Festival returns to roots on N. Willing St. March 14

A lot has changed since 1972.

Gas is no longer 55-cents a gallon and a postage stamp is a far cry from the eight pennies it cost back then.

North Willing Street in Milton will come alive on March 14 from 4 – 9 p.m. as Scratch Ankle makes its historic return to the site where it originally began.

Scratch Ankle is best described as a gathering of Milton residents to celebrate the city’s historic and rich heritage. To help in this, the city is offering non-profit clubs, organizations, and groups home-based in the Tri-County area (Santa Rosa, Escambia, and Okaloosa counties) the chance to participate while serving as a fund raiser for the organization.

As the event is about a week away over 50 vendors have signed up to make this event a tremendous success.

“With this first year the response from the community tells us this is what they have been wanting,” said Milton Parks and Recreation Director John Norton. “When the community wants something we try our best to give them what they want.

The focus of the non-profit groups using this event as a fundraiser dates back to 1972 when Milton City Council Member G. Alan Whitby wanted a community gathering for people in Milton and the Milton Youth Council, under the direction on Betty Willey, answered the call.

With over 50 non-profits participating there will be a wide variety of items, games, and informational spaces for the residents to enjoy during their visit to downtown Milton.

“The variety we have is really great,” Norton said. “We have tried to limit it to no more than two of the same types of booths.

“We are also really happy with the various organizations participating. We have school groups, churches, girl scouts, boy scouts, and several youth programs.”

As far as games and entertainment there will be a baseball throw, model railroad, a bean bag throw, crafts, face painting, a dunking booth, cake walk, a dart throw, a fishing game, ring toss, duck pond, basketball, a jail and bail and much more.