Visit Northwest Florida Beaches 2023
Things to see and do
Fall is festival season on the Emerald Coast! Here is a mere sampling of the food, fun and festivities going on this fall.
SEPT. 23 | Emerald Coast Spirits Festival
Photo courtesy of Distillery 98
A first of its kind event in the Santa Rosa Beach/Inlet Beach area, the Emerald Coast Spirits Festival will shake and stir up a good time. Distillery 98, along with the Florida Craft Spirits Association, is inviting craft distillers from all over Florida to show off their spirits with samples and batched cocktails. Craft distillers, industry representatives, local business leaders and the general public will have the chance to mix, mingle and network at the VIP Welcome Party on Sept. 22 at Distillery 98. Tickets go on sale for both the VIP Party and the Craft Spirits Festival soon. Visit Distillery98.com for more information.
OCT. 5 | Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival Event at Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel
Photo courtesy of Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel
Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival takes the show to downtown Pensacola. This special ticketed concert will occur Thursday, Oct. 5, from 6–9 p.m. at the Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel. Four Nashville songwriters share stories and songs in their purest form. Limited tickets are available for this intimate evening performance. Oyster Bay guests booking their stay on Oct. 5 will receive access to the event, inclusive of their stay. PensacolaBeachSongwritersFestival.com
OCT. 6–7 | Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival
The Village of Baytowne Wharf will host the 15th annual Baytowne Wharf Beer Fest, featuring more than 200 domestic and international craft beers available for sampling. Attendees will enjoy activities including “Beer from Around Here,” craft beer tasting, live music and great food, all from local vendors. Visit Sandestin.com/things-to-do/events/15th-annual-baytowne-beer-festival for more information. (Pictured, top of page)
OCT. 6–8 | Pirates of the High Seas & Renaissance Fest
The annual Pirates of the High Seas & Renaissance Fest is a weekend event packed with family-friendly fun. Activities include a parade, fireworks, costume contests and even treasure hunts along with daily live musical performances. An online treasure hunt will also be available. VisitPanamaCityBeach.com/pirates-of-the-high-seas.
OCT. 12 | Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Presents Macy Gray
Photo courtesy of Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation
Macy Gray, an electrifying, Grammy Award-winning American R&B/soul singer and actress, is best known for her international hit single “I Try” from her multi-platinum debut album, On How Life Is. Her latest 11-song album, The Reset, masterfully showcases Gray’s unique talent and features special guest rapper Maino. Fronting her band, The California Jet Club, Gray will deliver introspective and vocally exuberant tracks at the Cultural Arts Village in Destin. Proceeds benefit the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation and its ArtsReach initiatives. MKAF.org.
Oct. 12 | Best of the Emerald Coast Winners Soirée
Image courtesy of Rowland Publishing, Inc.
The Best of Emerald Coast event is transitioning to become the Best of the Emerald Coast Winners Soirée, which will take place at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin in Miramar Beach. Unlike the festival-style events of previous years, winners will not be displaying or serving their products or services. Instead, the public is invited to attend an intimate gathering of the best businesses in the region as voted by the readers of Emerald Coast Magazine. Attendees can expect an evening of entertainment, heavy hors d’oeuvres and, most importantly, celebrating this year’s winners. This year’s event will benefit the organization voted as Best Charity/Nonprofit in our 2023 readers choice poll. For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit EmeraldCoastMagazine.com/bestofec.
OCT. 14 | The Market Shops 8th Annual Bloody Mary Festival
Photo courtesy of The Market Shops
Eat, Drink, and B. Mary at The Market Shops’ eighth annual Bloody Mary Festival on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Benefiting Habitat for Humanity of Walton County, the event offers unlimited bloodies prepared by local bars and restaurants, local food, live music, a DJ, craft beer, Bubbly Bar, shopping, SEC Football and much more! Tickets are on sale now at TheMarketShops.com.
OCT. 14 | Eggs on the Beach Eggfest
Photo courtesy of Eggs on the Beach
The ninth annual Big Green Egg Cooking Competition returns to Seascape Resort in Miramar Beach on Oct. 14 from 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Benefiting Fisher House of the Emerald Coast and Food For Thought, Eggs on the Beach features unlimited bites, live music, a cash bar, a chance to win a Mini-Max Big Green Egg and more. Large TVs will be tuned to college football games at the tiki bar while cook teams compete for votes. For more information, call (850) 269-4666 or visit EggsontheBeach.com.
OCT. 19–22 | Harvest Wine & Food Festival
Photo courtesy of DCWAF
Produced by Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, the seventh annual Harvest Wine & Food Festival in WaterColor is a four-day series of events that offers guests a world-class wine and culinary experience while also raising money for a good cause. For more information, including ticket purchases, visit DCWAF.org.
OCT. 25–28 | Alys Beach Crafted
Photo courtesy of Alys Beach
This vibrant event held at Alys Beach brings together top craft brewers, distillers, mixologists, renowned restaurants from around the Southeast and talented artisans. Tickets can be purchased at BigTickets.com/events/alysbeach/crafted; for more information, email the Alys Beach Events Team at events@alysbeach.com.
NOV. 2–13 | Foo Foo Festival
Photo courtesy of the Foo Foo Festival
The 12-day festival, supported by a record $500,000 in grant awards, is big fun and features 16 events of high artistic and cultural caliber, delivered with a hefty dose of Southern sophistication. Learn more and plan your trip at FooFooFest.com.
