| | Annual & Recurring
Events & Festivals This page lists annual festivals and other major events in SoWal.
For dates of upcoming events, and to post your own events - go to our interactive calendar. |
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 January
Traditionally, the quietest month of the year. Locals are hard at work preparing for visitors in the Spring. Snowbirds (long-term elderly visitors from the North) rule the beaches every January and February. Escape to Create An Artists-in-Residence Program Sponsored by The Seaside Institute invites you to the exhibition of the works of Ken Kotara and Jay Shoots. Opening Night JAN 4th 5-8 PM Annual Great Southern Gumbo Cook-Off at The Market Shops at Sandestin Relive the excitement and fun of an old-fashioned Chautauqua in charming, historic DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Recreating the traditions and thrills of the Florida Chautauqua, which ran from 1885 to 1920. Founded as a companion "winter assembly" of the New York Chautauqua, the Florida Chautauqua provided an opportunity for education through classes and workshops, craft activities, lectures by prominent speakers of the day, and a chance for solitude amidst life's busy days. www.florida-chautauqua-center.org 850-892-7613 | |  February
Don’t miss the 10th Anniversary Party and 10th Annual Super Bowl party at The Red Bar, held on the same night in February. Second Annual 4KIDS Mardi Gras Parade 2pm As seen on "The Late Show with David Letterman," spectators can catch The Ultimate Air Dog show, in The Village of Baytowne Wharf. The show features dogs racing down a dock and leaping into the bay in competition for the greatest distance. First Jump- 11am, Second Jump- 2pm, Third Jump- 4pm, Anniversary party and 10th Annual Super Bowl party at The Red Bar. The Village of Baytowne Wharf - “Krewe of Arfeous” Dog Parade annual Pooch parade through the streets of Sandestin. Fat Tuesday Baytowne Bash Parade SoWal Community Yard Sale at Seaside | |  March
Spring has sprung and Spring Breakers have descended. The Beaches of South Walton are lively in March, but calm and family friendly compared to most Spring Break destinations. SoWal has an abundance of wildflowers along the roadsides and in the forests which begin blooming this time of year, and on into the Summer and Fall. Also keep your eyes open for Blue Lupine, which gives Blue Mountain Beach it’s name. It used to cover the dunes so thickly that sailors said they looked like blue mountains. Spring Break Concerts fat Seaside Seaside Half Marathon - www.seasidehalfmarathon.com | |  April
The Seabreeze Jazz Festival gets bigger and better every Spring. April continues a bit of Spring break, and like May, is slow relative to the coming Summer months. April can have some of the best weather of the year. Spring Break Concerts free at Seaside Annual Sandestin Wine Festival at Baytowne Wharf www.sandestinwinefestival.com Seabreeze Jazz Festival www.seabreezejazzfestival.com | |  May
Artsquest is the biggest event of the month, a juried art show caps a week of events. Artsquest began as a small street/art festival in Grayton Beach, moved to Eden State Gardens, and is now held in Sandestin. Memorial Day weekend towards the end of May is the real beginning of tourist season on the Emerald Coast, coinciding with the kids getting out of school. ArtsQuest Champagne Shopping Tour ArtsQuest at Baytowne Wharf, The Cultural Arts Association 850-231-0885, www.culturalartsassociation.org Seaside Jazz Festival featuring Nestor Torres, The Rebirth Brass Band, Ted Shumate, The Neville Brothers, and more.
www.seasidefloridajazzfestival08.com Piper's Beach Bash & Bonfire all day with sandcastle building, a live reggae band, ice cream and a bonfire a mile high, this promises to be the biggest beach bash ever! | |  June
June means the season is in full swing, the rentals are booked, families are happy, and Summer is fresh. The heated dog days have not yet arrived. Fashion Show at Caliza Pool - Models will showcase the latest fashions and designs, against the backdrop of one of the most beautiful new resort pools in the world! 850-213-5500 for ticket information. Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic - The Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin is the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast’s newest entry onto the world stage of premier marlin tournaments. In 2006 over $1,000,000 was awarded to the winners in this World Billfish Series-sanctioned event. www.FishECBC.com | |  July
A very hot month in South Walton, and quite busy. You’ll want plenty of cold drinks and watermelon on hand. The parade in Seaside gets more elaborate every year, while the parade in Grayton Beach is just a bunch of folks being crazy. Strolling on the beach on the night of the 4th, you’ll see fireworks all along the gentle curve from Destin to Panama City. Travel through the Village and experience the sights and sounds of the 4th of July. Baytowne Wharf will host a variety of children’s activities throughout the weekend, along with live music sure to entertain all ages. And, to end our Red, White & Baytowne events, the Village presents our Inaugural Independence Fireworks Spectacular over the Lagoon! Call 850.267.8117 A day-long celebration for the entire family including an old-fashioned bike parade (right after the decorating party & breakfast!), family field day, a BBQ, live music and the largest fireworks display on Hwy 30A! Admission required for BBQ only. Sponsored by The Merchants of Rosemary Beach and the Rosemary Beach Property Owners Association. 4th of July Parade at Grayton Beach Seaside 4th of July Parade, Fireworks & Pops Concert | | AugustThe last blast before school starts up again, August is busy and temps are sky high. Frequent afternoon showers blow in from the gulf and cool off the burning sands. Sandestin Triathlon with 700 participants for a half-mile Gulf of Mexico swim, a 20-mile bike along the coast, and a 4-mile run throughout Sandestin’s beach and bayside community. Proceeds benefit Sacred Heart Hospital of the Emerald Coast. Labor Day Weekend Activities at Seaside Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach” was created to celebrate and promote the world’s most talented and innovative digital artists. Cash prizes - www.alysbeach.com/DG | |  September
Labor Day weekend is the last blast of the Summer, with folks desperate to eek out a bit more fun in the sun before Fall sets in and school is rolling full time. The temps are still high and the water is warm. Fall Concert Series free at Seaside | |  October
The crowds are gone, along with the hot temps and the humidity of Summer. The water is still warm and there’s plenty to do leading up to the unfortunate changing of the clocks. SoWal Community Yard Sale at Seaside Autumn Playwright Festival, Seaside Repertory Theatre
The Autumn Playwright Festival is a two-week long event that honors a unique playwright through full length productions, staged readings, panel discussions, receptions and dinners. The 2008 honoree is dramatist Eugene O'Neill, the only American playwright to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature. The main focus of the Festival will be the production of one of O'Neill's greatest plays, Long Days Journey into Night. www.seasiderep.org Jim DelMauro Rosemary Run: 7:30 am 5K charity run takes participants all over the beautiful town of Rosemary Beach! 850-278-2081 Camp Helen Ghost Walk and History Tour Flutterby Festival is fun for all ages www.culturalartsassociation.org Back To Nature Festival - Hiking, kayaking, bird watching, and stargazing are just a few of the planned events. Each event is led by a local expert who guides participants and helps them understand the ecology and special features of local natural and historic areas. www.southwaltoncc.org, (850) 314-3749 Southern Breeze Coastal Wine + Culinary Festival blends premium wines, gourmet food and Gulf Coast culture into a sophisticated, educational and entertaining weekend long event. Each year the festival visits several Gulf Coast cities celebrating the lifestyle and culture of this unique region. www.coastalwinetour.com Trick-or-Treat with The Merchants of Seaside 4pm-6pm | |  November
The wine festival in Seaside is very popular, get your tickets early. Mountainfilm in WaterColor is a special event with great films not to be missed. Quite a few folks come in for Thanksgiving week. Seeing Red Wine Festival at Seaside Seaside Turn on the Town - Parade, Santa Arrives, turning on the lights on the Christmas Tree and the Town Telluride MountainFilm on Tour returns to WaterColor on the big screen under the stars in the WaterColor Marina Park. Lawn seating — bring blankets and lawn chairs. Special children’s screening area on site at the event featuring age-appropriate movies. www.mountainfilm.com Via Colori is a unique art festival that turns the U-shaped street around Seaside's Amphitheatre into an artists canvas of street painting. We feature local artists painting on canvas to be auctioned at the end of the event. The Children's Volunteer Health Network is once again presenting Cottages for Kids. Local builders and architects will design, create, and decorate playhouses to be showcased on Rosemary Beach's East Long Green where, Auction proceeds will help hundreds of children in Walton and Okaloosa counties receive the healthcare they desperately need. www.childrensvolunteerhealthnetwork.org Christmas Reflections - Spectacular light display with over 4 1/2 million lights surrounding beautiful Lake DeFuniak in Historic Downtown DeFuniak Springs Sandestin Annual Beaujolais Nouveau Holiday Kick-off | |  December
The candlelight tour at Eden State Gardens is a fantastic Holiday tradition, complete with period costumes, confederates, and carolers. The white sands of SoWal make a great substitute for snow-covered slopes. It’s not uncommon to have gorgeous 75 degree days in December, with fish pulled in off the beach. "Santa is Missing" Event at Alys Beach Oh, no! - Santa's missing, and he was last seen in Alys Beach! Any good little boy or girl who helps us find Santa in time for Christmas will receive a very special reward. Eden State Gardens Christmas Candlelight Tour 850-231-4214, Visit Eden State Gardens in Point Washington for a stunning illuminated old-fashioned Christmas and entertainment by The Friends of Eden Gardens, Florida State Parks, and citizens of Point Washington, www.FriendsOfEdenGardens.org New Year’s Eve at Baytowne Wharf - Enjoy live music in the Events Plaza all night long leading up to firework’s extravaganza over the lagoon at midnight. | |
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