St. George Island and Franklin County FL

St. George Island Chili Cookoff Heats Up For Spring Visitors

The 27th annual St. George Island Charity Chili Cookoff fires up the burners on March 7 to herald in what some consider the official beginning of Spring on St. George Island. If you love chili, and who doesn't? you can eat your fill on Saturday as the competition takes place. www.seestgeorgeisland.com.

Click here for a complete list of accommodations on the island and beyond for Chili Cookoff weekend.

Local Military Exhibits Rank High For Veteran Visitors
Franklin County honors veterans this Spring with two special exhibits.

Carrabelle Honors WWII Veterans

Carrabelle pays tribute to America's veterans this month when the Camp Gordon Johnston Association hosts its annual Camp Gordon Johnston Days March 13-15. The event is a reunion of military veterans who trained for WWII at Camp Gordon Johnston, a training base so large it included St. James Island (excluding Carrabelle), Dog Island, and St. George Island. Click here to see a video of the event-filled weekend. Events include a Friday social mixer, a parade and an evening dinner dance, military exhibits, re-enactments and tours of the former Camp Gordon Johnston Base camp. more

Wall That Heals Coming To Apalachicola

From April 30 - May 3, Apalachicola will host the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) Traveling "Wall That Heals" Memorial and Museum. The exhibit features a half-scale replica of the Memorial and a museum that travels to communities throughout America.

The Wall That Heals exhibit is sponsored by the Three Servicemen Statue South (TSS) group and is coming to Apalachicola largely because of another important Veteran's memorial located there. Apalachicola is the only City in the Country to house a replica of the Three Servicemen Statue detail, commemorating the service of Veterans during the Vietnam era. more

Get Out of the House and Into The Wild This Spring

The St. Vincent Island National Wildlife Refuge will host an Open House on Saturday March 21 with wildlife exhibits, nature walks, history presentations, bird tours and even a kids' mini-bushcamp. This year's event, sponsored by the Supporters of St. Vincent NWR, Inc. is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on St. Vincent Island which is located just offshore at the western-most boundary of the Franklin-Gulf County line.

The highlight of this popular annual event is the island nature tour which is guided by local nature enthusiasts and which is limited to the first 75 people to sign-up. Visitors can sign up for the tours once they arrive on the island. This year's event will also feature a new Kids mini bushcraft activity designed for childen ages 8-12. The Bushcraft will feature activities designed to teach kids basic wilderness safety and simple survival skills. more

March Events

March 5, 2009 Dixie Theatre - Florida's "Florida's Delicious History: A Gastronomic Journey Through Modern Florida". Food scholar Andrew Huse offers a look back through modern Florida's cuisine. www.dixietheatre.com 850-653-3200

March 7 - St. George Island Chili Cookoff
More than 60 contestants compete in the largest regional chili cookoff in the nation. Contestants vie for a spot in the National Chili Cookoff. All proceeds benefit the St. George Island Volunteer Fire Department. 8am 5K run Auction 11am-3pm. www.stgeorgeislandchili.com, and www.seestgeorgeisland.com

March 13-15 - Camp Gordon Johnston Days A fun-for-the-whole-family parade pays tribute to the brave men and women who trained at Camp Gordon Johnston just east of Carrabelle. All sorts of family activities all weekend long. The Camp Gordon Johnston Museum contains many authentic relics from WWII and displays the area's rich history. www.campgordonjohnston.com

Click here for expanded list of events and activities.

Looking Ahead

April 4- Cape St. George Light Dedication, St. George Island. 10 a.m. dedication ceremony followed by free climbing at the lighthouse and celebration in the afternoon. Lighthouses are big in Florida - April 25 is the state's official Florida Lighthouse Day. www.seestgeorgeisland.com.

April 4 - Art Walk & Wine Festival, Downtown Apalachicola www.apalachicolabay.org
April 25-26 11th Historic Apalachicola Antique & Classic Boat Show Downtown Apalachicola. Antique boats and antique cars. www.apalachicolabay.org
April 25 - Carrabelle Riverfront Festival. Annual celebration along the riverfront with food, music and exhibits. www.carrabellechamber.org
April 30 - May 3 - VVMF Traveling Wall That Heals Exhibit and Museum, Veterans Park, Apalachicola. Half-scale replica of the Memorial, museum and information center. www.vvmf.org www.apalachicolabay.org.
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