Fun Fest returns to beach with new events, more music
NAVARRE - The Navarre Publix Fun Fest will celebrate its 24th anniversary Saturday and Sunday on Navarre Beach with a variety of activities for all ages.
In addition to food and fun, the event will feature fireworks, local artisans, live entertainment, a children's area, 5K Run/Walk, Corporate Challenge, a skateboarding demonstration and competition, Sunday church on the beach, and more.
The event's first Skateboard Competition and Demonstration is scheduled for Sunday.
"It was decided that it was time to add some new energy to our Sunday line-up of activities, and the Fun Store stepped in and offered a great event geared toward kids and teens" said Cinnamon Holderman, Fun Fest co-chair.
Cash and prizes for "Good, Better, and Best" will be distributed in a variety of age groups starting at 9 years old. While admission to Fun Fest is free, skateboard competitors should pre-register/prepay $15 registration fee with necessary waiver forms, by downloading them at www. funstorefl.com or visiting the store in Winn Dixie Plaza on Navarre Parkway.
In addition to the skateboard competition, spectators will see a skate demonstration, courtesy of the Waterboyz Skateboard team.
Also new this year, Fun Fest will feature a non-stop free concert series the entire weekend, courtesy of Cocodrie's and Navarre Press, with genres ranging from island style and acoustic cover artists to the sounds of the Beatles, and Southern classic rock.
Lektric Mullet, featuring the former lead singer of the Kentucky Headhunters, will headline this year's event and will take the stage at 7 p.m. Saturday. Other entertainers scheduled to perform include Steve Hall, Zoe, Not Quite Fab, Alibi, and Pensacola Steel.
Fireworks will immediately follow the last perfomer Saturday night at about 9:30.
Free parking and shuttle service will be available again this year with improvements to include closer pick-up and drop off from the island, located directly adjacent to the festival site at the old State Park. The shuttle service will run throughout the event to help festival and beach-goers avoid the traffic and limited beach parking.
There also will be a larger children's area this year sponsored by The Club at Hidden Creek. The area will feature a rock climb-slide-obstacle course, bounce house and pirate ship. There also will be face-painting, temporary tattoos, beading and crafts, disk golf, and more.
Corporate Challenge and 6th Annual Fun Fest 5K
Additional Fun Fest activities are open for registration: the annual Corporate Challenge on Saturday morning, and the 6th Annual Fun Fest 5K sponsored by Publix, which will benefit Navarre Park and Children's Area.
The 3.1-mile run/walk will be Sunday at 7:30 a.m., and will be back on the beach this year running along Gulf Boulevard.
Runners and walkers of all ages are eligible for awards, and the first 300 participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt. First-place winners will receive a locally fired pottery medallion by Fun Fest artist Brenda Stokes.
The race will start and finish at the public boat launch parking lot on Gulf Boulevard. All post-race activities, including awards will take place on the Fun Fest festival grounds. Live entertainment will be provided by Zoe Fronheiser.
The entry fee is $17 for early registration through today, and $25 on race day. Runners may also pick up entry forms at the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, 8543 Navarre Pkwy.
To register and pay electronically, runners and walkers can log on to active.com.
Festival Hours
Festival hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. Contact the Chamber at (850) 939-3267 for more information or log on to navarrechamber.com .