THINGS TO DO
Enjoy sunsets, moonrises and stargazing on beach

Gulf Islands National Seashore will offer three opportunities to enjoy the sunset and moonrise from the beach at the entrance to Fort Pickens Area. A Park Ranger will lead an hour-long program, celebrating the night sky and the natural history of seashore, beginning at the gate to the Fort Pickens Area and concluding on the beach in the park. The programs are Wednesday, March 5 at 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Visitors should be prepared to walk about half a mile down the closed roadway and out to the beach, and bring a blanket or towel upon which to sit in the sand.

Come out and enjoy the National Seashore and join in on the fun of one of the ranger-led programs. For a complete program schedule and more information, call 850-934-2600 or visit the National Parks Service website at www.nps.gov/guis.

Stargazing on Pensacola Beach

If the weather permits, volunteers from the Escambia County Amateur Astronomers Association (ECAAA) will set up several telescopes for public viewing at the gate of Fort Pickens area, 6-11 p.m., on Friday, March 7.

This is a great opportunity to come out and share the experience of viewing the celestial bodies of our solar system with friends, family and strangers alike. The brightest planets include Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Jupiter. The constellation Leo dominates the March sky as it rises in East each night. Also in view are the stars Sirius, Betelguese, Capella and Procyon.

The ECAAA will set up at sunset, and use the dark skies to show you Saturn, Mars and galaxies rising in the east, as well as the Orion Nebula and other winter treats. For more information on the Escambia Amateur Astronomers and our local star gazes for the public, visit our website at www.eaaa.net or call our sponsor, Dr. Wayne Wooten at PJC at (850) 484-1152, or e-mail him at wwooten@pjc.edu.

Gulf Breeze Rotary Gumbo Cook Off

Test your taste buds and raise money for scholarships at the same time at the third-annual Gulf Breeze Rotary Gumbo Cook Off on Saturday, March 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both private groups and restaurant teams will vie for prizes at the event, and the $10 ticket sales will help raise funds for four $5,000 scholarships given each year by the club. Your $10 ticket donation affords you all-you-can-eat gumbo and an opportunity to determine the crowd favorite gumbo. Beer and sodas will be available for purchase to help wash down the spicy fare!

Celebrity judges include Justin Gatlin, WEAR TV3's Francesca Maxime and T Bubba Bechtol. Also, Survivor stars Boston Rob and Amber will award the prizes to the teams competing for event honors. Music and entertainment will round out this fun community event.

The Gumbo Cook Off will take place at the Gulf Breeze Rec Center so follow your nose to this exciting event and enjoy delicious food for a worthy cause!

Call (850)292-7432 to sign up a team, to purchase tickets or for additional information!

Covenant Hospice presents Art of Fashion

Covenant Hospice presents the 3rd Annual Art of Fashion: Luncheon, fashion show and charitable auction.

Nina Fritz, Lisa Kirkman and Quenby Tilley are local artists who have contributed their talent to the 3rd Annual Art of Fashion event, which will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 at New World Landing. This "Kentucky Derby" themed luncheon features a runway fashion show, live art auction, and a silent auction of hats designed by local artists and celebrities.

The runway fashion show will feature casual, career and evening wear for both men and women. Local stores participating in the event include Don Alans, The Fashion Connection, Lee Tracy, The Market and Randall's Formal Wear.

Tickets for the Art of Fashion are only $35 per person. Proceeds from the event will benefit the under-funded and non-reimbursed programs offered by Covenant Hospice. For more information about the event, sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets please contact Emily Cowan at 850-208-7122 or visit www.covenanthospice.org.

Covenant Hospice is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, compassionate services to patients and loved ones during times of life-limiting illnesses. The focus of Covenant Hospice is to enable its patients to live as fully and comfortably as possible, to provide dignified palliative care, and to assist patients'

4 loved ones in coping with end-of-life issues.

Gulf Coast Renaissance Faire

On March 1 and March 2, 2008, at The Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, 6655 Mobile Hwy., Pensacola, FL, the 7th annual Gulf Coast Renaissance Faire will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

This two day festival will feature medieval Jousting Knights, Falconry, the King & Queen, Swashbuckling Swordsmen, Storytellers, Arabian Dancers, Gypsy Dancers, Magical Wizards, Medieval Fighters, Renaissance Dancers, Irish Dancers, Medieval Musicians, Sword Swallowers, Jesters, Jugglers, Fire Breathers, Renaissance Food & Drink, Medieval Camel & Pony Rides, Renaissance Games of Skill, Medieval Merchants with Thousands of Renaissance Wares and Crafts and much more!

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Free admission for children four and under. Admission includes one free prize drawing ticket for multitudes of renaissance prizes to be given away by the King during the event. Spend your weekend at the Renaissance Faire and step back in time to enjoy the spectacular entertainment that you will see no where else!

The Renaissance Faire was recently selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 Events in the Southeast U.S. for the month of March 2008!

For further information, please contact us at www.gcrf.net (website) or email gcrenfaire @ aol.com. The Renaissance Faire Phone Lines are 877-429-8462 or 850-470- 0012.