Category: Programs & Events

3rd Annual Crooked River Park Fest

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The Crooked River Lighthouse in Carrabelle, FL will be hosting their 3rd Annual Crooked River Park Fest on Saturday, February 1, 2025, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

This event features an expanded Country ‘Super’ Market, local food vendor, car show, and fish rubbing art activity. The Crooked River Lighthouse Museum & Gift Shop, lighthouse tower climbs, and the 1894 Fresnel Lens exhibit will also be open to visitors. Admission to the Crooked River Park Fest is free to the public.

The Country ‘Super’ Market will be expanded to include food vendors and regional arts and crafts vendors. Visitors can shop for gifts and treats, including batch-roasted coffee, delicious baked goods, organic, farm-fresh produce, grass-fed beef, local art, and handcrafted items. Attendees can also enjoy a meal from a local food truck and browse unique nautical gifts and souvenirs in the Keeper’s House Gift Shop.

A car show, courtesy of the Forgotten Coast Cruisers, will display a variety of vehicles, from classic and vintage models to modern custom cars, each showcasing craftsmanship and timeless appeal. This event promises to delight car enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.

The Carrabelle Artist Association will host a Fish Rubbing activity, offering a unique, hands-on creative experience. Attendees can participate in Gyotaku, the traditional Japanese art of fish rubbing, to create their own nautical-themed piece to take home. The cost is $20 and includes materials and personal instruction. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees may also bring their own t-shirt, apron, or other items to craft.

Guests can visit the Keeper’s House Museum from 9 am to 5 pm ET to view the original 4th Order Fresnel Lens, manufactured in Paris, France, in 1894, glowing and rotating in its exhibit. This display, a blend of science, culture, and history, highlights the importance of Fresnel lens technology. Admission to the museum is free, though donations are warmly welcomed to support the lighthouse's preservation. Tower climbs are available for visitors aged 13 and older for a $6 fee. Children 12 and under climb free when accompanied by a ticketed climber and must be at least 44 inches tall.

Tickets for the evening event will be available soon. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the maintenance of Crooked River Lighthouse.  For more information, contact the Gift Shop at 850-697-2732, carrabellelighthouse@gmail.com. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

Full Moon Events

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Moonlit Evening at the Lighthouse TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 6-8 pm 

Come join us at the Crooked River Lighthouse on Tuesday, February11, from 6-8 pm ET in Carrabelle, FL. Visitors can enjoy the natural surroundings of St. George Sound and Carrabelle Beach under the glow of the sunset and rising Snow Moon.  

Visitors can also have an after-hours visit in the Keeper’s House Museum and see the exhibit for the lighthouse’s original, historic Fresnel lens. Guests may also enjoy the glowing bonfire in the park.  Bring a chair and enjoy the evening.

Evening climbs are also available for those brave souls who are bold enough to venture to the top of the tallest Forgotten Coast lighthouse. Climbers will be rewarded with breathtaking views of St. George Sound. Evening climbs cost $10 and climb tickets are needed due to limited availability. Climbers must be at least 44 inches tall. Children 12 and under are free with a ticketed adult.

Tickets for climbs can be purchased online at GET TICKETS or by dropping by our gift shop.

 

 

 

ABOUT FULL MOON EVENING EVENTS

Enjoy this opportunity to see the gorgeous natural surroundings of the St. George Sound and Carrabelle Beach under the glow of the rising full moon. Take an after-hours tour of the Keeper’s House Museum and visit the exhibit for the lighthouse’s original, historic Fresnel lens. Browse inside the Lighthouse Gift Shop for unique nautical gifts and souvenirs.  Chill by the glowing bonfire in the park (weather permitting). Bring a chair and enjoy the evening with us.

At the Full Moon event, evening climbs are also available for those brave souls who are bold enough to venture to the top of the tallest Forgotten Coast lighthouse. Climbers will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the bay. Evening climbs cost $10. All climbers must be at least 44 inches tall. There will be a time limit for viewing from the top. Tickets are required for those who wish to climb the lighthouse tower during this event. Tickets are available by dropping by our gift shop or online. Advance purchase is strongly suggested as slots may sell out.

Guests who would like a more leisurely climbing experience are welcome to enjoy one of the daytime climbs available every Wednesday through Sunday.

Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council. 

 

 

Museum Day

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ALL THREE CARRABELLE MUSEUMS JOIN TOGETHER FOR MUSEUM DAY 2024

Carrabelle’s three museums will open their doors free of charge on Saturday, October 5, 2024 as part of the annual Museum Day celebration. In honor of this day, Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum, Carrabelle History Museum, and Crooked River Lighthouse Museum invite you to Carrabelle FL for special activities and exhibits.

Crooked River Lighthouse will be open from 9 am – 5 pm for this event. Camp Gordon Johnston Museum from 11 am – 5 pm. Carrabelle History Museum from 10 am – 5 pm. Guests can also enjoy the expanded Country "Super" Market from 9 am - 3 pm at Crooked River Lighthouse Park with local crafts, baked goods, area produce and Carrabelle’s own A Train Stop food truck with delicious food. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

Each year, Museum Day goes beyond getting visitors through museum doors; it shines a spotlight on incredible culture, sciences, and history exhibits. This year Carrabelle is celebrating the theme, “Pieces of History: Shells and Shards” and each of Carrabelle’s three history museums will each commemorate it with their own unique focus and interpretation.

Every piece tells a story. From the intricate Native American pottery shards and shells from a midden that reveal ancient cultural practices, to the remnants of WWII that highlight the courage of America’s soldiers, and the historic Fresnel lens that guided sailors to safety, these fragments together form the rich mosaic of our shared heritage.  This event shares the idea that history is composed of various fragments that, when pieced together, form a comprehensive picture of our past. Each fragment, whether it be cultural, military, or technological, provides unique insights into different eras and aspects of human experience.

Author and speaker Robert Jacob will be featured at two locations on Museum Day. Robert has over 50 years of experience in living history portrayals and is passionate about dispelling myths and inaccuracies found in historical records. He has written several books, including A Pirate’s Life in the Golden Age of Piracy, Pirates of the Florida Coast: Truths, Legends, and Myths, and Blackbeard: The Truth Revealed. He will be at the Crooked River Lighthouse from 9 am - 12 pm ET for a book signing and informal discussions and upstairs at the Carrabelle History Museum from 2 pm - 4 pm ET for a book signing and to discuss the Pirates of the Florida West Coast.

 

INFORMATION ON THE MUSEUMS


Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum - Honors the military men and women as well as civilian personnel who trained and worked in Carrabelle and Franklin County during 1942 through 1946. The museum houses numerous displays of military artifacts, photos and memorabilia of many types. Plus the Motor Pool building displays the museum’s military vehicles on site – WWII DUKW, German Lieferwagen, and WWII Jeep. Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum is located at 1873 Highway 98 West, directly across from Carrabelle Beach where military troops practiced D-Day beach assaults. Saturday hours 11 am-5 pm. www.campgordonjohnston.com/

(850) 697-8575
museum@campgordonjohnston.com


Carrabelle History Museum - Features local artifacts and exhibits including Carrabelle's Native American people, Shipwrecks of Dog Island, the Steamship “Tarpon”, the original “World’s Smallest Police Station”, Carrabelle industry and culture (seafood, lumber and more) and families from the pioneer days to the present. Carrabelle History Museum is located at 106 SE Avenue B, Carrabelle, FL. Saturday hours 10 am-5 pm. www.carrabellehistorymuseum.org

850-697-2141
carrabellehistorymuseum@gmail.com


Crooked River Lighthouse - The history and the science of the lighthouse are displayed through interesting exhibits, including a historical setting of the early 1900’s, various lighthouse beacons, the methods of constructing a skeletal tower lighthouse, plus the lighthouse’s original 1895 Fresnel lens! Also on display are the original Keeper’s House clock, a barometer, an antique glass fire grenade, and more. Crooked River Lighthouse is located at 1975 Hwy 98 West, Carrabelle. Event hours 9 am-5 pm. www.crookedriverlighthouse.com

850-697-2732
carrabellelighthouse@gmail.com

Country Markets

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FIRST, THIRD & FIFTH SATURDAYS 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Now is a great time to check out the Country Farmer’s Market at the Crooked River Lighthouse in Carrabelle. Markets are 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Lighthouse Park, 1975 Hwy 98 West in Carrabelle. The open-air market at the foot of the Lighthouse features local vendors with perfect gifts and goodies like farm-fresh produce, locally handcrafted jewelry, batch roasted coffee, grass-fed beef, handmade goods and craft items, delicious baked goods including cinnamon rolls, artisan breads, and cookies, gorgeous art & photography, handcrafted balms, aromatic herbs, and so much more. Plus, there will be book signings, unique t-shirts, vegetable seeds, and exotic starter plants to explore.

 Admission to the park for the Country Market is free to the public. 

Guests can also visit the free Museum and browse inside the Lighthouse Gift Shop for unique nautical gifts. In addition, visitors have the unique opportunity to climb to the top of the lighthouse for a breathtaking view of the Bay. And make sure to look for the Spring and Fall Vintage Flea & Country Farmer's Market. 

Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council. 

BE A MARKET VENDOR!

The Market is growing steadily and is encouraging vendors to join and may sign up at any time. The cost to be a vendor is $10 a market. Vendors are asked to bring all supplies needed with them (enough cash / change for the day, table, chairs, signage, etc.). If you are interested or have questions, please contact the lighthouse at 850-697-2732 or carrabellelighthouse@gmail.com.