
Unless otherwise noted, all concerts begin at 4 pm (ET). Click hre to watch a video about the event. Click here to view the entire Ilse Newell Concert Series schedule.
PaddleJam Kayak/SUP Event May 15-17
Grab your kayak and head to the coast May 15-17 and join in what organizers hope will be another world-record attempt to gather the largest number of kayaks together in one floating mass to break the current Guiness  world record. The three-day Forgotten Coast PaddleJam event is sponsored by the Forgotten Coast Paddle Club.  The Guiness World record attempt is just one activity planned as part of the area-wide fund-raising event featuring paddle sports, music and food. Other activities planned include kayak and SUP races and live music throughout the county. Click here for details.

Subscribe to our email list.