Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce October Newsletter

October News from the Chamber Friends of the Franklin County Public Libraries will pay tribute to Jackie Gay at their Annual Meeting   The Friends of the Franklin County Public Libraries plans to pay tribute to long time library supporter, Jackie Gay, during its upcoming Annual Meeting on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at 5 pm at the Carrabelle branch library. The Carrabelle Branch Library is located at 311 St James Ave, Carrabelle, FL. Members are encouraged to attend and the public is welcome. A special presentation will be made in honor of Jackie Gay, who was instrumental in the beginning of the building fund for the Carrabelle library through her winnings from Newman’s Own and Good Housekeeping Recipe contest for her Frankly Fantastic Gumbo recipe. Jackie’s husband, Mickey, along with some other family and friends will be in attendance for this presentation. Refreshments will also be served. Jackie Gay had a lifelong love of reading and books and at one time was a librarian at the Carrabelle Branch Library for many years. She also enjoyed and studied genealogy, cooking and developing her own award winning recipes, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She passed away July 15, 2022 at home with her family in Carrabelle. This will also be the Annual Meeting of the Friends with new board members being elected. The community and those who benefit from library services are encouraged to buy a membership and help support the Franklin County libraries. The Friends of the Franklin County Public Libraries (FFCPL) is a 501(c)(3) organization that was established in 1994. The organization was instrumental in the building of two county libraries. With funds donated to the Friends, the current Carrabelle library building was opened in 2002. In addition, through donations, grants, and a USDA loan, the current Eastpoint building and administrative offices were opened in 2013. The Eastpoint building is also maintained by the Friends with some assistance from the county. The Friends provides funding for the Summer Reading Program as well as other programs throughout the year. The Market will be open the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturdays! The open-air market, at the foot of the lighthouse, features local vendors from the community on hand with perfect gifts and goodies like fresh roasted coffee, delicious baked goods including cinnamon rolls and artisan breads, gorgeous art and photography, handcrafted balms and soaps, handmade goods and craft items, and exotic starter plants. Plus, fresh herbs and seasonal veggies from the lighthouse’s own garden. Check the Crooked River Lighthouse Facebook page for details as they become available.   Guests can also visit the free Museum and browse inside the Lighthouse Gift Shop for unique nautical gifts. In addition, shoppers have the unique opportunity to climb to the top of the lighthouse for a breathtaking view of the Bay.   The Market is actively recruiting new and returning vendors. Vendors may sign up at any time. The cost to be a vendor is $10 a market. For more information, contact 850-697-2732. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.  The 2nd Annual Halloween Party is scheduled for October 29th at George Sands Park! You can participate by donating candy or setting up a table and pass out candy or host a game! This is all free! Contact the chamber for more information: 850-697-2585 or chamber@nettally.com Make sure to plan your trick or treating to include the trunk or treat Halloween night! Come by the George Sands Park parking lot where you will find trunks filled with goodies for you! Sponsored by the Franklin CI. If you would like to participate, please set up at 5:15 pm. Crooked River Lighthouse Hosts a Night of Magical History Glowing lanterns, music, dance and night time tower climbs bring magic & history together.   Lantern Fest will be celebrated on Saturday, November 19 from 6-10 pm on the park grounds at Crooked River Lighthouse, 1975 Highway 98 West, Carrabelle Beach, FL. This unique, outdoor festival, best known for its awesome display of over a hundred colorful, hanging lanterns, lights up the night with magic and history at the 1895 maritime landmark. Special activities include amazing music by The Bottom Dollar Boys, the spectacular glow-in-the-dark performance from the Tallahassee Community College Dance Company, special evening tower climbs, ancient craft demonstrations, enchanting glowing lantern display, museum displays, gift shop, and delicious food and desserts. Don’t miss this evening of music, dance, night tower climbs, glowing lanterns and yummy food. Admission is $10 for adults and $2 for children in advance for an evening of music, dance, and glowing lanterns. Tickets will be on sale soon.   Featured on the program will be a remarkably gifted and entertaining musical group, The Bottom Dollar Boys. This group has been delighting audiences for over 40 years, with traditional Bluegrass harmonies and mighty fine pickin’. They’ve been toilin’ in the fields of Bluegrass, Old Country, Gospel, Americana with a pinch of Blues.   In addition, the talented Tallahassee Community College Dance Company will dazzle guests on the outdoor stage with their superb choreography, amazing talent and imaginative use of glow-in-the-dark props and illusions. The TCC Dance Company has been inspiring creative dancers for over 20 years years and the college has an admirable outreach program which enables these students to perform for audiences all over the state. Crooked River Lighthouse is honored that these excellent dancers will be performing at Lantern Fest again this year.   Come revel in this unique birthday party as the Crooked River Lighthouse turns 127 years old! For more information including pre-paid admission once sales open, go to https://www.crookedriverlighthouse.com/lantern-fest/ or contact (850) 697-2732 or carrabellelighthouse@gmail.com. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council. Special thanks to the City of Carrabelle.

Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Small Business Saturday   The Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce is proud to be a major supporter of business and our community and an official Neighborhood Champion for the Small Business Saturday campaign on Saturday, November 26 from 10:00 am-5:00 pm. Small Business Saturday encourages people to patronize small businesses during the holiday season and throughout the year. The Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce is making Shop Small Saturday a celebration of shopping, food, art, history, and fun in Carrabelle. Customers can take advantage of sales and promotions that are available on this special day. This event is a free and open to the public showcase that will take place at a variety of shops, restaurants, galleries, and museums that make up the wonderful community of Carrabelle. Make a full weekend of it and come down for the wonderful music and events available around town! For more information, contact Lori Dougherty at (850) 697-2585 or chamber@nettally.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! The Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce would like to invite residents and visitors to the 2022 Holiday on the Harbor Street Festival & Boat Parade of Lights Saturday, December 10 from 1 - 8 pm in beautiful downtown Carrabelle. This festival has become a favorite Christmas tradition for the community and the entire Forgotten Coast! Admission to Holiday on the Harbor and to the Boat Parade is free. Holiday on the Harbor will feature a street festival presenting terrific children’s activities like visits with Santa and his elves, bouncy house, face painting, and mini-train rides. This event will also include yummy holiday treats, vendors with delicious food and wonderful products for holiday gifts, and special music. The majority of the festivities will take place along the Carrabelle Harbor down Marine Street.   While in Carrabelle, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to get some of your holiday shopping completed with unique and one of kind items at Carrabelle’s wonderful shops and art galleries conveniently located within walking distance in and around the festival footprint. Many open early so you can snag the best holiday specials. Then enjoy your choice of delicious fresh seafood or tasty downhome cooking at one of our several cafes and restaurants. After enjoying an afternoon and evening of food, festivities, and fun, guests are invited to watch the magical Christmas parade of festive boats decked out in lights, décor, music and even some holiday outfits! Find a spot at the water’s edge and enjoy this parade with double the lights as the Carrabelle harbor beautifully reflects back the glow of the lighted boat decorations. Don’t miss this truly special nautical Christmas tradition. See this parade from an unbeatable viewing point by entering your own decorated boat for free! The boat parade starts at approximately 6:15 pm and proceeds along the Carrabelle River and Harbor between the Fishing Pavilion on Marine Street & the Tillie Miller Bridge on US 98 so it can be enjoyed from many viewing spots along the route. (Please stay on public access areas only. Do not enter private property.) The boat parade trophies for each boat category and the Marina Challenge Trophy, complete with a year’s worth of braggin’ rights will be awarded, at a ceremony at C-Quarters. The grand finale of the festival is a fantastic fireworks display courtesy of the City of Carrabelle! Those interested in becoming a vendor or entering a boat in the parade, should contact the Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce. For more information and registrations, please visit https://www.carrabelle.org/ or contact Chamber@nettally.com or 850-697-2585. Funded in part by Carrabelle CRA and the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

Carrabelle invites you . . . . Relax, kick back and join in the fun!  ‌

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