SOCO’s Rock the Block DeFuniak Springs

Rockland Road, Ray Scott and RESCUE ME! Join the downtown block party at Sweet Southern Comfort, with food, outdoor bars and $10 admission. Live music, a shrimp boil and an evening downtown with friends. SOCO’s Rock the Block gives DeFuniak Springs a good reason to get together Saturday, October 17.

Pizza chain comes to Panama City. Find out what gives it an edge

PANAMA CITY − Donatos Pizza, an Ohio-based franchise famous for its abundant Edge to Edge toppings, has announced a new location is coming to Panama City. According to a press release, the restaurant, located at 840 W. 23rd St., is scheduled to open on Oct. 20. It will become the chain's third location in the state. The restaurant will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony in partnership with the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. The pizza place is owned and operated by George Schempf and Cris Doss, a husband-and-wife team whose connection to Donatos spans decades. "As Ohio natives, they grew up with Donatos pizza and remained loyal fans of the brand throughout their lives," the release says. "Now, as they embark on this exciting new chapter together, Schempf and Doss are turning that longtime dream into reality, opening a Donatos restaurant and sharing the family traditions, quality, and flavors they grew up with." "Donatos has always been one of my favorite pizza brands," Schempf is quoted as saying in the release. "After evaluating several pizza and quick-service restaurant franchise opportunities, Donatos stood out because of the quality of its product and the strength of its systems. No matter which Donatos location

Pecan Jacks to Open New Panama City Beach Store and Franchise Training Facility in October

Expanded location will showcase the brand’s latest design as Pecan Jacks grows across 10 states. Pecan Jacks will open a new corporate image and training store this October at the Vintage Lake Powell development, 24202 PCB Parkway, Suite 3, Panama City Beach, FL 32413. The opening comes as the ice cream and candy brand expands across 10 states.

Two to Try Out of the Oven

There’s an adage that life is short and dessert should be eaten first, and while some may disagree that the proverb is unwise, there are countless cafes, restaurants, and sweet shops around the world whose sweet treats can prove the prudence of putting that advice into practice. There are a few bakeries close at hand whose mastery of the simple cookie verify not only the validity of the saying, but also the necessity of following such wise counsel—especially during National Cookie Month, October.

Harvest Wine & Food Festival returns to Watercolor, marking a decade milestone

WATERCOLOR, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Celebrating a ten-year milestone... The Harvest Wine and Food Festival returns at Watercolor!. NewsChannel 7 Today was joined by Kate Macmillan of the Northwest Florida Children’s Foundation and Executive Chef Fleetwood Covington from Seagars. The two discussed the role of the festival and fundraiser, and...

Rice Steams In Banana Leaves At This Family-Run Filipino Kitchen In Florida Where The Lechon Turns Crisp

Smoke drifting from a parked truck in the Florida Panhandle is a better dinner bell than any neon sign. The first time I caught that sweet, peppery cloud, I followed it the way a cartoon character floats toward a pie on a windowsill. What I found was a small, no-frills...

In Wewahitchka, Florida, Smiley Honey Sells the Panhandle’s Rare Tupelo Honey by the Jar

Some of the best finds in Florida sit down quiet country roads, marked by nothing more than a hand-painted sign. You pull over out of curiosity, maybe hoping for a snack, and leave holding a jar of something golden you will think about for weeks. The honey made in one...

SOWAL Jazz Fest, a new location to come, and a comedy show, SOWAL House has it all

ROSEMARY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - If you’re looking to jazz things up this fall... Plenty is coming to SOWAL House!. Between laughter, a new build, and sweet tunes.. There’s lots to look forward to!. NewsChannel 7 Today was joined by Dave King of SOWAL House for all the...

‘Becky’s Friends Collection’ turns art into a business

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Becky has many friends. “How many friends do you have?” asked Becky’s mom Mireya Chacone. “1,000!” said Becky. “1,000? Maybe more right?” said Mireya. There’s Milo, there’s Phil, and there’s Paula. But you won’t find them walking around her neighborhood. You’ll find them on paper. “They are her friends. so […]

Three Bay restaurants gets high-priority violations in state inspections

You can use the database to search by county or by restaurant name . Florida's restaurant owners are not required to post restaurant inspection results where guests can see them. So every week, we provide that information for you. For a complete list of local restaurant inspections, including violations not requiring warnings or administrative action, visit our Bay County restaurant inspections site . Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in Bay County for the week of Oct. 5-11, 2026. Please note that some more recent, follow-up inspections may not be included here. Disclaimer: The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation describes an inspection report as a "snapshot" of conditions present at the time of the inspection. On any given day, an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted in their most recent inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term conditions at the establishment. For full restaurant inspection details, visit our Bay County restaurant inspection site . Which Bay County restaurants got perfect scores on their health inspections? These restaurants met all standards during their Oct. 5-11 inspections, and no violations were found. Beef O'Brady's , 11226 Hutchison

Alaqua Animal Rescue seeks community help after hurricane damages Freeport property

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Alaqua Animal Rescue in Freeport is asking for community support after a Hurricane Isaias damaged parts of its property, leaving fences, shelters and other infrastructure in need of repairs. While all the animals remained safe during the storm, the rescue facility sustained significant damage that...

A Guide to the Guide

The Michelin Guide made its statewide debut in Florida this year, and the Emerald Coast held its own against the state’s bigger food cities. Five local spots earned recognition, from a Destin farm-to-table favorite to a Pensacola sandwich counter turning out Tuscan-style paninis. Bitterroot | Destin. Tucked into an...

Destin Fishing Rodeo rides again after Hurricane Isaias

After two days of shut down, the Destin Fishing Rodeo rides again with more than 30 fish brought to the scales on Oct. 12.

Hurricane Isaias erodes 30A beaches and dunes, raising questions about future renourishment

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Hurricane Isaias brought a surge of water up onto the Gulf Shore damaging dunes and raising questions over future beach renourishment. Hurricane Isaias eroded the beaches and dunes along 30A, locals told NewsChannel7. “The sand yesterday was all the way up to the boardwalk and...

Every Booth Has Its Own TV At This Florida Sports Bar Where The Crispy Wings Keep People Coming Back

A close game, a plate of sizzling wings, and a screen just a few feet away can make an ordinary dinner feel like an event. At Buffalo Jack’s Legendary Wings & Pizza, located at 11275 Emerald Coast Pkwy W in Miramar Beach, Florida, sports fans can settle into booths with their own TVs while enjoying the crispy wings and shareable pizzas that keep diners coming back.

Grayton Beach State Park reopens after crews rebuild storm-damaged bridge

Crews worked to repair the bridge in 16 hours so the park could reopen on Monday.

Alaqua Animal Refuge access storm damage after Hurricane Isaias

WATCH: Flamingos Huddle in PCB Zoo Restroom to Wait Out Hurricane Isaias

As Hurricane Isaias swept over the Gulf Coast, zookeepers went to extra lengths to keep some vulnerable animals safe.

Panama City Beach Daily Update & Conditions – October 10, 2026

Good morning, PCBers! Another beautiful day along the West End of Panama City Beach—let’s check out what the Gulf has in store for us today!. Today’s Panama City Beach Conditions & Coastal Outlook. Lots of debris around today. Looks like we were spared too much damage but...

Techspresso Planning a Panama City Location

PANAMA CITY, FL — Techspresso is preparing to open a new coffee shop at 1013 Transmitter Rd, Panama City, FL 32401 in November, owner Dr. Jamiel Vadell told Business Debut in a phone interview. What to Expect. This new location will serve a streamlined coffee shop serving specialty grade...