November 7–8, 2026 | All times Central Time
There’s still time to make this a weekend worth remembering.
Across Jackson and Washington counties, Saturday brings old-fashioned cane syrup making, cast-iron cooking and even an early start to Christmas-tree season. Sunday offers a tabletop adventure in Marianna—and a deadline to help support a local Thanksgiving turkey drive.
Whether you have a couple of hours or a whole day, consider making room for something local. These are opportunities to meet neighbors, support small businesses and keep the traditions that make Northwest Florida feel like home.
Saturday: Catch Cane Syrup Making Before 2 p.m.
For a taste of old Florida, head to Maphis Nursery & Tree Farm, 1534 Orange Hill Road in Chipley, for Old-Fashioned Cane Syrup Making Day.
The free event runs Saturday, November 7, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT, so this is the stop to prioritize if you’re heading out around lunchtime.
According to the Washington County tourism listing, visitors can watch the process from grinding fresh-cut sugarcane to cooking the juice down in a vat, with taste-testing included.
The workshop and gift shop will also be open, offering farm-fresh products such as grits, cornmeal, jellies, jams, honey and cane syrup.
Bring the family, ask questions and take the opportunity to see how something familiar on the breakfast table begins in the field. Traditions like these are easier to appreciate when you’ve watched the work that goes into them.
- When: Saturday, November 7, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. CT
- Where: Maphis Nursery & Tree Farm, 1534 Orange Hill Road, Chipley
- Admission: Free
While You’re There: Christmas-Tree Season Begins
Maphis is also celebrating Christmas Tree Farm Opening Day, with its tree fields open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT.
The official event listing says visitors can tag a tree for later or choose and cut one to take home that day. Potted Christmas trees and gift-shop items will also be available for purchase.
If you’re not ready to bring a Christmas tree home in early November, tagging one for later offers another way to begin a family tradition.
This is at the same Orange Hill Road location as the syrup-making event, but the hours are different: syrup making ends at 2 p.m.; the tree fields are scheduled to remain open until 5 p.m.
For farm information, call 850-638-8243. Check tree prices and availability with the farm.
Saturday in Marianna: Cast-Iron Cooking and Fellowship
The National Dutch Oven Gathering wraps up its November 5–7 run Saturday at the Jackson County Agricultural Center, 3631 U.S. Highway 90 in Marianna.
The gathering celebrates traditional outdoor cooking and the fellowship that happens when people gather around a shared interest—and a well-seasoned piece of cast iron.
For those looking at the remaining Saturday schedule, organizers list:
- 1–3 p.m. CT: Lebanese cooking with Sami Dahdal
- Throughout the day: Silent auction/ticket activities
- 5 p.m. CT: Potluck dinner in the pavilion
See the organizers’ schedule for details and possible changes.
Check before heading over: Walk-in visitor admission, class availability and meal participation requirements have not been confirmed. The gathering has a registration process, so don’t assume that demonstrations or dinner are free or open without arrangements. Contact organizers through NDOG2026.com before making the trip.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about outdoor cooking, this is a chance to connect with people who enjoy keeping those skills alive.
Sunday: A Daylong Dungeons & Dragons Adventure
For experienced tabletop gamers, Sunday brings a different kind of gathering.
Secrets of Coldshear: A Nine Hour D&D Adventure is listed for Sunday, November 8, beginning at 8 a.m. CT, at 4462 Clinton Street in Marianna.
The Jackson County tourism listing describes an adventure for four or five experienced players with level-five characters. Play is expected to continue until about 5 p.m., possibly later.
This isn’t a general drop-in festival or a beginner children’s activity. The adventure includes mature themes involving imprisonment, slavery, mind control and death.
Confirm a seat, cost and registration requirements before attending. With such a small player group, availability matters. For the right players, though, it could be an opportunity to spend Sunday making new connections around the gaming table.
By Sunday: Help a Neighbor’s Thanksgiving
You can also participate in the weekend without attending an event.
Sunday, November 8, is the pledge deadline for the Chamber and JB’s Home Services 100-Turkey Thanksgiving drive. The previously announced pledge amount is $25.
Visit the Chamber’s turkey-drive pledge page for contribution details.
The turkey giveaway itself is not this weekend. It is scheduled for Saturday, November 21, from 2–4 p.m. CT, at Jackson County 1st Credit Union, 4466 Clinton Street in Marianna.
If your weekend is already full, supporting the drive offers another way to show up for your community.
Pick One Thing—and Go Participate
You don’t have to do everything to make the weekend count.
Watch sugarcane become syrup. Ask a cook about a favorite cast-iron recipe. Start a Christmas-tree tradition. Connect with fellow gamers. Help support a neighbor’s Thanksgiving.
Invite someone who might otherwise stay home, buy something from a local producer if your budget allows, and thank the people doing the work behind the scenes.
What’s your favorite Southern tradition—and where are you heading this weekend? Tell us in the comments and share this guide with someone who would enjoy going along.
Schedules and availability can change. Confirm details with organizers before traveling, especially for registered activities.
Featured image: Illustrative photo—not taken at the Marianna gathering. Photo by AntiCompositeNumber / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized automatically by WordPress; resized version shared under the same license.
