Panhandle Historic Preservation Alliance

The University of West Florida will host its annual Festival on the Green this Friday and Saturday. The majority of events are scheduled between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

Friday’s activities include a Crafts Fair, live entertainment, a Fine Arts Show, a Library Book Sale, a Native American Village, and a time Portal to the Past, featuring Spanish Explorers and French Occupational Soldiers!

Saturday will bring a Children’s Festival, a Classic Car show, a Dog Sports Exhibition, Sporting Events, Trolley Tours, and more live music! Be sure to check the schedule before you go, so you don’t miss anything!

The Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park and Cultural Center will host the 2009 Coastal Pottery Expo from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, at the Indian Temple Mound Museum.The Expo celebrates the ancient art form of ceramics pottery through the interpretation of modern artists.

Activities will fill the grounds all day, including a pottery ground firing, wheel throwing, student competition, a children’s craft area, and gallery tours of the Indian Temple Mound Museum. Staff’s restaurant is providing seafood and beer with a portion of proceeds donated to the museum. The event is on rain or shine.

Heritage Park and Cultural Center is located at 139 Miracle Strip Parkway in historic downtown Fort Walton Beach.

The Destination Archaeology Resource Center in Pensacola is sponsoring Mother’s Morning Out on Wednesday, March 25, from  9:00 until noon. Hands-on archaeological activities, crafts, and games will be led by professional archaeologists. The kids will also get guided tours through the Destination Archaeology! Exhibit and the Florida Public Archaeology Network Lab!

This event is open to 3rd through 5th Grade kids. A $15 Donation is requested to cover the cost of supplies. For registration and information, please visit www.flpublicarchaeology.org or call (850)595‐0050.

Join the Destin History & Fishing Museum for their 4th Annual Old Fashioned Fish Fry Fundraiser this Saturday, March 21, from 11:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. Live music will be provided by Hal Aiken and Southern Jam. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children.

Florida Archaeology Month

Celebrate Florida Archaeology Month! This year’s poster theme is “Spanish Claim Florida!”

Bring your artifacts to the Constitution Convention Museum State Park in Port St. Joe this Saturday, March 21, from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. to be analyzed by a professional archaeologist. Visit the Florida Public Archaeology Network website, www.flpublicarchaeology.org, for more information.

Annual Rummage Sale

The Panhandle Pioneer Settlement is hosting their Annual Rummage Sale on March 11, 12, 13, and 14 from 7:30 AM until the evening of each day. They will have everything from clothing, farm implements, furniture, and housewares to collectibles and toys.

The Panhandle Pioneer Settlement is a living museum documenting rural life in northwest Florida since the early 1800s. It is located in Sam Atkins Park, about 1 mile west of the intersection of Highway 71 and Highway20. Follow Highway 20 West out of Blountstown. Look for signs for Sam Atkins Park. Turn North at Lindy’s Fried Chicken (Silas Green Street) and follow the signs.

For more information, contact the Settlement at 850-674-2777. For further directions and information on the historic buildings at the Settlement go to www.ppmuseum.org.

Welcome to the Panhandle Historic Preservation Alliance (PHPA) Events blog. We hope you will visit here often to get information about history-related events in the Florida Panhandle.

Membership is free and open to individuals and organizations who are actively engaged in the collection, preservation, and restoration of historic property and memorabilia in the Florida Panhandle.