Celebrate Choctawhatchee Bay with 2024 Family Bay Day in Niceville

NICEVILLE, Fla. — The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, in partnership with the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program, is hosting the 2024 Family Bay Day at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park in Niceville on Sept. 28.

The free event, part of the Mattie Kelly Environmental Initiative and supported by the Northwest Florida State College Foundation, will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. According to organizers, Family Day will celebrate the beauty and ecological importance of Choctawhatchee Bay.

Family Bay Day will include hands-on educational activities at Exploration Stations, featuring fish printing and other interactive ways to explore the bay’s ecosystem.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program for this event, which not only brings our community together but also fosters a deeper appreciation for our local environment,” said Alison McDowell, Executive Director of the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance.

The event is open to all ages, and attendees are encouraged to bring their families and friends for a fun and educational outdoor experience. Family Bay Day is free; however, the park’s entrance fee is $5 per vehicle.

In addition to the event, the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance is launching its 2024 Amateur Photo Contest, part of the Mattie Kelly Environmental Initiative. Photographers of all levels are invited to submit photos that capture the natural beauty of the Northwest Florida region.

The top three submissions will receive cash prizes, and the winning photos will be featured in the 2025 MKEI Calendar. The submission deadline is Sept. 22, 2024.

For more information on the Family Bay Day or the photo contest, email CBA@nwfsc.edu.