Participants can pre-order t-shirts or notecards with this art — donated by local artist Steve Smith — on them. Credit: Steve Smith

Participants can pre-order t-shirts or notecards with this art — donated by local artist Steve Smith — on them. Credit: Steve Smith

Nothing like historians with a sense of humor: the Gulfport Historical Society’s hosting a Fanning the Flames of History Non-Porch Party. When a Labor Day fire on Gulfport History Museum’s front porch shut down GHS’ operations — including their monthly porch parties — indefinitely, the Society reacted with pure Gulfport: a non-porch party that includes flame-broiled food, roasting marshmallows over a blazing campfire and pre-selling limited edition T-shirts and notecards created by local artist Steve Smith. What’s on the shirt? His rendering of the Labor Day fire. Now, that’s a blazing hot event.

Fanning the Flames of History Non-Porch Party | Gulfport History Museum lawn, 5301 28th Ave. S., Gulfport. Sept. 28, 7 p.m. | info@gulfporthistoricalsociety.org

This article appears in Sep 20-27, 2018.

Cathy's portfolio includes pieces for Visit Florida, USA Today and regional and local press. In 2016, UPF published Backroads of Paradise, her travel narrative about retracing the WPA-era Florida driving...