Out and About
This was the team at Juana’s/Sailors Grill’s 33rd year organizing and running this event, which is a tremendous asset for our community.
Some at the event said it was the largest event of its kind in the southeast.
I bring this up because I think a lot of us in this area take events like this for granted because we are all busy. But if we took a little time to think about the events and the people behind them, maybe we would have a little more gratitude and more appreciation as a community for the people behind the events that are produced every year – for our community.
Events are not easy to run. The regatta has been featured in magazines and newspapers, which brings more recognition to our community. And it provides beautiful pictures for visitor guides, lifestyle magazines, and real estate brochures which markets our community as a wonderful place to visit and live.
We have other events in the near future which will benefit our community in many ways. October 7 there is “Take a Kid Fishing” at the pier. This event provides educational opportunities for our elementary school aged children on our marine life, fishing, and more.
The children walk away with a fishing pole and can go straight up on the pier and fish with the help of volunteers along with free bait courtesy of Scooters. Every year the Navarre Chamber Foundation has to apply for a grant for the fishing poles, but there has been several years that the foundation has purchased the poles outright with the help of Half Hitch Tackle in Navarre.
And every year, the poles come without the “hook, line or sinker” – Half Hitch Tackle in Navarre has been very helpful in acquiring the necessary supplies to help 200 children every year. It used to be free, but parents would sign their children up and then not show up – taking the opportunity away from parents and children that really would have liked to participate. There are still slots available.
There is also the Navarre Fishing Rodeo the same weekend, which is all part of “Fish Navarre Weekend.” The Santa Rosa TDC has been very instrumental in helping with “Fish Navarre Weekend” and allowing the pier to be free to fish from and walk on the weekend of October 7 and 8.
Also, during that time, you can buy an annual pass to fish or walk at a 10% discount. The Navarre Fishing Rodeo benefits the Navarre Chamber Foundation which donates the money to the entities in the Marine Park.
Read more about Fish Navarre Weekend at FishNavarreWeekend.com.
The following weekend, on October 14, “Run for the Reef” is a large 5K or 10K running or walking event with a cool T-shirt. Last year they had nearly 500 participants. Proceeds from this event benefit all the reefs we have out in the Gulf and Sound and helped make the kayak launch possible in the Marine Park.
On top of the organizers, there are the people that donate or provide the venues for these events and the sponsors. It is truly a community effort to make these events happen for our community and beyond.
And there are other organizations that have events including the Wildlife Refuge and more.
We are blessed to have such a giving community that benefits our community in so many ways.
Quote of the Week: “Money is not the only commodity that is fun to give. We can give time, we can give our expertise, we can give our love, or simply give a smile. What does that cost? The point is, none of us can ever run out of something worthwhile to give. Steve Goodier (1962 – ) Writer