Latest news with #HeatherLopez
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Residents celebrate Washington County's heritage at bicentennial bash
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Washington County is celebrating 200 years, and this weekend, residents are wishing a 'Happy Birthday' to the place they call home. The bicentennial bash kicked off Friday night with Family Fun Night in Vernon. The festivities were in full swing Saturday, starting with a parade downtown. Throughout the town, there was music, vendors, and living history demonstrators. The event highlighted and celebrated 200 years of the town's rich heritage. Washington County marks 200 years with bicentennial celebration 'It's fun to show people what Native Americans were like in this area. To talk about my ancestor, who was one of these red stick creeks who came down and to help people, especially kids, you know, you see them light up when they get to touch something like a bison bone or touch a musket or whatever we let them do. And it really brings them alive. And then I think that helps them maybe carry a little spark of appreciation for the people who were here before our generation,' historian Dale Cox said. 'I love our history, and our community embraces our culture. And it was just great for us. To be able to showcase this for the community and for our tourists coming in that want to learn a little bit more about Washington County,' Tourist Development Council Director Heather Lopez said. For more information on the history of Washington County, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Washington County marks 200 years with bicentennial celebration
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Florida became the 27th state in 1845, 180 years ago. Washington County beats that by 20 years. County officials and residents are celebrating the 200th Anniversary this weekend. The bicentennial event kicked off this evening in Vernon. The celebration kicked off with the Vernon High School JROTC presenting the colors. There was free popcorn and cotton candy for attendees, as well as a bounce house for the kids. While day one is primarily meant to kick off Washington County's Bicentennial celebration, it is also serving as a way to commemorate the history of the park's namesake, an elementary school for African Americans. Surfside Academy in Panama City Beach hosts Special Needs Prom 'So we are standing on the site of the Shady Grove Elementary School. It ran from 1952 to 1968. So we're celebrating their history here on this site, which is now a public park,' Tourist Development Council Director Heather Lopez said. The schoolhouse was disassembled when Washington County integrated their schools. The celebration continues Saturday all around downtown Vernon. There will be a parade, as well as food, live music, and more. The celebration takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All of the events are free. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Washington County marks 200 years of heritage
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Celebrate the history of heritage with the Vernon Heritage Festival. 'This is out kick-off for our bicentennial,' said Heather Lopez, the Washington County TDC Director. 'Washington County is celebrating 200 years of our rich heritage.' The festival is on Friday, April 4, and continues Saturday, April 5. Friday is Family Fun Night, and is from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. There will be food, games for the kids, and a live performance with the Vernon Elementary School Drumline. It will be located at Shady Grove Park. A bicentennial parade will kick off Saturday at 10 a.m. through Downtown Vernon. Then from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., there will be living history demonstrators at Holmes Creek Canoe Livery, the Vernon Town Square and in front of the Vernon Public Library. 'We're proud of our heritage, and we wanted to celebrate,' said Lopez. '200 years only comes around once.' To check out the event on Facebook, click here and click here to keep track of Washington County's bicentennial events. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Community celebrates Washington County's bicentennial milestone
CHIPLEY, Fla. (WMBB) – Washington County celebrated a milestone on Wednesday, March 12th, the county's bicentennial. Community leaders and residents gathered at the Washington County Agricultural Center for the celebration. From 10 a.m. to noon, they enjoyed live music, learned about the county's rich history, and even took photos in 19th-century attire. Mexico Beach takes steps to protect beach dunes and wildlife County officials unveiled the new bicentennial emblem, which will be hung at the county courthouse this year. Organizers were with the community's reception 'Our community embraces everything in our culture, all of our heritage,' said Washington County Tourist Development Council Director Heather Lopez. 'To have this event today, to have everybody come out and really embrace our bicentennial was just amazing.' This is the first of a number of events this year celebrating the county's 200th birthday. The Heritage Festival is in Vernon on April 4th and 5th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
