The 2018 Festival Season is kicking off in Northwest Florida, with the 62nd Annual Panhandle Watermelon Festival, Vernon July 4 Patriotic Salute and 49th Annual Wausau Possum Festival headlining the array of special events, parades and celebrations.
The festival is always held on the last full weekend in June, this year occurring on Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23, and the Watermelon Festival features concerts by Joe Nichols, Deana Carter, Paul Overstreet and Wendell Mobley, along with a parade, car show, arts & crafts, festival food and free watermelon.
Patriotic July 4 celebrations abound but the family-friendly, children-safe environment at the Vernon July 4th Patriotic Salute, occurring on the fourth of July, regardless of the day of week, brings back memories of simpler times, while providing food, music, fireworks and all that you would expect from a festival in heartland America.
Not to be missed is also the Bonifay Patriotic Celebration, occurring on the Saturday prior to July 4, a huge gathering of churches in Bonifay, Florida offering food, fellowship, entertainment and fireworks- all free of charge- along with some of the best people watching in Northwest Florida.
As usual, the Wausau Possum Festival, held on the first Saturday in August, this year celebrating 49 years of what Women’s Day Magazine calls ‘One of the most unique festivals in the world’ will serve up an outlandish mix of people watching, parade, food and entertainment, including the notorious ‘Possum King and Queen Contest’, and you will have to see this one to believe it. There is also a Pageant for the young ladies and young gentlemen, and politicians in Florida know that they must attend and participate in the Annual Possum Auction to be considered for their respective jobs.
These are just a few of the many special events offered in the region, with many opportunities to enjoy the people, businesses and natural resources of ‘The Real Florida’.
Join ‘Real Florida Magazine’ as we again document these festivals and special events in photos and video clips, view these photos on Facebook at Real Florida Magazine, and listen to interviews from these events, along with interviews with business owners, community leaders and event organizers on FPTC Radio, the voice of Florida Panhandle Technical College at www.FPTCRadio.com..
