Your Weekly Guide to Fun Aug. 28 to Sept. 4

Area codes are 850 unless noted.

Armed Forces Appreciation Day

FORT WALTON BEACH – A day of celebration in tribute to the armed forces and our diverse community will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds. All events will be open to the public, and complimentary admission will be offered to all active and retired military and their dependents (must present military ID for complimentary admission).  Tickets for the general public will be $5/person in advance, and $10 at the venue. Children under 18 are free.

The day will include vendor booths, arts and crafts, food, beverage and children’s activities, along with entertainment including Taylor Hicks, Kimberley Locke and The Tribute Beatles Show included with admission. Several surviving members of the Army parachute regiment E-Company, profiled in the bestselling book and HBO mini-series “Band of Brothers,” will be in town. Beer will be available for purchase at the venue. Bring a lawn chair and blanket to; bleacher seating will be available. No coolers will be allowed. 

To purchase tickets, call 244-8191 or visit www.fwbchamber.com/afad.

Exhibits will focus on the contributions and accomplishments of diverse cultures that have long associations with the military, including African-American, Asian, Caribbean, German, Hispanic, Irish, Italian, and Native American. Sample their cuisine, and enjoy the cultural entertainment presented on Stage 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Your Week in Fun

Area codes are 850 unless noted.

Art exhibit: Patriotic Impressions

VALPARAISO – Patriotic Impressions, a new exhibit by Local Color Artists Group, will be on view Tuesdays through Saturdays through Aug. 28 at the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, 115 Westview Ave. Admission is $2, free for HMNF members and children under 4.

Rock the Docks concert

DESTIN – Live entertainment from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 28 at HarborWalk Village.

Murder Can Be Habit-Forming

FORT WALTON BEACH – Stage Crafters Community Theatre present “Murder Can Be Habit-Forming at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28 and 2 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium. Tickets are $15 and available at P.S. Gifts in Fort Walton Beach, Bayou Books in Niceville, Connect With Flowers in Shalimar, all Century 21 offices in Okaloosa County, at the door or online at www.stagecrafters.com.

Youth orchestra auditions

NICEVILLE – The Northwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra will hold auditions for musicians in 6th to 12th grade Aug. 29 in the orchestra room of the Music Wing at the Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College. Auditions for woodwinds, brass and percussionists will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 29. Registration forms and audition materials are available at www.imastringteacher.com. Call 651-4308.         

Taylor Haugen Day

DESTIN – The Taylor Haugen Foundation has teamed up with Big Kahuna’s Water and Adventure Park to host a charity event beginning at 10 a.m. Aug. 29 at Big Kahuna’s Water Park. Tickets will be available through the Taylor Haugen Youth Corp with all proceeds going towards the foundation. A table will be set up on the day of the event where the #80 “Don’t Quit- Never Give Up” armbands worn by Tim Tebow will be distributed in addition to car magnets, stickers and more. Call 837-8319, ext. 30.

Auditions: Schola Cantorum

NICEVILLE – Auditions will be held at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 30 in the music wing of the Mattie Kelly Fine and Performing Arts Center, Bldg. J, Room 312 on the NWFSC Niceville Campus for additional members for Northwest Florida State College’s Schola Cantorum. Auditions can be arranged by calling the director, John Leatherwood, at 830-2062. Individuals interested in auditioning should be able to read music. Previous experience reading music and singing in choral groups is desired.

Shark Tank exhibit

DESTIN – The Shark Tank Exhibit at the Destin History and Fishing Museum is ready for viewing at 108 Stahlman Ave. The “shark tank” is visible from the road and houses three shark mounts and other seafloor life.

Chuck Lawson

DESTIN ­– Professional singer, songwriter and musician Chuck Lawson will perform from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 1 at Pompano Joe’s.

Red, White and Blue Celebration

DESTIN – A weekly ceremony that honors local heroes is held at 7 p.m. every Thursday at HarborWalk Village. The Highsteppers Dance troupe and other local dance teams will perform and a mini air show follows the hero's recognition. A fireworks display begins at 8:30 p.m.

Downtown Art Walk

FORT WALTON BEACH – The merchants of Downtown Fort Walton Beach sponsor the Downtown Art Walk from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 3. Artists will display, some shops will serve wine and snacks and musicians will perform at selected locations. Call 244-8191.  

Greek Festival

OKALOOSA ISLAND – The 19th Annual Greek Festival will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. Sept. 3, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 4 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Emerald Coast Conference Center. Enjoy a variety of homemade Greek foods and traditional dance performances and live entertainment. Assorted gift shops, arts and crafts are available in addition to an open auction.

Art exhibit: Taking Flight, Taking Root

FORT WALTON BEACH – Artist Laurel Siwicki will present her solo show, Taking Flight, Taking Root, from Sept. 4 to Oct. 2 at Full Circle Gallery. An opening reception will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 4 with an artist talk at 7 p.m. Siwicki will also hold two workshops, Journey Sculpturel, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 11 and Angel Sculpturel from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 6. Call 362-8041.

Movie night

FORT WALTON BEACH – A free movie, “G-Force,” can be seen at 8 p.m. Sept. 4 at Uptown Station. Bring blankets, lawn chairs and coolers. (No pets or glass containers.)

A Musical Farewell to Summer

SANDESTIN – The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation and Grand Boulevard at Sandestin will present “A Musical Farewell to Summer — An Evening With David Seering” featuring the Joe Occhipinti Orchestra at 7 p.m. Sept. 5 at Grand Park in Grand Boulevard. Food and beverages will be available for purchase by Cantina Laredo in Grand Park. Admission is $10, children under 12 free. Tickets are on sale through the Beaches of South Walton Kiosk Center at Grand Boulevard. Chairs will be provided for ticketed patrons.

The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation will host a ticketed pre-concert reception at 6 p.m. at Cantina Laredo. To purchase reception tickets, contact the MKAF office at 650-2226.