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Santa Rosa County takes centerstage
‘Beaches to woodlands’ tour showcases attractions this month
 | | The anagama wood-fired kiln is one of two such kilns inthe state of Florida. |
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Santa Rosa County is a diverse destination, ranging from sugar-white beaches to lazy rivers and many great attractions in between.
This month, it’s all taking center stage during the “Beaches to Woodlands” tour, where everyone is welcome to see some of the better known and lesser known stops along the way.
Arts: Art enthusiasts are invited to embark on selfguided weekend tours featuring arts & culture venues and festivals during the October 2005 Beaches to Woodlands Tour.
Just a sampling of art venues on the palette includes: Old Spanish Trail Sale Art & Food Fest on the Riverwalk in Milton, Gulf Coast Kiln Walk in Holley, Art Night on Navarre Beach, and the Munson Community Heritage Festival.
New to the tour this year is the newly opened Dragonfly Gallery in Milton. Showcasing the work of local artists, the facility is located at 5188 Escambia Street in downtown Milton and is operated by the Santa Rosa Arts & Culture Foundation.
In addition to self-guided journeys, the “Arts Extravaganza” guided tour, led by Peggi Smith of the Santa Rosa Arts & Culture Foundation, is being offered and will feature countywide art venues including live woodcarving, mural sites, lunch at Dragonfly Gallery, pottery demonstrations, and visits to other artistic hot spots, including a tour of Gulf Coast Kiln Walk.
Kiln Walk, located in the community of Holley, is a ceramic arts facility aimed to promote awareness of ceramic arts and build a sense of community through clayrelated activities.
Started by Brenda & Marty Stokes and their son Jason, the site’s anagama kiln is a specifically designed historical climbing kiln fueled by wood.
One of only two anagama wood-fired kilns in the state of Florida, it is expected to draw nationally-recognized artists Don Reitz and Brian Harper for its upcoming historical inaugural firing, for which the Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society is seeking sponsors.
For more information on Kiln Walk, contact Brenda Stokes at 939-2744.
For a free Beaches to Woodlands Tour brochure or to sign up for the Oct. 22nd guided “Arts Extravaganza” Tour, call 939-3267. All Aboard for Depot Day in Milton
As part of the 2005 Beaches to Woodlands Tour, volunteers from Main Street Milton and the West Florida Railroad Museum are bringing back the once popular Depot Days Festival as Riverwalk Depot Day.
The festive event, featuring live entertainment, is scheduled for Saturday, October 15th and will feature an Open House at the historic L&N Depot a n d merchandise merchandise vendors set up to kickoff seasonal shopping at Riverwalk Park.
The West Florida Railroad Museum Fall Open House will be held from 9 am to 4 pm, at the Historic Louisville & Nashville Depot, located at 5003 Henry Street. Vintage passenger and freight cars and historic memorabilia will be on display, the gift shop will be open, and heritage artists will be demonstrating their arts
weaving, basket making, etc.).
The Blackwater Muskogee Tribe will perform at 9 am and 11 am, and the Highway 99 Bluegrass Band will perform from 12 noon to 4 pm. Operating HO and G-scale
Garden) model railroads will be running. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and soda will be available for a nominal fee. Information: (850) 587-2361, 623-3645 (Fri/Sat), or 4346374.
In conjunction with activities at the Depot, Main Street Milton will be hosting live entertainment from 10 am 3 pm at nearby Riverwalk Park, located on South Willing Street, where merchandise vendors will be selling purses, jewelry, art, and much more. The noontime Riverwalk performance will feature MAINSTREET, a Christian Theater Troupe based in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Concessions will be available. To sign up as a vendor, contact Connie Clark at 380-9507.
The organizations also plan to encourage visits to nearby Bagdad Village and St. Rose of Lima’s Fall Festival, where there will be lots of tasty foods and plenty of activities for the kids.
The Beaches to Woodlands Tour is a self-guided tour of
Santa Rosa County, highlighting many arts & culture, heritage, and nature-based venues during weekends in October 2005.
Brochures detailing venues on the Beaches to Woodlands Tour are available at chambers of commerce in Santa Rosa County or by visiting www.beaches-rivers.com or calling 850-939-2691 or 800-480-SAND.
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