Upcoming Arts and Entertainment 2-18

Area codes are 850 unless noted.

Film series

DESTIN – The Destin Library’s Independent Film Series is held at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month. The unrated foreign films, for mature audiences, are open to the public with seating on a first-come-first-served basis. Call 837-8572.

Call to Artists

DESTIN – The Okaloosa Arts Alliance announces a call for artists and crafters for the Fifth annual Family Fun Arts Fest, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 12 at Henderson Beach State Park.  Vendors that register by March 30t receive a 10 percent discount.  Vendors must apply by April 30.  Vendor forms are available at www.okaloosaarts.org or email abaty@okaloosaarts.org.

Destin Harmony

SANTA ROSA BEACH – The Destin Harmony trio will perform songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s during happy hour at 4 p.m. Fridays at Marie’s Bistro.

Winter Concert

DESTIN – The NWFSC Show Choir will perform at the Winter Concert Series finale from 2-4 p.m. Feb. 26 at HarborWalk Village. Concert is free and open to the public.

Sock hop

OKALOOSA ISLAND – The second annual Snowbird Appreciation Sock Hop will be held from 6-11 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center. Enjoy live music, costume and dance contests and a cash bar. Tickets are $8/advance and $12/door. Call 609-3800.

MARCH 2012

First Arts Concerts

FORT WALTON BEACH — Tickets are on sale for the 23rd season of First Arts Concerts at www.firstartsconcerts.org. For information, call 863-2436 or 243-9292. Season Tickets are $60/adults and $30/full time students under age 18.  Individual concert tickets are $15/adults and $8/students. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church.

• March 2: Festival of Four

Wine, Women & Shoes

A weekend of Wine, Women & Shoes to raise funds in support of local PBS television station, WSRE, will be held locally March 2-4. Wine lovers, men and women, will meet some of the country’s top winemakers, savor dinners prepared by top chefs, bid on auction packages and shop the latest trends in a designer marketplace.

• March 2: Patron Dinners featuring world-class wines and a private chef, all held in Destin residences. Tickets are $250 per person.

• March 3: Elyse Luray, host of PBS hit show “History Detectives” and former appraiser on “Antiques Roadshow”, will be the special VIP guest and auctioneer at the Fourth Annual WSRE “Recipe for Success” Wine Dinner and Live Auction complete with wine stroll, gourmet dinner and a live auction at the Emerald Grande Ballroom. Tickets are $150 per person.

• March 4: Wine, Women & Shoes Signature Event at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort’s Magnolia Ballroom. Enjoy a wine tasting, shopping market of designer shoes and accessories, a silent auction and a fashion show. Tickets are $65 each.

To purchase tickets, visit www.wsre.org/WineWomenShoes or call 484-1054.

Emerald Coast Concert Association

FORT WALTON BEACH – The Emerald Coast Concert Association presents Hotel California, A Tribute to the Eagles, at 7:30 p.m. March 3 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at NWF State College.

• March 12: Andy Cooney’s Forever Irish will come to the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at NWF State College at 7:30 p.m. for a celebration of happy music that makes memories last forever.

Single tickets for the concerts at the Civic Auditorium are available at Kitchenique in Destin/Sandestin; P.S. Gifts in FWB; Connect with Flowers in Shalimar; and Artful Things in Niceville. Tickets for the concerts at Mattie Kelly Arts Center are available at NWFSC Box Office or call 729-6000.

30A Wine Festival

ALYS BEACH – The 30A Wine Festival is a two-day event March 3 and 4, featuring seminars, a wine symposium, and tastings along with food pairings from local restaurants, live music and dancing. Tickets are $300 and include entrance to all events throughout the weekend. Funds will be used for on-going operating funds to sustain the Children’s Volunteer Health Network.  To purchase tickets call 622-3200 or visit www.30awinefestival.com

Mattie Kelly Arts Center

NICEVILE – The 2011-12 season at Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College includes the following. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Call 729-6000 or visit the Box Office between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday to Friday for ticket information.

• March 10: Andy Gross

• May 10: Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein on May 10.

Wednesday Night Concert Series

The Village of Baytowne Wharf presents a free concert with Bucktown Kickback from 6-8 p.m. March 7 in the Events Plaza. Call 267-8186.

• March 14: Season Ammons

• March 21: Heritage

• March 28: Victor Wainwright & the Wildroots

Pensacola Opera

PENSACOLA – The 29th season of the Pensacola Opera presents Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi at 7:30 p.m. March 9 and 2 p.m. March 11 in the Saenger Theatre. Season tickets range from $40-$160 and are available at 433-6737 or www.pensacolaopera.com and are on sale now. Single tickets can be purchased from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Pensacola Opera box office, Saenger Theatre box office or www.ticketmaster.com.

Grogg Games and Irish Street Festival

DESTIN – The Fourth Annual HarborWalk Village Grogg Games & Irish Street Festival will be held from 12-11 p.m. March 17 at HarborWalk Village. Enjoy live Irish music by authentic bagpipers, Irish dancers, classic Irish fare and authentic Irish beers at restaurants. Arts and crafts activities will be available for the wee folks.

Village Grogg March

DESTIN – “Sham-Rock” throughout HarborWalk Village where each venue will entertain with music and games from 8-11 p.m. Get your Pub Passport stamped at all the participating venues throughout the Harbor and you’ll be entered for a grande giveaway. Live on the Village stage leprechauns will compete in the annual sexiest jeans this side of Dublin contest.

ADSO

FORT WALTON BEACH – The Arts and Design Society will host an opening reception for "Masque," the theme of this year's annual recycle show with all entries made from recycled items, is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. March 23. Admission is free and open to the public. The show runs through April 14 at the Art Center, 14 First Street, SE. Call 244-1271.

Choral Society

PENSACOLA – The Choral Society of Pensacola has announced the following schedule for the 2011-2012 season. To purchase tickets or for information, call 484-1806, or email csop1@juno.com.

• March 24: Beethoven’s Mass in C and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy at First Presbyterian Church, 33 E. Gregory St.

• May 5:  “20th Century Classical and Broadway” at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mark United Methodist Church, 2203 N. 12th Ave.

NWF Ballet

NICEVILLE – Northwest Florida Ballet’s 2011-2012 season serves up three major productions at the Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center, including an epic romance, a beloved favorite, special new guest artists and a touch of magic. Call 664-7787 for ticket information.

• Romeo and Juliet: 7:30 p.m. March 30 and 2:30 p.m. April 1.

• Starlight Ballet: June in Rosemary Beach.

APRIL

Visit with Easter Bunny

DESTIN – Hop down to HarborWalk Village from 2-4 p.m. April 8 for free face painting and crafts. Have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny on the Village Stage courtesy of HD Action Photography.

Haydn Goes Hawaiian

NICEVILLE – It's Hawaiian shirt night as the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra spotlights the father of the symphony, Franz Josef Haydn and two of his most famous pupils, Mozart and Beethoven, at 7:30 p.m. April 28 on the mainstage at Mattie Kelly Arts Center. Tickets are $22.50/adult or $16/youth age 18 and younger and available at wwwkellyartscenter.org or call 729-6000.

NFSO Symphony

NICEVILLE – The Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra 2011-12 concert season presents the season finale, three giants of classical music, Franz Josef Haydn and his two most talented students, Mozart and Beethoven, at 7:30 p.m. April 28 in the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College. Call 729-6000 for ticket information.

MAY

Cinco de Mayo Spring Fest

DESTIn – Cinco de Mayo Spring Fest, a celebration of Latin music, food, dance, and more, will be held from 12-1 p.m. May 5 at HarborWalk Village.  Kids will enjoy free activities and crafts.

ANNIKA & Friends

SANDESTIN – Country music performer Darius Rucker will headline a charity concert at 7 p.m. May 13 on the North Park lawn at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin as an exciting finale to the inaugural ANNIKA & Friends at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. General admission tickets go on sale Dec. 1 at www.AnnikaandFriends.com.

JUNE

2012 Rally Dixie

FORT WALTON BEACH – Rally Dixie 2012, June 18-21, will feature 80 teams of two or more people, three racing venues, 29 stops at historical or scenic locations, and one end of rally party on the beach of The Ramada Plaza Beach Resort from 2:30-4 p.m. June 21. The mission is to accelerate the cure of Multiple Sclerosis by facilitating research that determines the causes and mechanisms of MS.