Your Weekly Guide to Fun

All area codes are 850 unless specified.

Doll and Teddy Bear Show
FORT WALTON BEACH – The Fort Walton Beach Creative Senior Center, 31 Memorial Parkway S.W, will host its 10th Annual Northwest Florida Doll and Teddy Bear Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 21. The show will feature vintage, modern and collectible dolls and bears of every decade.
Admission is $2; children over 6 years of age $1, children under 6 are free. Call 833-9586.

Sounds of the Season community Christmas chorus
DESTIN – The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation will present their annual Christmas concert, Sounds of the Season “A Baby Changes Everything” at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at Village Baptist Church.
Members and winter visitors are invited to participate in a community chorus. Rehearsal dates are 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 21 and Dec. 5 at Village Baptist Church in the music suite. The final rehearsal is at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10. Call 650-2226.

 Northwest Florida Ballet
EMERALD COAST – The Northwest Florida Ballet begins its 40th anniversary season with The Nutcracker at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College.
Clara's Kingdom of the Sweets Party will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 22 immediately following the performance. The party will begin with a reception on stage with the cast. Characters will pose for photos and sign autographs. Parents are encouraged to bring cameras. Attendees will then move to the lobby of the theater for a cookie-decorating extravaganza. There will be food, hot chocolate and holiday sweets to sample. Tickets are $25 for adults and children and may be purchased online at nfballet.org or call  664-7787.  

Evening of Giving
DESTIN – Get a jump start on  holiday shopping while helping local charities and organizations raise money during Silver Sands Factory Stores annual Evening of Giving from 3 to 8 p.m. Nov. 22.
Tickets are $5 and available at any of the participating organizations or at the Silver Sands Shopper Services building, near Michael Kors. All of the proceeds go to charity.
The Swingin’ Dick Tracys will perform from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

ECCA’s 50th Concert Season
OKALOOSA COUNTY – The  Emerald Coast Concert Association presents Brian Gurl in “Over the Rainbow,” an evening of American music, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium.
Tickets will be available at the door and at local outlets. To order season tickets call 362-9356. For a season brochure, call 837-1742. Individual tickets are available three weeks prior to performance date.

Coconut Radio
SANDESTIN – Coconut Radio plays from 7 to 9 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the Events Plaza Stage at the Village of Baytowne Wharf.

Comedy Night
OKALOOSA ISLAND – Howl at the Moon Comedy Night by “The Comedy Zone” is held every Sunday night featuring two touring comedians. Doors open at 7 p.m. Dueling Piano Show starts at 8. Comedy Show starts at 9.  Reservations recommended.

Funky Blues Shack Baytowne
SANDESTIN – A unique collaboration of blues-rock, funky pop and hard-rocking originals by Zach Rosicka at 8 p.m. Tuesdays.
Tunes with a distinctive touch by Jacob Mohr at 8 p.m. Wednesdays.

Wednesday Night Concert Series
SANDESTIN – The Village of Baytowne Wharf presents a free concert with Coconut String Band from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 25 in the Events Plaza. Call 267-8117.

Thanksgiving dinner at Harbor Docks
DESTIN – A 15-year tradition continues when Harbor Docks restaurant, 538 U.S. 98 East in Destin, provides free turkey dinners with all the trimmings from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26. Volunteers from Habitat for Humanity will serve the sit-down dinners. A cash bar will be available.
Donations may be made to Okaloosa Habitat as a thank you and to assist them with their work in the local neighborhoods.      

In-house concert
SANDESTIN – Emerald Coast Coffee & Grill in Grand Boulevard presents guitarist Scott Gilmore from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday. The event is free and open to public.

David Seering at On The Rocks Bar
DESTIN – David Seering is performing at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays at Commander’s Palace, On The Rocks Bar, in HarborWalk Village. The local favorite’s music has been compared to Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick Jr., and is a must-see for visitors to the Destin area.

I Love a Piano
PENSACOLA – Irving Berlin’s I Love a Piano comes to the Pensacola Saenger Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 27. The new musical revue spans more than seven decades of American history as seen through the eyes of Irving Berlin.
Tickets, starting at $39, are on sale at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre Box Office, Ticketmaster.com, or call (800) 745-3000.
This performance was previously scheduled for March 4, 2009. Subscriber tickets already purchased will be honored for this show.

Harper at Funky Blues Shack
SANDESTIN – Australian singer/songwriter Harper creates a heady mix of roots/jam music through his creative use of the harp and the haunting drone of the didgeridoo at 9:30 p.m. Nov. 27 and 28 at Funky Blues Shack in The Village of Baytowne Wharf.

Black Friday
SANDESTIN – The race begins for the best deals on holiday shopping on Nov. 27 — Black Friday. Silver Sands Factory Stores, one mile west of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, opens at midnight on the day after Thanksgiving.

American Legion
DESTIN – The Destin American Legion, 311 Main Street, offers the following activities. Call 650-0594.
•Karaoke Fridays with a late night menu.
•Family dinners from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Fridays.
•Ballroom and guitar lessons Tuesdays.

Ice Skating Rink
SANDESTIN – The ice skating rink at The Village of Baytowne Wharf will be open Oct. 31-Jan. 31. Non-holiday hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 12 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Holiday hours Nov. 22-29 are 2 to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 12 to 8 p.m.. Sunday. Skating is $8; skates, $2. Call 267-8118.

Anime South convention
DESTIN - The fifth annual Anime South convention, celebrating Japanese animation, music and culture, will be held Dec. 18-20 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa.   
Pre-registration ends on Nov. 30, after which memberships will only be available at-the-door. Access to ticketed events, such as the Murder Mystery Ball, Maid Cafe and Tea Party, is not guaranteed without a pre-registered Bronze, Silver, or Gold membership. Call 642-6463 or e-mail press@animesouth.com.