Spring is in the air, and the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida is gearing up for its 2016 Saturday in the Park Festival and Heritage 5k, April 30, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Perrine Park and the Heritage Museum, in Valparaiso.
This free community event serves to showcase Northwest Florida heritage with free Museum admission, historic re-enactments and traditional craft demonstrations. With a little something for everyone, guests will also enjoy live entertainment, craft & food vendors, a Kid Zone, a flower show, and a car show & shine.
This year marks the 40th Annual Saturday in the Park.
The day’s festivities kicks off at 8 a.m. with the start of the Heritage 5k Run/Walk & Kids 1 Mile Fun Run, following a traditional opening ceremony with invocation, presentation of colors by Niceville High School ROTC and the National Anthem sung by the Plew Elementary Choir beginning at 7:45 a.m.
With free admission all day, take a tour of the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida. See unique exhibits of early industries and this year’s featured exhibit; “Crestview L & N” commemorating the City of Crestview’s Centennial year. The kids will love the Discovery Room with hands-on exhibits, while the adults will delight in “Paradise Gardens”, an outdoor exhibit created and managed by the Valparaiso Garden Club. Be sure to check-out the Garden Club’s “Bees, Birds & Butterflies Flower Show” in the Trinity Presbyterian Church hall near Perrine Park at Saturday in the Park.
Enjoy a variety of entertainment including choirs, bands and dancing, as well as historic re-enactments from the Shire Phoenix, and the Union Rebels. See traditional craft demonstrations including spinners, bobbin’ lace, tatting, basket and loom weaving, chair caning, and more. Plus, guests can view the Mustang & Antique Car Show & Shine all day at Saturday in the Park.
The “Kid Zone” has so many things to do… make sure you take time to experience it all. The Army Recruiter Station is coming out with swag and yard games. Plus, there will be a visit from Officer Snook and as always, old-fashioned games and toys, SpaceWalk, arts & crafts, face painting and more. Sign-ups begin at 12 Noon for old-fashioned contests; watermelon eating, bubble gum blowing, and a sack race. Winners get a free pass to the Gulfarium on Okaloosa Island. Limited contest space. Old-fashioned contests starts at 1:30 p.m.
There will be plenty of handicap parking and a golf cart shuttle from Lincoln Park and surrounding streets. Vendor spaces are still available for Arts/Crafts, Non-profit/Gov’t Agencies/Clubs. Go to: www.heritage-museum.org, call: 850-678-2615 or email: info@heritage-museum.org.
Schedule of Events
7:00 AM Registration/Packet Pick-up – Heritage 5k Run/Walk & Fun Run
7:45 AM Opening Ceremony
Invocation: Trinity Presbyterian Church, Ben Rossell, Pastor
Presentation of Colors: Niceville High School ROTC
National Anthem: Plew Elementary Choir
8:00 AM Start-Heritage 5k (1 Mile Fun Run follows)
Civil War Re-enactors will fire muskets to start Race
8:00 AM Plew Elementary Choir
8:30 AM Irish Blend Dancers
9:00 AM Emerald Coast Pipes & Drums
9:30 AM Show & Shine Mustang and Antique Car Parade
10:00 AM 5k Race Awards – Emcee: Aimee Shaffer
11:00 AM FWB Community Chorus
11:30 AM A Dance Studio
12:00PM BellaNova-Classic hits for all ages
1:00 PM Pyramid Inc.
1:30 PM Old Fashioned Contests (Watermelon, Bubble Gum, Sack Race)
2:30 PM Palmer ATA Taekwondo
3:00 PM Lewis Jazz Band
3:30 PM Brett Cato-Musician
All day: -Free Museum Admission
-Historic Re-enactments & Craft Demonstrations
-Mustang & Antique Car Show & Shine
-Kid Zone with old-fashioned contests
-Live Entertainment
-Arts, Crafts & Food Vendors
-Bees, Birds & Butterflies Flower Show (Trinity Church Hall)
-And more…
This event is made possible through generous donations from community sponsors and a matching grant from Culture Builds Florida and Okaloosa County.
Preserving the Past, Building our Future – The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to historic preservation and education.
Event: 40th Saturday in the Park Festival and Heritage 5k
Place: Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida & Perrine Park
115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso, FL
Date: Saturday, APRIL 30, 2016
Time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. – 40th Saturday in the Park Festival
7 a.m. – Heritage 5K Registration/Check-in
7:45 a.m. – Opening Ceremony Begins
8 a.m. – 5K start
Contact: 850-678-2615 info@heritage-museum.org
