Natural North Florida–Music and Fun–There’s Country, Western and More!

There’s a great line in the movie, “The Blues Brothers”, where the owner of Bob’s Country Bunker explains to the band that they play all kinds of music—“Country…AND Western”!  Well, despite the fact that our region made up of 14 mostly-rural north Florida counties furnish America lots of cattle, soybeans, peanuts and seafood, we enjoy …

Doug Johnson Reeling For Kids Fishing Tournament, May 31 & June 1, 2018, Steinhatchee, Florida

The Doug Johnson Reeling For Kids Fishing Tournament is scheduled for May 31 & June 1, 2018, at Steinhatchee, Florida.  Started over 15 years ago, the event has become one of the largest fishing tournaments on Florida’s Big Bend.  It benefits the Boys and Girls Clubs of Alachua County, and just last year donated over …

“The Granddaddy of All Tournaments”–Optimist Club of Perry Saltwater Fishing Tournament, at Steinhatchee, May 5, 2018

Now in its 27th year, the annual Optimist Club of Perry, FL Saltwater Fishing Tournament has become one of the largest fishing events on Natural North Florida’s Big Bend.  While Perry is landlocked, it’s the county seat of Taylor County, which has some of the best saltwater angling in the state.  And appropriately, the event …

2018 Shands Saltwater Trout Tournament, Steinhatchee, April 29, Sea Hag Marina

The Shands Fishing For Kids Saltwater Trout Tournament, one of the largest and most popular fishing events in our Natural North Florida region takes place on Saturday, April 28 at Steinhatchee.  Weigh-in and a celebratory fish fry will be held at the Sea Hag Marina. With some excellent (and guaranteed) payouts, this promises to be …

Florida State Bluegrass Festival, April 5-7, 2018, in Perry, Florida

One of the best events in the Southeast…The Florida State Bluegrass Festival.   Featuring three days of awesome bluegrass music by some of the most renowned artists in the country…a grand Chili Cook-off hosted by the Perry Police Department with all proceeds benefitting Special Olympics and the Shop with a Cop program. There will also …

Perry–Much More Than Florida’s Forest Capital!

There’s something for everyone when you visit Perry, Florida–Florida’s Forest Capital! Yes, Perry’s main industry still revolves around pine trees and the products produced by the wood harvested nearby.  But there’s more to see and experience in Perry, and it’s certainly worth a visit if you’re traveling down US19/98 into our Natural North Florida region. …

Big Bend Shellfish Trail–Florida’s Working Waterfront Communities

Shellfish harvest and consumption in Florida is an important facet of the maritime heritage of many coastal towns. Natural North Florida’s Big Bend has several towns that still harbor local shellfish fisheries. These working waterfront communities are places where present day fishers carry on the traditions of past generations. The Big Bend Shellfish Trail Map …

2017 Bay Scalloping On Florida’s Nature Coast–An Abundance of Tasty Bivalves!

It’s July, and Natural North Florida’s 2017 recreational bay scallop harvest is off to a roaring start.  The harvest began on June 16 for the waters from Suwannee (in Dixie County) to the Fenholloway River (in Taylor County) and ends on September 10.  The remainder of Taylor County, all of Levy County, Jefferson and Wakulla …

It’s Not Too Late To Prepare For the Big Bend’s 2017 Scallop Harvest

It’s June and there’s just another month until the fun begins! New dates apply for the 2017 Florida Recreational Bay Scallop Harvest, particularly in all of Dixie County and part of Taylor County.  Those two counties are the nexus of the harvest on our Natural North Florida Gulf coast. “The 2017 bay scallop season for …

It’s Springtime In Natural North Florida–Plan Some Festival Fun!

By the time mid-February rolls around, folks in our Natural North Florida region are really tired of all those “cold” 50-degree nights and 70-degree days.  Yes, we’re spoiled! In February we’ll have a few quick, wet and windy, cold fronts move through the area and we’ll have to bundle up with a sweater and maybe …