The Next Big Thing
The Walton Area Chamber of Commerce is bringing back The Next BIG Thing on Monday, October 6, 2025, and we’re telling you now—this is not your average business conference.
The Walton Area Chamber of Commerce is bringing back The Next BIG Thing on Monday, October 6, 2025, and we’re telling you now—this is not your average business conference.
What just a few years ago felt like a healthcare desert is now becoming a landscape of hope and healing. With the groundbreaking of a $19 million emergency facility by HCA Florida Healthcare, and the recent opening of North Walton Doctors Hospital, DeFuniak Springs is emerging as a model of progress for small towns across the region.
Sure, the communities of Authentic Walton are filled with great restaurants, shops and historic attractions, but all the scenic space in between them is just as big of a draw across Freeport, DeFuniak Springs and Paxton. Hike along a peaceful trail through the woods.
A new wave of creativity is coming to Freeport, anchored in both history and imagination. The Anchored in Freeport Art in Public Spaces Project is a collaborative initiative between the City of Freeport and the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA). Rooted in the city’s legacy as a historic port town, the project will feature a series of 4.5-foot concrete anchors, each uniquely transformed by local artists and displayed throughout the city.