30A Breaking News

 [[{“value”:” One of the Gulf Coast’s most anticipated music events is gearing up for another unforgettable year as the 14th Annual Gulf Coast Jam Presented by Jim Beam returns May 28–31, 2026, at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach. Recently named by Billboard as one of “The 10 Best Country Music Festivals,” the four-day celebration promises chart-topping performances, themed nights and a high-energy coastal vibe that continues to draw fans from across the country. Headliners Post Malone, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban and Riley Green will lead a lineup of more than 20 artists performing across the Country On The Coast experience. The festival has seen tremendous momentum in recent years, selling out with crowds of 30,000 the past two years and earning recognition as the No. 1 festival in Music Festival Wizard’s Top 50 Most Popular Fests In The World 2024 – Voter’s Choice poll, along with top honors among beach music festivals in 2025. A Star-Studded Lineup The festival kicks off Thursday, May 28, with Keith Urban headlining alongside Treaty Oak Revival, Wyatt Flores, Cooper Alan, Walker Montgomery and Gannon Fremin. Friday night brings powerhouse vocals from Chris Stapleton, joined by Marcus King, Jackson Dean, Brent Cobb, Cole Goodwin and Hueston. Saturday’s high-energy lineup features Riley Green, Koe Wetzel, Ole 60, Josh Ross, Ashland Craft and Hannah McFarland. The weekend wraps Sunday, May 31, with genre-blending superstar Post Malone, plus Muscadine Bloodline, 49 Winchester, Elizabeth Nichols, Them Dirty Roses and Skeez. Theme Nights Add Extra Fun Beyond the... Read More

 [[{“value”:” The SEASIDE Institute Celebrated 32nd Annual SEASIDE Prize Recipients, Marieanne Khoury-Vogt and Erik Vogt, February 6-8, 2026 By Christy Milliken The 32nd Annual Seaside Prize, held from February 6-8, 2026, brought together leaders, visionaries, and community members to celebrate excellence in architecture, urban design, and community development. This year’s event featured a series of engaging presentations, insightful panel discussions, and networking opportunities, all set against the picturesque backdrop of the coastal communities of SEASIDE®, Rosemary Beach®, and Alys Beach®, Florida. Attendees enjoyed learning from esteemed speakers, attending town tours, and honoring this year’s SEASIDE Prize recipients, Marieanne Khoury-Vogt and Erik Vogt for their outstanding contributions to architecture and to the built environment through new urbanist principles. Event Highlights and Community Engagement Beyond the formal programming, the weekend included social gatherings, walking tours, and awards dinners that fostered meaningful connections among participants. The event once again underscored Seaside’s role as a model for innovative, people-focused community planning and design. The weekend also highlighted the neighboring New Urbanism communities of Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach. Private Reception at the Palmer House Khoury-Vogt Architects welcomed clients, sponsors, friends, and the Seaside Institute Board of Governors on Thursday evening to the Palmer House for a sunset reception. The Palmer House, designed by KVA, served as a welcoming venue where the homeowners graciously hosted attendees for the evening gathering on Camp Creek Lake overlooking both the lake and the Gulf.  The home was meticulously designed in the style that Khoury-Vogt Architects are known for,... Read More

 [[{“value”:” By Lori Smith Our area’s hometown rodeo is back — and it’s more than just a night of bulls, broncs and barrel racing. The 7th Annual Westonwood Ranch Pro Rodeo returns March 27–28 at the Freeport Regional Sports Complex, bringing high-energy entertainment to the community while raising vital support for one of Walton County’s most meaningful nonprofit missions. Presented in partnership with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Freeport, the two-night event invites families from across the Emerald Coast to gather for live rodeo action, music, food vendors and kid-friendly fun — all while helping teens and young adults with developmental differences build brighter futures. Doors open at 6 p.m. each evening, with Professional Cowboy Association performances kicking off at 7:30 p.m. Fans can expect classic rodeo events including bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, breakaway roping, ladies barrel racing, team roping and bull riding. Children’s activities, bounce houses and local vendors will add to the festive, family-focused atmosphere. Tickets are sold at the gate only, with proceeds directly supporting Westonwood Ranch programs that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our area and throughout Northwest Florida. More Than a Rodeo: The Heart Behind Westonwood Ranch While the rodeo has become a beloved local tradition, its true purpose goes far beyond the arena lights. Westonwood Ranch is a Freeport-based nonprofit dedicated to helping teens and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain life skills, job training and independence through hands-on, real-world experiences. Located on a... Read More

 [[{“value”:” By Allison McDowell, CBA For three decades, the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) has worked at the intersection of science, education, and restoration to protect one of Northwest Florida’s most vital natural resources. Guided by data and powered by sustainable partnerships, CBA continues to advance meaningful, measurable conservation across the watershed. Restoration CBA’s restoration work in 2025 focused on strengthening natural systems that protect water quality and coastal resilience. • 140 vertical oyster gardens cultivated throughout the watershed • 200+ tons of recycled oyster shells collected and returned to local waters for habitat creation • 3.35 acres of salt marsh and oyster habitat restored • 600+ tons of limestone placed at higher-energy shoreline sites to reduce erosion and support • living shoreline development • Seagrass restoration lab initiated, with pilot plantings launched to expand submerged aquatic vegetation recovery efforts Monitoring & Research As a leader in environmental monitoring, CBA places science-based conservation at the forefront of protecting the Choctawhatchee Basin. In 2025, CBA added 8 new sites for a total of 145 active water quality monitoring sites across the watershed, continuing to provide essential field expertise and data support for environmental monitoring and research throughout the region. Working alongside university, county, state, and federal partners, CBA helped expand monitoring coverage, improve public access to data, and strengthen the scientific foundation for both coastal and freshwater protection. These collaborative efforts ensure that restoration and management decisions are guided by sound science and a long-term understanding of our waterways. Education & Outreach... Read More

 [[{“value”:” How Bud & Alley’s grew from a surf-town dream into Seaside’s enduring gathering place By Zandra Wolfgram At Bud & Alley’s Waterfront Restaurant, the ritual is familiar. The sun lowers toward the Gulf, glasses are raised and a bell rings from above, marking another day shared. For 40 years, that simple moment has defined Bud & Alley’s — not just as a restaurant, but as a place where Seaside gathers. Founded by Dave Rauschkolb and Scott Witcoski, two 24-year-old surfing buddies with more enthusiasm than experience, Bud & Alley’s opened at a time when Seaside itself was just beginning to take shape. Few could have predicted that a casual beachfront restaurant in a town with barely a dozen houses would become one of Northwest Florida’s most enduring culinary landmarks. The name itself reflected the founders’ lighthearted approach. Witcoski named the restaurant after his cat, Alley, and Seaside founder Robert Davis’ dachshund, Bud — a playful beginning that hinted at the welcoming spirit to come. From the outset, Bud & Alley’s was designed to feel approachable, unpretentious and deeply rooted in its surroundings. As Seaside grew, Bud & Alley’s grew with it. What began as a simple Gulf-front restaurant evolved thoughtfully over time, helping pioneer the farm- and sea-to-table movement along Scenic Highway 30A while maintaining its relaxed, come-as-you-are feel. Fresh regional seafood, carefully sourced ingredients and consistent quality earned the restaurant a loyal following that now spans generations. “For me, this milestone is really about gratitude,” Rauschkolb said. “I’m thankful... Read More

 [[{“value”:” Café Thirty-A’s Annual Christmas Charity Ball raised a record-breaking $90,905 for Caring and Sharing of South Walton. The holiday event held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, simultaneously celebrated the restaurant’s 30-year anniversary. Presented by honorary sponsors Coastal Luxury Real Estate, Earl Bacon Agency, Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A., and the Ellis Family, the sold-out event welcomed over 250 guests to the festively decorated restaurant, courtesy of Palms 30A. Attendees were greeted with complimentary valet parking, sponsored by All Access Coach and Leasing, and a glass of champagne, courtesy of Clear Title and Escrow. Inside, event goers enjoyed heavy hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet dinner buffet, cash bar sponsored by All Access Coaching and Leasing, and a variety of desserts courtesy of Haney Holloway, LLC. Sponsors and VIP attendees also received exclusive access to a pre-party event provided by The Watson Group. Throughout the night, guests had the opportunity to view and bid on various pieces of art, jewelry, gift baskets, and luxurious items featured in the extensive silent auction. There was also an Epic Photo Co. photo booth, courtesy of A BOHEME Design, along with music from DJ Casey, sponsored by Maranta Copy Co., who kept the Barlovento Dance Floor going all night long. Santa also made a surprise appearance at this year’s event, courtesy of Barnes Capital Group, and captured photos with guests, sponsored by Corcoran Reverie. New this year, an upstairs lounge, sponsored by Engel & Volkers 30A Beaches, offered guests extra space to relax and mingle.   In... Read More