VFW Post 272 announces
plans for Nov. 14 Veterans Villa
Festival at Calhoun Co. Airport
CALHOUN COUNTY, FL – American Legion Post 272 of Blountstown will hold their second annual Veterans Villa Festival on Nov. 14 on the grounds of the Calhoun County Airport, located at 16701 NW Agri Park Road in Altha, five miles north of Blountstown.
The festival will run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. CT and vendors are welcome to come share their wares and suppor their organizations.
The fee for a 10 x 10 booth is $50. Food trucks can park and feed the crowd for a fee of $100. There is no charge for non-profits to set up and smaller commercial ventures will be charged $25. Vendors will received two free admissions.
The day’s activities will include a car show, motorcycle show and a semi show. The registration fee will be $20.
There are also sponsorship opportunities to support the event. Each sponsor’s logo will be featured on site banners and on event t-shirts. Contributions are due by Oct. 1. For more information, contact Gidget Thomas at (850) 209-2249 or email her at post272calhouncounty@gmail.com.
The admission fee for the general public will be $5 cash.
All donations support the Post’s general fund and local youth programs, scholarships and Honor Guard Services.
Throughout the year the post supported the Altha Recreation Committee, recognized seniors from Blountstown and Altha High Schools who were going into the military, awarded a scholarship to an Altha Senior, and hosted a Poker Run for Lt. Andy Pace of the Blountstown Police Department who was injured in a motorcycle accident. The Post also performs multiple Honor Guard services that provide military and veteran funeral honors to our nation’s heroes and community outreach.
Visit https://calcopost272.org/ to learn more about the local VFW Post.
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Billy Dean to open Chipola
Artist Series Tuesday, Sept. 22
MARIANNA, FL — Chipola College will welcome local country music legend Billy Dean to the Center for the Arts Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. for “90 Minutes of 90’s Country.”
The performance celebrates the American sound with a celebration of home, community and country. A Grammy-nominated country singer-songwriter known for hits like “Billy the Kid,” “Only Here for a Little While” and “Somewhere in My Broken Heart,” Dean has more than 35 years in music and eight Top 5 singles. He remains a respected voice in country music.
Dean grew up in the small town of Quincy, Fla., starting his music career by singing in his dad’s band, The Country Rocks. His first big break came in 1988 when he appeared on the Ed McMahon-hosted “Star Search,” winning Best Male Vocalist.
His first album, “Young Man,” in 1990 became Dean’s first certified Gold record, with the single “Somewhere in My Broken Heart” honored as the American Country Music Awards’ 1992 Song of the Year and Dean earning Top New Male Vocalist of the Year.
Some of his other Billboard-charting singles include “You Don’t Count the Cost,” “Only the Wind,” “I Miss Billy the Kid,” “If There Hadn’t Been You,” “Tryin’ to Hide a Fire in the Dark,” “I Wanna Take Care of You” and “I’m Not Built That Way.” Dean has performed and toured with country music icons such as Kenny Rogers, Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton, The Judds, Wynonna Judd and others.
Billy Dean is an American troubadour who has mastered the art of singing, songwriting and storytelling. His unique ability to morph into the characters in his songs while performing live brings the storyline to life with musical drama.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for ages 18 and younger and $5 for Chipola students and staff.
For more information, call the Center for the Arts Box Office at 850-718-2420 or visit www.chipola.edu/boxoffice.
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Chipola to host voter
registration drive Tues.
MARIANNA—Chipola College will host a Voter Registration Drive on Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Chipola Cafeteria.
Representatives from the Jackson County Supervisor of Elections Office will be on campus to assist eligible participants with voter registration. Those planning to register should bring a valid driver’s license or Florida identification card.
As the nation celebrates 250 years of American independence, the event serves as a reminder of the importance of civic participation. Voting gives citizens an opportunity to have a voice in the decisions that shape their communities, state and country.
The Voter Registration Drive is sponsored by the Chipola Black Student Union and Social Science Honor Society.
For more information about Chipola College, visit chipola.edu.
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Chipola Theatre to present
‘OUR TOWN’ on Oct. 2-4
MARIANNA, FL — The Chipola College Theatre Department will present Thornton Wilder’s classic American play “Our Town” Oct. 2-4 in the Center for the Arts Theatre.
Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2-3, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4.
Described as “the greatest American play ever written,” “Our Town” follows the lives of the Webb and Gibbs families in the fictional small town of Grover’s Corners. Told in three acts — “Daily Life,” “Love and Marriage” and “Death and Eternity” — the play explores everyday life, love, family and loss as the families’ children grow up, fall in love and marry.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for ages 18 and younger. Chipola students and employees receive free admission at the box office.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Center for the Arts Box Office at 850-718-2420 or visit the www.Chipola.edu/boxoffice
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Walk to End Alzheimer’s
set Oct. 10 in Tallahassee
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Residents are invited to join the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Tallahassee on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, held at Cascades Park, 1001 S Gadsden Street in Tallahassee.
You can register today by going to Alz.org/TallahasseeWalk
Today more than 7 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s and over 580,000 people in Florida are living with the disease. An estimated 11 million family members and friends provide unpaid care for those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias nationwide, and more than 870,000 unpaid caregivers are Florida residents.
On Walk Day, registration begins at 9:00 a.m., followed by the flower ceremony at 10:00 a.m., and the Walk immediately follows. Those affected by Alzheimer’s are honored by participants with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony — a mission-focused experience that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease. During the ceremony, walkers will carry flowers of various colors, each color representing their personal connection to the disease.
For more information on this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s Tallahassee, Ritchie Pickron at rwpickron@alz.org or (850) 363-0174.
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Hasty Pond Baptist
to celebrate 110th
Homecoming Oct. 11
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Panama in Fall BBQ Brawl
brings competition, community
& a cause to Panama City Beach
PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL — The grills are firing up for the Panama in Fall BBQ Brawl, presented by the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center and sanctioned by the Florida BBQ Association. The two-day event will take place Friday and Saturday, October 23–24, 2026 at The Barn at Bay Point Golf Club in Panama City Beach.
The Panama in Fall BBQ Brawl will bring pitmasters, barbecue enthusiasts and community supporters together for a weekend of competition and giving, all in support of the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center and the children and families it serves.
Guests are encouraged to come hungry on Saturday from 12:30-2:00PM and sample barbecue prepared by competing pitmasters before casting their vote for the People’s Choice Champion. As a sanctioned competition, the event will also give teams an opportunity to put their skills to the test while bringing the community together around a shared cause.
“The BBQ Brawl is a great example of how we can bring people together around something they enjoy while creating a meaningful impact for children in our community,” said Brent Patrick, Chief Executive Officer of the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center. “Every sponsor, competitor and attendee who supports this event is also supporting our ability to provide quality services to children and families who need us.”
Proceeds from the event will support the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center and its continued work to provide forensic interviews, therapy, advocacy and other essential services for children and families impacted by abuse.
Businesses and organizations looking for another way to get involved can also support the event through sponsorship opportunities, with various sponsorship levels still available. These partnerships help make the event possible while directly supporting GCCAC’s mission to protect children and strengthen families throughout the region.
Event Details:
Friday and Saturday, October 23–24, 2026
The Barn at Bay Point Golf Club
4701 Bay Point Road
Panama City Beach, FL 32408
Competitors, sponsors and community members can learn more and register. Additional announcements, event updates and featured competition teams can be found on the Panama in the Fall BBQ Brawl Facebook page.
The Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center provides comprehensive services to children and families impacted by abuse, including forensic interviews, therapy, advocacy and prevention education. Through community partnerships and fundraising events like the Panama in Fall BBQ Brawl, GCCAC can continue providing critical resources that promote safety, healing and hope for children throughout the region.
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Arts Overflowing
in October at
Colquitt, GA
COLQUITT, GA – Everyone knows that October means Swamp Gravy time, but this year, the Colquitt Miller Arts Council has packed the schedule with an assortment of events to be served up alongside their main dish! Supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts’ Red Clay Creative Cohort grant, these events are meant to use creative placemaking to activate unused spaces and bring more arts to the community.
First up is the October 2, 2026 opening night Fish Fry behind Cotton Hall. Before the very first performance of Swamp Gravy: Country Come to Town, fish plates will be on sale from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Guests are welcome to enjoy their fish with the fixin’s in the newly created picnic area behind Cotton Hall or step inside the air-conditioned Commons area of the theater to enjoy their meal.
WHATCHAMACALLIT FOLK ART FESTIVAL – The following weekend will be the first ever Whatchamacallit Folk Art Festival on October 10, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The grassy area located directly across the street from the Agricultural ICON Mural will transform into a hub of American Folk Art for this festival— with live music, art, and artist demonstrations. Cotton Hall will be available for restroom usage as well as a nice cool stopover during the day. October 10th will also be the date of our first ever Mural Day, where each mural will have a storyteller on hand to tell the story of the mural and tell about the creation of the artwork itself.
VINTAGE TRACTOR SHOW – Tilling Through Time, a vintage tractor show right behind Cotton Hall is the centerpiece of the following weekend on October 17, 2026, giving collectors and spectators alike a chance to view the farming equipment of days gone by. There will be food vendors on site as well as the opportunity to take a cute fall photo!
SEEDS AND SONGS – Later that night, guests can gather in the Veterans Courtyard for Seeds & Songs… a quick chance to mingle with the cast and hear some classic Swamp Gravy songs under the night sky while enjoying some sweet watermelon as we embrace the transition from summer to fall.
QUILT STORIES – The final weekend of Swamp Gravy: Country Come to Town will play host to Quilt Stories, a display of local quilts and the stories that go along with them. We will be hosting a quilt show on October 23rd and 24th to display these handmade gems of history and love. Friday Night the quilts will be on display from 6:00 to 7:00pm. Saturday the caretakers and creators of the quilts will be here to share their stories. Display times for Saturday the 24th are 1:00 to 2:00pm and again from 5:00 to 6:00pm.
SWAMP GRAVY – And of course, all of these events coincide with the 2026 production of Swamp Gravy: Country Come to Town. It’s a common occurrence known to every Southerner worth their salt… feeling like Country Come to Town. This brand-new helping of Georgia’s Official Folk Life Play will feature a new set of stories we ain’t told yet about realizing you might be a little bit country. From possum huntin’ to southern drawls and a little baseball, too! Country Come to Town will tell those “fish-out-of-water-stories” that you can’t help but laugh at. That’s right! A completely different Swamp Gravy than this past March that explores life on either side of the county line and tells the story of Colquitt’s own major league baseball player Gordon Richardson.
More information about all of these events is available online at www.swampgravy.com. Tickets for Swamp Gravy can purchased there as well for $22 or by calling 1-229-758-5450.
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