by Kerri Parker | Feb 9, 2026 | Communities, DeFuniak Springs, Events, Walton & Beyond
There are places where history doesn’t sit behind glass. It walks the sidewalk at dusk. It waits on shaded porches. It gathers—still—when given the right invitation.
Lake DeFuniak has always been one of those places.
Nearly perfectly round and improbably calm, the lake has long served as both compass and common ground for DeFuniak Springs. In the late nineteenth century, it drew educators, thinkers, musicians and families from across the country for the Florida Chautauqua—an ambitious experiment in lifelong learning that once placed this small Panhandle town at the center of a national cultural movement.
by Kerri Parker | Jan 24, 2026 | Communities, DeFuniak Springs, Walton & Beyond
Summit on the Circle returns to Lake DeFuniak April 23–26, 2026, for a spring weekend shaped by music, conversation, and the stories that connect us to place and one another. Set within the Lake DeFuniak Historic District, the second annual gathering offers thoughtfully curated experiences rooted in Southern hospitality, culture, and community—inviting guests to slow down, linger, and listen.
by Kerri Parker | Jan 20, 2026 | Communities, DeFuniak Springs, Walton & Beyond
A film that marks the first chapter in a series that uses DeFuniak Springs as a lens on small-town America—its landscapes, its rhythms, and the community organizations that shape them.
by Kerri Parker | Jan 9, 2026 | Communities, DeFuniak Springs, Events, Walton & Beyond
In the heart of DeFuniak Springs, where arrivals once stepped from the train and into a season of music and welcome, Henry Park is opening a new chapter. Long a gathering place for travelers, townspeople, and musicians alike, the historic park now stands renewed—its restoration honoring both the community that shaped it and the future it continues to invite.
by Kerri Parker | Dec 18, 2025 | Businesses, Communities, DeFuniak Springs, Events, Walton & Beyond
When the holiday season arrives, DeFuniak Springs comes alive like nowhere else in Northwest Florida. Its historic downtown, spring-fed lake, and Victorian architecture become the backdrop for a twinkling winter wonderland that draws families, friends, and travelers from across the region. But don’t just take our word for it—locals who have loved this town for years share why Christmas here feels truly magical. From horse-drawn carriage rides to festive markets and dazzling light displays, their voices guide you through the ultimate roadmap to holiday cheer in Walton County.
by Kerri Parker | Dec 3, 2025 | Businesses, Communities, Culinary Scene, DeFuniak Springs, Events, Walton & Beyond
There’s a moment — just as the sun slips behind historic buildings and mature trees — when Lake DeFuniak becomes a mirror. The century-old homes that curve around its shore soften into silhouette, and then suddenly, with the flick of a switch, Christmas Reflections comes to life. Millions of twinkling lights ripple across the water of one of only two nearly perfect spring-fed lakes in the world.
