Local events to see in townOn my mind … by Georgia Turner, VP of Tourism
If you didn’t know already, October is our biggest month for festivals and events in the Palm Coast & the Flagler Beaches area. I dare anyone to say that’s there nothing to do here!
What’s your favorite sport? Chances are you can find it here this month — with gymnastics, soccer, Lacrosse and horseshoe tournaments spread across the county. From Creekside and Corvettes to Biketoberfest and Lighterknot. Civil war re-enactments and fine arts festivals. Then it’s time for Halloween haunted trails and corn mazes. And to top it off, our area has teamed up with Ormond Beach Senior Games to host four events here in Flagler County: archery, horseshoes, ballroom dancing and power lifting. Visit our web site at www.palmcoastandtheflaglerbeaches.com to get details on all of these great events!  Flagler County has also been chosen by the Florida Festivals and Events Association (FFEA) as one of the locations in the state for a special workshop and seminar. Planned at the Hilton Garden Inn Palm Coast on Thursday, October 10, 2013, the workshop will feature speakers in the areas of event sponsorship and social media.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from two industry experts throughout the seminar, which will run from 8:30am – 2:00pm. The cost to register is $49 for FFEA Members and $79 for non-members. LAST CHANCE to register! Visit www.ffea.com or contact Executive Director Suzanne Neve at 407-203-1334 to register.
So go out and enjoy this beautiful fall weather and all of the great things to do this month!
Georgia Turner
Vice President, Tourism Development Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates |
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Fantastic Flagler wins award from Florida Chamber Professionals
The awards were presented at the organization’s Annual Conference, held September 10-12 at the Sirata Beach Resort & Conference Center in St. Pete Beach.
The Flagler County Chamber’s 2013- 2014 Fantastic Flagler Visitor & Newcomer Guide received the award for Convention and Visitors Bureau Communications/Marketing Materials for chamber’s having a budget between $500,000 and $1 million. This is the second consecutive year the Flagler Chamber has won this award. |
The Florida Association of Chamber Professionals (FACP) recognized Florida’s top chambers of commerce for their outstanding achievement and precedence within the area of communications.|
New Salt Air Farmer’s Market open Tuesdays at Marineland Marina
The market opened on October 1 and will continue throughout the year, each Tuesday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Vendors set up along the docks at the marina, with items like fresh produce, seafood, sauces and jams, cheese, organic ice pops, honey, fresh baked breads, soaps and more, as well as works by local artisans and artists.
For more information visit http://www.saltairfarmersmarket.com |
Something good is “sprouting” at the Marineland Marina this month — the Salt Air Farmer’s Market.| Horseshoe tournaments continue to draw crowds to Flagler County
The Tournaments begin at 9 a.m. The public is invited to attend to show support for The Flagler County Horseshoe Pitching Club. Admission is free. Both tournaments will be held at the horseshoe courts at Old Dixie Park; a 20-acre county park located off South Dixie Highway.
The 18 covered horseshoe court facility was state sanctioned in November 2012 by the Florida Horseshoe Pitchers Association. Visit http://palmcoasthc.20m.com/ or contact Tom Martone at tjmtone@aol.com or (386) 447-3559.
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Tom Martone, President of The Flagler County Horseshoe Pitching Club, continues to bring in horseshoe tournaments to the area. Next up, a two-day tournament at the end of this month. October 25 is the Florida/Georgia Tournament.October 26 is the Flagler “Tom Martone” Open. Horseshoe pitchers will be coming from all over the states of Florida and Georgia with reservations for a two to four night stay in Flagler County.|
OUT AND ABOUT …
 Thanks to all of the local arts groups who participated in the celebration of National Arts in Education Week, September 7-15. Flagler Auditorium spearheaded the event to celebrate the week, proclaimed by Congress in 2010.
The local event celebrated this designation in Flagler County and had a great line up of activities which raised visibility for our local arts community as well as the abundance of arts in our local schools.
This celebration was a good example of the level of collaboration we’re seeing from the new Arts Alliance. The TDC is committed to generating more awareness about the local arts scene and hopes this event will become an annual favorite for residents and out-of-town guests. Mark your calendar for next year: September 14-20, 2014! |
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OUT AND ABOUT …
 Product Development Manager Doreen Chase attended the S.P.O.R.T.S. Relationship Conference in Daytona Beach, September 9-12. She had appointments with 15 sports planners from throughout the United States and Canada and came back with several good leads for future sporting events.
Palm Coast & the Flagler Beaches sponsored one of 10 race cars during an event at the Daytona International Speedway. Each planner was assigned a team with a destination (see Doreen with her teammates at left) and destinations received signage on the track and pictures in the winner’s circle. Doreen also gave away a golf package which included a 3-night stay and two rounds of golf at Hammock Beach Resort. Sports promotion is a priority in the 2013-14 tourism budget. Doreen will be attending two more sports planner meetings in the coming months — TEAMS in Salt Lake City, UT, November 3-8, and the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC) Annual Sports Symposium in Oklahoma City, OK March 31-April 3, 2014. |
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OUT AND ABOUT …
 County officials recently cut the ribbon dedicating a series of new facilities at Bings Landing County Park. The ceremony took place at the new picnic pavilion on the north portion of the park with the ribbon cutting taking place at the entryway to the new fishing pier. Other improvements include three floating aluminum boat docks, new bathrooms and additional parking. The boat basin has also been dredged deeper removing 2,800 yards of silt.
Free Wifi is now available at the park. Plans are underway to install a video camera system along the Intracoastal Waterway. The video will allow weather information and live viewing of the Intracoastal Waterway that will be available on the TDC website.
The improvements were funded in part by grants from the Florida Inland Navigation District. Flagler County’s representative on the District is Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts. He was on hand to present to Flagler County Commission/TDC Chair Nate McLaughlin a check for $163,150. |