Summer! We love this season so much. There’s nothing like bebopping around town, participating in all kinds of festive community events, in addition to other summery activities. We’re also stoked to be deep in the planning phase of our beloved annual expo. This year marks the 7th year of the Emerald Coast Holistic Health Expo which will be held September 9 and 10 at the Destin/Fort Walton Convention Center in Fort Walton Beach.

When we launched the expo in 2016, we weren’t sure what to expect as first-time events are always full of surprises. But in our hearts, we felt the Emerald Coast was ready for what the expo had to offer. We knew this community of forward-thinking people would enjoy the opportunity to gather, explore and advance the wide world of natural health and green living.

We were spot on as it has become one of the area’s most anticipated annual events. For one special weekend each year, thousands flock to the expo to discover what’s new in fitness, yoga, meditation, nutrition, functional medicine, holistic healing, and sustainability. We’ve seen enormous growth not just in attendance, but also in appreciation for the businesses and practitioners who make it all come alive.

This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever. So, mark your calendars, because we’re coming in hot, like roasted chili peppers on a scorching tin roof.  Exhibitor space is still available, so if you have a business that would benefit from being at the expo, see the ad on the back cover for more details.

In other event news, the amazing team at Mystical Paths in Milton, FL, is excited to announce their anniversary sale on July 15 and 16. Like the expo, their beautiful metaphysical store also celebrates seven years in business. Every year, co-owners Betty and Dwayne Willcox commemorate this festive milestone with an exciting anniversary sale. This year, they’ll be offering a 20 percent discount on most items in the store. See page 8 for more information on this not-to-be-missed sale!

And if sound healing sounds enticing to you, then the Vocal Sound Healing Masterclass hosted by co-sponsors Sandcastle Radio and Lovelock Healing Arts, featuring globally recognized vocal expert, Jacob Vermeulen will be right up your alley. The workshop is being held on August 16 in Pensacola. See page 9 for more details. 

And nothing says summer like local fresh-cut flowers. Patagonia Flower Farm, formerly of Patagonia, Arizona, brings local fresh-cut flowers and handmade, flameless botanical candles to our lovely Northwest Florida community. See page 10 to discover where to find them this summer! 

Oh boy, we didn’t even get a chance to share our enthusiasm for all the incredibly engaging articles in this month’s issue on regenerative farming, the human microbiome, green exercise and so much more. However, we’re running out of word space, so we’ll just invite you to enjoy perusing the rest of the magazine.

As always, we offer our deepest appreciation to our advertising partners and our loyal readers! We couldn’t do this without you—nor would we want to. You’re all so amazing and we look forward to running into you when we’re out and about!

Happy summering!