CRESTVIEW — It's almost time for the 12th Annual Triple B BBQ Festival. The family-friendly event is free of charge.

The event, which is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 19 on Main Street, offers entertainment, a barbecue competition, a car show and more to festival goers.

A Crestview centennial stage is part of the event, and music from different decades will bring fun and memories forth for all ages.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Triple B Festival includes centennial activities, car show

CRESTVIEW — Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Zoological Park will have its annual Easter fest, with free activities while supplies last. Bring your own Easter baskets and cameras.

An egg hunt, crafting, egg decorating for zoo animals are planned, and visitors can meet the Easter Bunny.

The event is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 19 at the park, 5262 Deer Springs Drive, Crestview.

Admission costs $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 2-10. It is free for younger children.

The schedule includes:

● Animal Encounter, reptiles, 10-10:20 a.m. and 1:30-1:55 p.m.

●Keeper Talk, otters, 10:30-10:50 a.m. and 3:15-3:40 p.m.

●egg hunt for ages 8-12, 11-11:10 a.m.

●egg hunt for ages 0-3, 11:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

●egg hunt for ages 4-7, 11:40-11:50 a.m.

● Keeper Talk, lion and tigers, 12-12:15 p.m.

●Animal Encounter, small mammals, 12:20-12:45 p.m. and 4-4:30 p.m.

●Keeper Talk, birds of prey, 1-1:20 p.m. and 2:30-3 p.m.

●Keeper Talk, bears, 1-1:30 p.m.

●Keeper Talk, patas monkey, 2-2:20 p.m.

●Keeper Talk, lemurs, 3:45-4 p.m.

For more information call 682-3949 or visit www.ecwrzoo.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview zoo sets Easter schedule

Pat Hollarn will speak on "Event Planning: The Crestview Centennial Promotion"  at the next Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization membership meeting.

The meeting is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 22. The group's new lunch location is Chapala’s Mexican Restaurant, 67 Eglin Pkwy. NE, Fort Walton Beach. Lunch costs $15 for members, $20 for non-members and $10 for students.

If you do not want to eat but want to hear the program, the cost is $10. Guests are always welcome and should bring business cards for networking.

Hollarn owns Integrity Unlimited LLC, Consulting Services, in Shalimar. Before starting her consulting business in 2008, she served as the Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections for 20 years. She also taught in Idaho and Florida for more than 20 years.

She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire, and attended graduate school at both New York University in New York City and St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. She has a certificate from the Florida Center for Public Management at Florida State University and is a Certified Election and Registration Administrator, Auburn University.

Hollarn belongs to many organizations throughout Okaloosa County and has received numerous honors and awards for her commitment to the community. Among her top skills are government, public speaking, public relations, fundraising and event planning.

For more information about ECPRO, contact Kathy Morrow at 974-3662, or visit www.ecpro.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Emerald Coast public relations group to discuss Crestview centennial

CRESTVIEW — The host for the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce's next Business After Hours is the group, Friends of the Crestview Public Library.

The event is 4:30-6:30 p.m. March 10 at the library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

Attendees can enjoy hors d'oeuvres, keyboard performances by Dennis Mitchell and a tour of the library.

Call 682-4432 for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview chamber Business After Hours set March 10

CRESTVIEW — A Yeti cooler, valued at $349.99 and donated by Ace Hardware, is part of a raffle.

All proceeds will benefit the Kiwanis Club of Crestview, and used toward one of its key projects, revitalization of the John McMahon Environmental Park.

Tickets are $5 each or five for $20 to participate. A drawing for the winner will take place at the March 19 Triple B Festival.

All funds remain in Crestview.

Click here for more information>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Enter to win a Yeti cooler, support Crestview improvement projects

CRESTVIEW — The fair is in town!

James Gang Amusements LLC is hosting the event, which is 6 p.m. nightly through March 12 at Old Spanish Trail Park.

Parking and admission are free. Arm bands for rides cost $15 per person Wednesday and Thursday, and $20 on weekends. Coupons available at businesses throughout town offer $3 off the armband price. 

The types of rides available include swings, a boat ride called the Sea Ray and a scrambler. "It's like an egg beater. It spins around with tubs on it," Rodney James of James Amusements LLC said. 

The park is located on Stillwell Boulevard. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Enjoy the fair in Crestview through March 12

BAKER — The Old Spanish Trail Rodeo has attracted some of the Southeast’s top cowboys and cowgirls to Baker for more than a quarter-century.

The 27^th annual event, set for April 8 and 9, continues the tradition, featuring a crew from the Professional Cowboy Association, according to Baker Area Recreation Association president Mark Todd.

Here’s what attendees can expect:

●Traditional events of bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, break-away roping, barrel racing, team roping, calf roping, steer wrestling and bull riding.

●Eager participants. “PCA just had their finals in Biloxi, Miss., this past January and they had their largest turnout and a payout of over $200,000, which is huge for a rodeo circuit in our area,” Todd said.  “We expect to see great things from them.”

Last year, the rodeo attracted more than 200 riders to the two-night event. The BARA sweetens things up by adding $1,000 to the purse in each event.

“What that does is draw better riders into the rodeo,” Todd said. “It’s a win for the rodeo and also for the spectators. We want the riders to do well because if they do well it will make the younger kids want to get into rodeo.”

●Fan favorites the All American Cowgirl Chicks to be back for their fifth year. “They’ve (the Cowgirl Chicks) become an important part of our rodeo like Rudy the clown and Mr. (Jim) Poole our announcer,” who also will return, Todd said.  “The Cowgirl Chicks do an opening for us. They then perform two times during the rodeo. They will do a meet and greet again this year at Ace Hardware in Crestview on Saturday of the rodeo from 12-2 p.m.”

●Herbert Theriot of Poplarville, Miss.-based ST Rodeo Company,  returning as stock contractor

●A ceremony each night to honor a local war hero with an American flag.

Advance tickets go on sale March 21, and some ambitious young readers may win free entrance. Students from area elementary schools will participate in the Reading for the Rodeo program, meeting reading goals in hopes of winning a ticket. Todd said the goal is to help make students lifelong readers.

Another goal, for the entire event, is to keep Northwest Florida and surrounding residents coming back. Todd said he’ll attend about a half-dozen rodeos throughout the year to see how to improve the Old Spanish Trail Rodeo.

“To me this is not just a rodeo, it’s a performance we are going to put on for these spectators,” he said. “We want the spectators to be able to enjoy it as a family event that they will be able to come back to in future years.

“We can’t do this without the fans.”

UPCOMING

WHAT: Old Spanish Trail Rodeo

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. April 8 and 9; gates open at 5 p.m.

WHERE: Barnhill Arena, Highway 4, Baker

COST: Adults: $12 advance, $15 at gate. Children ages 5-12: $7 advance, $10 at gate. Children under 5: free. Reserved seating tickets, $20, available at Ace Hardware Crestview and Tractor Supply.

NOTES: Advance tickets go on sale March 21 at locations throughout the area. See more information at http://bakerarena.com/bara_rodeo.php

Old Spanish Rodeo Information

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Old Spanish Trail Rodeo schedules return to Baker

Need something to do this weekend? Check out these fun events: 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 things to do this weekend in Northwest Florida

The Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women is now taking nominations from the community for the 2016 Women's Wall of Honor. 

The deadline for nominations is April 15.

“We encourage friends, family members, co-workers and employers to nominate the special women in our county who enrich their lives," OCCSW chair Dawn Johnson said.

"Women in our community have made tremendous contributions to our county's growth, health, education, welfare and culture.  Each year we want to continually recognize these women in a permanent way.”

An annual OCCSW ceremony honors women who have contributed to the well-being of children, families and the citizens of our community.

A ceremony to honor them is 10 a.m. May 3 in the auditorium (building eight) at the University of West Florida, Fort Walton Beach campus. Their names also are placed on a plaque in the campus library, with a nearby book containing a biographical page for each woman.

This is the OCCSW’s signature fundraiser and every woman who is nominated is included on the Wall of Honor.

Click here for a nomination form.

The nomination form, a short paragraph (100 words or less) about the woman you wish to honor, her photo and a $100 donation to the OCCSW should be submitted to the Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women, Post Office Box 681, Niceville, Florida 32588.

For more on the wall of honor, see http://www.occsw.org/womens-wall-of-honor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa Women's Wall of Honor nominees wanted (DOCUMENT)

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Okaloosa Arts Alliance invites all Okaloosa County students in kindergarten through 12th grades to participate in the 7th Annual OAA Okaloosa County School Poster Contest.   

Students may use anything they can create on paper with markers, pencils, paint, pastels, charcoal, or crayons to illustrate what the theme "Summer Fun" means to them.

First through third place winners will be announced in each category: elementary (K-4); middle school (6-8); and high school (8-12).

Gift card prizes are $75 for first place; $50 for second; and $25 for third.

Additionally, the first place winners’ artwork will be posted in the OAA's newsletter and website. 

Entries can be submitted by an Okaloosa County school or by individual students.  

Requirements:

●one entry per student.

●Posters must be 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches, the standard size.

●Entries must include the name of the artist, the person's grade, and the name of the school they attend.

●The deadline is April 30.

●Mail to Okaloosa Arts Alliance-Poster Contest, P.O. Box  4426, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549. 

All entries will be on display and winners will be announced at the Okaloosa Arts & Culture Fest, which is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 21 at the Fort Walton Beach Landing. 

It is a free family event with live entertainment, food, artists and vendors, free activities, a silent auction and the poster contest display.

Email Amy at amybaty1@gmail.com for more information about the poster contest or a vendor application.        

For more on the Okaloosa Arts Alliance, go to www.okaloosaarts.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa Arts Alliance plans student poster contest