Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce

Special Exhibit: Canines and Cartoonists
2024-03-28 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-27 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-26 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-23 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-22 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-21 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-20 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-19 11:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) and 6 more dates | Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum, 1873 Hwy 98 West, Carrabelle, FL, 32322, United States
Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum in Carrabelle is presenting two special exhibits throughout the month of March – one to honor our country’s canine military veterans and the other to recognize the role of cartoonists in WWII. These exhibits will open Tuesday, March 5 and will be on display at the museum until Saturday, March 30. The museum is open every Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. There is no charge for admission but donations are gladly accepted.
National K9 Veterans Day, March 13, is a day set aside to recognize and honor the service and sacrifices of American military and working dogs. Dogs served in many capacities in wartime, including in WWII, as messengers and sentry dogs, but did you know that they were also trained for mine and explosive detection, finding injured soldiers and flushing enemy troops from hidden spaces? Dogs’ keen sense of smell and acute hearing made them valuable assets in war and today for national security. This exhibit will recognize the important service that they loyally performed during WWII.
During WWII, the press was essential for keeping the public informed in wartime, but cartoonists and cartoons played a unique role in bringing the war to citizens. The cartoon figure and possibly America’s earliest meme, Kilroy, is actually engraved on the WWII Memorial in the National Mall in Washington DC. Camp Gordon Johnston Museum will share images of familiar characters like Private Snafu, Donald Duck, Willie and Joe, and Kilroy who all play a prominent part in WWII history. The exhibit will also present the works of cartoonists like Bill Maudlin and Dave Breger, as well as the animated works by Disney and Warner Brothers that served as both propaganda for citizens and training for servicemen.
Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum is located in Carrabelle, directly across from Carrabelle Public Beach Park at 1873 Hwy 98 West. For more information, contact the museum at (850) 697-8575 or museum@campgordonjohnston.com. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

Special Exhibit: Tate’s Hell, the Legend, Tate's Hell, the Place
2024-03-28 10:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-27 12:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-24 12:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-23 10:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-22 10:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-21 10:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-20 12:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-17 12:00 - 17:00 and 1 more date | Carrabelle History Museum, 106 SE Avenue B, Carrabelle, FL, 32322, United States
The Carrabelle History Museum is presenting a special exhibit, “Tate’s Hell, the Legend, Tate’s Hell, the Place”. This exhibit will open on Saturday, March 16 and run through Saturday, April 27. The museum is open Wednesdays from 12 noon to 5 pm, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm and Sundays 12 noon to 5 pm. There is no charge for admission; donations are gratefully accepted to defray costs.
This Tate’s Hell exhibit will explore the many facets of the legend of Tate’s Hell, the misadventures and fate of Cebe Tate, and how Tate’s Hell State Forest got its name. Wildlife and landscape photos taken in Tate’s Hell by John Spohrer and Jon Johnson will be on display. This exhibit will also include the song, The Ballad of Tate’s Hell by Will McLean and performed by Frank Lindamood and the FSU Department of Communications’ 1983 short film, “A Tale of Tate’s Hell”. “In the folk region, people are wedded to the land, and the land holds memories. The people themselves possess identity and ancestry, through continuous occupation of the same soil. Local events can flower into legend and ballad and proverb, and village ways can harden into custom.” Richard M. Corson in American Folklore.
Carrabelle History Museum is located at SE 106 Avenue B, Carrabelle, FL. For more information, go to www.carrabellehistorymuseum.org or contact 850-697-2141 or carrabellehistorymuseum@gmail.com, Sponsored by C-Quarters Marina and Shaun Donahoe Realty. Funding in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

2024 Pen to Paper Writer Series
2024-03-25 14:00 - 15:00 | Carrabelle Branch Library, 311 St James Ave, Carrabelle, FL, 32322, United States
The Franklin County Public Libraries hosts the next installment of their popular writers’ series, “Pen to Paper” on Monday, March 25 at 2 pm at the Carrabelle Branch Library. This session will feature authors Pat Stanford and Dawn Radford along with guest, Debbie Hooper. The Carrabelle Branch Library is located at 311 St. James Avenue (Hwy 98), Carrabelle, FL.
During the series, authors will discuss the works they have written and those in progress, followed by a question and answer session. These friendly and informal sessions provide an opportunity to meet these authors and question their experiences. They are open to anyone interested in learning about the writers or the writing process. There is no charge to attend.
Pat Stanford is an award-winning author and poet with the non-fiction Fixing Boo Boo, a story of traumatic brain injury, and two books of poetry Proverbs of My Season, Poetry of Transition, and a Motley Miscellany, Misfit Poems That Fit Together. All have won gold medals from the Florida Authors and Publishers Association’s Annual President’s Book Awards. She was born in Philadelphia, but moved to Florida with her farming family when she was a year old. She has poetry published in several anthologies and won second place in the 2004 Seven Hills Contest with her short story Divorce Sale. She lives in Tallahassee with her husband and rambunctious puppy and is currently working on a book of short stories as well as a second nonfiction.
Dawn Radford grew up in Apalachicola and later earned her Masters in Creative Writing and English from the University of North Carolina. Dawn Radford is both a published novelist and poet. She wrote a novel based in the panhandle area called Oyster Flats, a fictional tale set in a remote fishing village on the Florida Panhandle. She was the recipient of the prestigious Sherwood Anderson Award in 1993. Published and recognized in a variety of genres including poetry, short story, essay and scholarly research, she has taught in educational, literary, community and professional settings. She facilitates the local writer’s forum at the Eastpoint Branch Library which gets together each month.
Debbie Hooper, a seasoned photographer, has published a tribute to Blast on the Bay Nashville Singer Songwriter Festival. In her book, 10 Year Blast on the Bay, Hooper weaves together pictures and reflective insights chronicling a decade of the Port St. Joe festival. What follows is a visual tribute of these precious moments preserved and collected by Debbie Hooper.
Upcoming Pen to Paper events:
Monday, April 15, 2:00 pm – Dale Cox & Thomas Becknell
Monday, May 13, 2:00 pm – Anthony Lee Watkins & David Adlerstein
This series is sponsored by the Friends of the Franklin County Public Libraries. For more information on this event, please contact the Carrabelle Branch Library at (850) 697-2366.

Full Moon Event with "Boats A Rock'n"
2024-03-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Crooked River Lighthouse, 1975 Hwy 98 West, Carrabelle, FL, 32322, United States
The Crooked River Lighthouse will be hosting a Full Moon Event on Sunday, March 24, from 7:00-9:00 pm in Carrabelle, FL. Visitors can enjoy the gorgeous natural surroundings of St. George Sound and Carrabelle Beach under the glow of the full moon.
At this month’s Full Moon event, gifted musical trio, “Boats A Rock’n” will be performing a wide range of upbeat, toe-tapping tunes spanning musical styles from reggae, folk, jazz, rock, blues as well as a few originals. This lively group features singer songwriter, Susan David on acoustic rhythm guitar, harmonica and lead vocals along with Terry Koral on lead guitar and vocals and David Riggs on bass guitar.
Visitors can have an after-hours visit to the Keeper’s House Museum and see the exhibit for the lighthouse’s original, historic Fresnel lens. Guests may also enjoy the glowing bonfire in the park (weather permitting). Bring a chair and enjoy the evening. Recommended donation for this event is $5 to support the lighthouse and help offset the additional costs for these after-hours events and can be made either via https://www.crookedriverlighthouse.com/full-moon-events/ or at “the gate”.
Full Moon tower climbs are scheduled at 15-minute intervals throughout the event for those brave souls who are bold enough to venture to the top of the tallest Forgotten Coast lighthouse. Climbers will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the bay. Evening climbs cost $10 and tower climb ticket reservations are encouraged due to limited availability. Climbers must be at least 44 inches tall and children under 12 (FREE) with ticketed adults. Advance ticket purchase is strongly suggested as slots may sell out.
B.O.G.O. ‘Early Bird’ Special– BUY ONE Tower Climb reservation ($10), GET ONE Full Moon Event Admission Ticket ($5 value) FREE. This BOGO Special offer is available ONLINE ONLY until 5 pm March 24th as time slots last. Reservations are available at: https://www.crookedriverlighthouse.com/full-moon-events/.
Crooked River Lighthouse is located in Carrabelle, just west of the Carrabelle Public Beach Park at 1975 Hwy 98 W, Carrabelle. For more information, contact the gift shop at 850-697-2732, carrabellelighthouse@gmail.com or https://www.crookedriverlighthouse.com/. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

Carrabelle Culture Crawl
2024-03-16 10:00 - 15:00 | Carrabelle History Museum, 106 SE Avenue B, Carrabelle, FL, 32322, United States
Art. Music. Heritage. Fun.
The Carrabelle History Museum is hosting the Carrabelle Culture Crawl on Saturday, March 16, 2024, 10 am to 3 pm. This cultural event is a free celebration of amazing local culture, art, music, history, food, and fun in the heart of downtown Carrabelle. This is a wonderful opportunity to add a bit more fun as you experience the wonderful local culture that Carrabelle has to offer.
The Carrabelle History Museum will be bringing live music and entertainment outdoors to the streets of Carrabelle, with Florida folk music, classic country, modern songs, and favorite oldies. A variety of musicians will be performing outdoors for all to enjoy including Florida Folk musician, Frank Lindamood, the Bog Lilies, Boats a Rock’n with Susan David, Cody Barber and Tom Magnam. Toes will be tapping to the fun tunes spun by DJ Beanie Baby. Visitors will again spot fun, costumed characters from the Fishy Fashion Show wandering the streets. These walking photo ops are a fan-favorite at the Crawl.
Art will abound at the Crawl featuring some local artists and artisans as well as several internationally acclaimed artists being hosted by Forgotten Coast en Plein Air. There will be art to view at a variety of shops and galleries. Guests are encouraged to come early to watch the Forgotten Coast en Plein Air Quickdraw Competition from 9 am -11 am with up to 75 artists capturing Carrabelle and creating art as spectators watch. The always popular public art drawing and coloring activity will be hung in storefront windows. Sidewalk chalk will be available to allow their creativity to flow. And kids and families will enjoy making their own take home art with the handmade card activity. Be sure to stroll over to see Carrabelle’s two large, stunning murals!
Returning this year will be a Car Cruise-In on Marine Street with a variety of beautiful classic, vintage, and even modern cars to the Crawl! Car enthusiasts can check out a vintage Lotus 7, a 1924 Model T Truck and more!
Learn about the culture and local history of the area by visiting the exhibit at the Carrabelle History Museum on Avenue B including the new exhibit, Tate’s Hell the Place, Tate’s Hell the Legend. At 2 pm, there will be an official opening and the museum will be joined by the photographers and painters who helped create this exhibit plus Tate’s Hell forestry staff including Smokey Bear himself. Discover the booms and busts of Carrabelle’s history like the by-gone eras when local logging and lumber merchants, steamships, and shrimping vessels lined the vast and deep Carrabelle River as the very popular Shipwrecks of Dog Island exhibit. While on Avenue B and downtown Carrabelle, be sure to visit the exhibitors and authors including WWII Army training on Carrabelle Beach, cast net throwing demonstrations, Carrabelle’s rich nautical history, and more.
Carrabelle’s delicious food offerings will again be celebrated. Carrabelle’s local restaurants and cafes will be offering fresh seafood, award-winning crab cakes, bulgogi, amazing pizzas, salads, authentic deli sandwiches, egg rolls, burgers, and more. Plus joining the Crawl will be A Train Stop food truck with grouper sandwiches, wings and more.
Come to Carrabelle early to enjoy the addition of the exciting Forgotten Coast en Plein Air Quickdraw Competition. The Quickdraw requires artists to complete an entire piece of art in just two hours and will be bringing about 75 artists to Carrabelle on Saturday from 9 am – 11 am. The Quickdraw offers artists a chance to wow audiences as they are both engulfed in the creative process. Spectators get to see various Carrabelle scenes be interpreted and come to life on canvas right before them. The competition begins at 9 am and finishes at 11 am. Judging will be from 11:30-12:30 with awards announced at the City Fishing Pavilion on Marine Street.
And of course guests can enjoy the challenge of the Carrabelle Scavenger Hunt. For each location, a fun clue will be provided. The scavenger hunt is a great way to learn fun facts about Carrabelle’s history that might be unknown. Guests can start at the Carrabelle History Museum and visit as many of the wonderful locations as they would like.
For more information, contact the Carrabelle History Museum, SE 106 Avenue B, Carrabelle, FL at 850-697-2141, carrabellehistorymuseum@gmail.com, www.carrabellehistorymuseum.org. Volunteers and sponsors are needed. Funding in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council. A big thank you to the sponsors of this year’s Crawl: Duke Energy, Inovia Consulting Group, Florida Arts & Culture, Franklin’s Promise Coalition and Weems Memorial Hospital.

Coastal Quilt Show 2024 by Lanark Village Wandering Star Quilters
2024-03-16 09:00 - 15:00 | Chillas Hall, 156 Heffernan Drive, Lanark Village, FL, 32323
LANARK VILLAGE WANDERING STAR QUILTERS
Coastal Quilt Show 2024
The guild is celebrating 32 years of stitching and friendship. Plan to attend this show featuring 17 throw-size quilts made by this outstanding guild. Purchase your raffle tickets for a chance to win any of these coastal-inspired quilts! Drop your stubs in the jar for the quilt(s) of your choice.
Raffle Baskets * Quilter’s Boutique * Viewer’s Choice Ballot.
FREE indoor show open to the public. Raffle drawings start @ 2pm. Do not have to be present to win!
A portion of proceeds benefit Franklin County Senior Center, Carrabelle, FL
This FREE indoor show is held in even years and open to the public.
Saturday, March 16, 2024
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Chillas Hall – 156 Heffernan Drive
Lanark Village, Florida
Lanark Village Wandering Star Quilters Facebook Group
Contact: (406) 660-0760

Country Farmer’s Market
2024-03-16 09:00 - 13:00 | Crooked River Lighthouse, 1975 Hwy 98 West, Carrabelle, FL, 32322, United States
The Country Farmer’s Market will be held on held every 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturdays from 9:00 am-1:00 pm at the Crooked River Lighthouse Park, 1975 Hwy 98 West, Carrabelle, FL.
The open-air market, at the foot of the lighthouse, features local vendors with perfect gifts and goodies like farm-fresh produce, grass-fed beef, delicious baked goods like cinnamon rolls and artisan breads and cookies, batch roasted coffee, gorgeous art, handcrafted balms and soaps, and handmade goods and craft items.
Guests can also visit the free Museum and browse inside the Lighthouse Gift Shop for unique, nautical-themed holiday 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, carrabellelighthouse@gmail.com or www.crookedriverlighthouse.com. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

5th Annual Dice Run for Camp Gordon Johnston
2024-03-09 11:30 - 16:30 | Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum, 1873 Hwy 98 West, Carrabelle, FL, 32322, United States
Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum and the American Legion Post 82 Camp Gordon Johnston have joined forces to host the bigger than ever 5th Annual Dice Run on Saturday, March 9, 2024 from 11:30 am – 4:30 pm in Carrabelle, FL as part of the 29th Annual Camp Gordon Johnston Day. The Dice Run will take place immediately following the CGJ Veterans Parade and is a much-needed fundraiser to support the missions of both Camp Gordon Johnston Museum and American Legion Post 82. The funds raised are used to share the stories of those who trained at Camp Gordon Johnston and those who served in WWII and to honor all our military veterans.
During this event, participants will enjoy a leisurely ride or drive along the Forgotten Coast on beautiful coastal US Highway 98 to various fun stops, rolling dice at each one. All types of vehicles are welcome to participate. At the end of the day, those with the highest and the lowest combined dice rolls will win prizes. There will be additional stops around the county and then the run will conclude by 4:30 pm at the American Legion Post 82 in Lanark . This year the final stop party will be better than ever with a butts and clucks dinner and live music and of course, winner prizes, door prizes, and a 50/50 raffle.
Registration for the Dice Run is available now online at https://cgjevents.ticketleap.com/dicerun5/. Tickets are available for $25 a person. That price includes the ride, one dice run card, a door prize ticket, and a butts and clucks dinner with live music. On-site registration for the Dice Run will also be available starting at 11:30 am at the first Dice Run stop, Camp Gordon Johnston Museum, 1873 US Hwy 98 West, at Carrabelle Beach, FL. Additional dice cards, 50/50 raffle tickets, meals, and other options are also available for purchase online.
Guests are urged to come to Carrabelle before the Dice Run to enjoy the Veterans Parade either as a participant or a spectator. The parade, which honors and recognizes military veterans and active duty military, will start Saturday, March 9 at 10:45 am along US Hwy 98 in downtown Carrabelle. Visitors are also welcome to visit the museum to learn amazing stories of the region’s WWII heroes and see the remarkable artifacts. The museum will be open from 11 am to 5 pm. While in Carrabelle, participants are encouraged to stay for the weekend (or the week) and enjoy a variety of community activities, attractions, and restaurants.
Camp Gordon Johnston Museum and American Legion Post 82 are seeking sponsors, volunteers, and door prize donors for this event. Camp Gordon Johnston Association and American Legion Post 82 are both 501c3 nonprofits. For more information, go to https://www.campgordonjohnston.com/visit/cgj-days/, the museum’s Facebook page or (850) 697-8575.
Sponsored by Emerald Coast Federal Credit Union, the Apalachicola Yacht Club, and Stauffer Realty. Funding provided by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council, the City of Carrabelle, and the Camp Gordon Johnston Association.

Camp Gordon Johnston Veterans Parade
2024-03-09 10:30 - 11:30 | Downtown Carrabelle Parade Route, Hwy 98 & Tallahassee St, Carrabelle, FL, 32322, United States
Celebrate the Annual Camp Gordon Johnston Parade on Saturday, March 9, 2024, starting at 10:45 am ET in Carrabelle, FL.
Honor our country’s remaining WWII veterans as well as recognize and salute all veterans from WWII to present. All veterans, their family and friends as well as the general public are asked to come to Carrabelle to join the celebration of our military veterans.
The Camp Gordon Johnston Parade pays tribute to all veterans of all branches of service. This community parade typically features vintage museum vehicles like the WWII DUKW, Willis Jeep, and German Lieferwagen. In addition, entries usually include other military vehicles, motorcycles, JROTC units, color guards, veteran organizations and auxiliary units, and of course, many civic and community floats, decorated golf carts, gorgeous classic cars, Shriners and beauty queens of all ages. The parade will wind through downtown Carrabelle along US Hwy 98.
Camp Gordon Johnston Museum invites everyone to participate in the Camp Gordon Johnston Parade. Participants do not need any military affiliation to participate, just an appreciation for veterans and military. There is no cost to participate in the parade. For best parade placement, participants are asked to fill out the parade application found at https://www.campgordonjohnston.com/visit/cgj-days/ and return it by Monday, March 4.
Immediately following the parade will be the CGJ Dice Run. For more info: 5th Annual Dice Run
Sponsored by Emerald Coast Federal Credit Union, the Apalachicola Yacht Club, and Stauffer Realty. Funding provided by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council, the City of Carrabelle, and the Camp Gordon Johnston Association.
