March is a fabulous time to get away to Florida’s Forgotten Coast, and not only on account of the spring weather’s so wonderful. The events calendar also comes stacked this month, and the sheer variety of happenings points up the specialness of this swoony stretch of Panhandle seashore.
Here’s a look at some of the premier events going down in the Cape San Blas area during March 2024!
The 19th Annual Forgotten Coast en Plein Air
Dates: March 15 – March 24, 2024
Where: Locations Vary – See Website Here
One of the top events of its kind in the world, Forgotten Coast en Plein Air—aka “America’s Great Paint-out”—takes place this year from March 15th through the 24th all around the area. Celebrating the time-honored practice of paintings outdoors (en plein air), this 10-day festival is ideal not only for painters (and aspiring painters) but also for art enthusiasts of every description, including dyed-in-the-wool collectors.
From painting lessons and “lunch-and-learn” talks to exhibits and galas, Forgotten Coast en Plein Air comes chockablock with wonderful events, most of them entirely free.
Among them are various artist demonstrations, including one at Apalachicola’s Riverfront Park on Friday, March 15th, and a Cape San Blas demo and reception on Sunday the 17th at St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve. Saturday, March 16th sees the always-unmissable “Quickdraw” contest and exhibition go down, and meanwhile, the Mexico Beach Welcome Center hosts the Artist’s Choice Exhibition – The Best of the Best on Monday, March 18th.
And on the final evening of the festival (Saturday, March 24th), the Collectors’ Gala will take place over at The Joe Center for the Arts.
Salt Air Farmers’ Market
Dates: March 2 and March 16, 2024
Where: 305 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Blvd, Port St Joe, FL 32456
This year’s edition of the Salt Air Farmers’ Market in Port St. Joe kicked off last month and will be going strong on the first and third Saturdays in March (and every month through the first Saturday in December 2024!). This fantastic showcase for local and regional producers, craftspeople, artisans, and artists takes place in George Core Park.
Shop here not only for farm-fresh goodness but also handcrafted items ranging from baked goods to pottery, jewelry, bed-and-bath products, and artwork, not to mention both indoor and outdoor plants. The Salt Air Farmers’ Market is also dog-friendly, so feel free to bring Fido along for the fun!
St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve Tram Tour
Date: March 21, 2024
Where: 3915 County Rd 30A, Port St Joe, FL 32456
On the third Thursday of each month, the St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve offers a guided tram tour: a wonderful way to get to know this beautiful and critical landscape edging the St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve. Biologically diverse and regionally imperiled coastal habitats, including dune ridge/swale complexes, swamps, marshland, a maritime hammock, and a blackwater tidal creek, make the Buffer Preserve an ecological jewel, and the tram tour—which rolls along down Treasure and Sandridge roads—helps you get to know it via expert commentary.
The tram tour follows a history talk at the St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve Visitor Center at 9 AM, with boarding of the tram taking place right afterward across the street in the Main Gate parking lot.
Beach & Bay Babies
Date: March 22, 2024
Where: 8899 Cape San Blas Rd, Port St Joe, FL 32456
World Wildlife Day falls on Friday, March 22nd this year, and you can mark this celebration of this big blue planet’s wonderful critters at a very appropriate spot: the Forgotten Coast ecological treasure of T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.
From 9:30 AM to 11 AM, park rangers and other experts will be delving into the baby animals of St. Joseph Bay and the Gulf beachfront, from sea turtles and seabirds to horseshoe crabs and beach mice. Get to know some local wild tykes at this World Wildlife Day event, which is free to attend with regular park admission and convenes at Gulf Breeze Pavilions.
2024 Blues on Reid
Date: March 23, 2024
Where: 321B Reid Avenue, Port Saint Joe, FL, United States, Florida
Presented by the Gulf County Chamber of Commerce, this popular free concert event brings live blues music to Downtown Port St. Joe’s Reid Avenue. The Blues on Reid grooves kick off at noon on Saturday, March 23rd, with this year’s performers including Bobby Blackmon, Kelly & The Healers, Corey Hall Music, The Cat Daddy Blues Band, and JC & The Backscratchers. (We’ll confirm the individual performance times when they’re available!)
Take in Some of the Great Forgotten Coast Events This March in the Cape San Blas Area
From scorching live blues and adorable baby turtles to dazzling artwork and local farm produce, there’s an awful lot to see and do this month in the vicinity of Cape San Blas. It’s time to plan your March 2024 getaway to the Forgotten Coast!
