Nole Fest steeped in tradition

PANAMA CITY - Florida State University-Panama City will host the 21st annual Nole Fest on Friday, Oct. 30, from 5:30-8 p.m. with its traditional homecoming bonfire, lighting of the torch and torch run.

The 7:30 p.m. torch lighting, which is the symbolic joining of the two campuses of FSU, sends volunteer runners up 23rd Street to U.S. 231 north to State 20.

From there, the lit torch is carried by car to Tallahassee where the Student Government Council president from Panama City lights a similar torch held by the president at the main campus.

Christy Grant, program assistant from the FSU Office of Advancement, said Nole Fest 2009 will be a “concert in the park feel.”

Hamburgers and hotdogs will be available from Corams, and local musicians Stainless Steel will perform on stage.

Raffle tickets will be handed out to everyone in attendance and giveaways occur every half hour. The grand prize is a football signed by Bobby Bowden.

This year’s Nole Fest, downsized by budget constraints, will be more intimate.

Laid back and relaxed, the theme for the night, festival-goers will have a picturesque view of St. Andrews Bay. The festivities will take place behind the Holley Academic Center, which opened in January, rather than spread out over the entire campus.

Grant said, “the 25 percent budget decrease has affected our ability to go all out this year.”

Although changes will be apparent to frequenters of Nole Fest, admission is still free and the event will be open to the public.