Fall Events Along the Gulf Coast

Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Sandestin, Seaside, South Walton, Port St. Joe, Apalachicola, St. Marks

Beach Blast Triathlon & Duathlon

SEPT. 9

Run, bike and swim with hundreds of other athletes in a speed and endurance race through beautiful Beacon Hill, between Mexico Beach and Port St. Joe on the Gulf of Mexico. Choose to compete in a duathlon or triathlon, at a sprint or Olympic distance. After the race, refuel with some delicious food and beverages at Veterans Memorial Park in Port St. Joe. beachblasttriathlon.com

Hispanic Fest 2017

SEPT. 10    

Hispanic Fest, held at the Emerald Coast Convention Center in Fort Walton Beach is a family-oriented, cultural and educational festival showcasing Hispanic music, dancing, artwork and food. This year’s event includes live music, a variety of vendors, educational presentations, a fashion show, a kids zone, and more. Special appearances by non-Hispanic performers and dance groups will also take place. Unitedforagoodcause.org

Swim. Bike. Run. 31st Annual Sandestin Triathlon

SEPT. 23

The 31st Annual Sandestin Triathlon will lure more than 700 participants for a half-mile swim in the Gulf of Mexico, a 20-mile bike ride along the coast and a four-mile run through Sandestin’s beach and bayside community. Proceeds benefit the Sandestin Foundation For Kids. sandestintriathlon.com

Emerald Coast Home, Boat And Car Show

SEPT. 23–24

This health fair and business expo, held at the Emerald Coast Convention Center in Fort Walton Beach, gives attendees the opportunity to receive free health screenings and evaluations while browsing one of the greatest selling events in the area, with 120 vendors. More than $10,000 in door prizes are given away. Emeraldcoasthomeshow.com

40th Annual Pensacola Seafood Festival

SEPT. 29–OCT. 1

Head to Seville Square, Fountain Park and Bartram Park in Historic Downtown Pensacola for this memorable and delicious three-day festival, featuring live music, a poster contest, the Don McCloskey 5K Walk/Run and boat loads of seafood. fiestaoffiveflags.org/pensacola-seafood-festival

Eggs on the Beach

Sept. 30

Bay Breeze Patio invites cooks and tasters to celebrate a day of food, fun and grilling/smoking competition. Proceeds benefit Food for Thought and The Fisher House of the Emerald Coast. Taster tickets are $32.50; cost is $50 for a six-person cook team. 10 am–1:30 pm at Seascape Resort, 112 Seascape Drive, Miramar Beach.
eggsonthebeach.com

Destin Fishing Rodeo

OCT. 1–31

The Destin Fishing Rodeo, based in Destin Harbor, is held each October, all month long. Nightly Weigh-ins are held on the docks behind AJ’s Seafood and Oyster bar from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Kids are encouraged to participate, with significant prizes offered to all who weigh-in a fish. All Destin Fishing Rodeo events are free for viewing and open to the public. destinfishingrodeo.org

21st Annual Florida Scallop & Music Festival

OCT. 6–7

The annual Scallop Festival is a family-friendly event that draws huge crowds to George Core Park in Port St. Joe for live music, arts and crafts, a kids’ zone and, of course, the ultimate seafood treat: local scallops. Try ’em steamed, fried, grilled, blackened or tossed into a traditional Southern dish. It’s all good. This year’s festival features award-winning artists such as Love and Theft and Tobacco Rd Band and includes a 5K race, scallop cook-off and educational exhibits. scallopfestfl.org

Destin Seafood Festival

OCT. 6–8

The 39th annual Destin Seafood Festival is a family-friendly, weekend event on Destin Harbor that stretches from Emerald Grande to Heron Harbor. The festival highlights local seafood, with live music all weekend on multiple stages and Kids Zones chock full of activities for the kiddos, including the ever-popular Mingo Toss. destinseafoodfestival.com

10th Baytowne Beer Festival

OCT. 13–14

The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin presents its 10th annual Beer Fest. This year’s event features more than 200 craft beers from around the nation, on-site craft brewers, samplings, live music and more. Beer aficionados will be able to sample domestic and international options, including specialty, seasonal and not-yet-released beers. baytownewharfbeerfestival.com

Fall Junk Fest

OCT. 14

Antiques vendors, artists and DIY-ers are among the merchants who sell an assortment of treasures at the annual Fall Junk Fest at DeFrance Antiques in Fort Walton Beach. Items available for sale include furniture, antiques, jewelry, vintage decor and handmade items. Live music and great food are part of the fun. fwbchamber.org/events/Fall-Junk-Fest-2017-4511/details

Best of the Emerald Coast

OCT. 21

The 2017 winners of the 18th annual “Best of the Emerald Coast” readers poll will be on display at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin, showcasing the reasons why our community awarded them “Best of” accolades. The public is invited to meet the winning vendors, experience their goods and services, and enjoy an evening of food, fun, fashion and entertainment, benefiting the Junior League of the Emerald Coast. emeraldcoastmagazine.com/bestofec

7th Annual Gumbo Throwdown

OCT. 26

The Gumbo Throwdown is Fort Walton Beach’s biggest event of the year, when local restaurants compete to see who makes the best gumbo in town. Attendees sample a huge variety of gumbos, as well as beer, wine and beignets. Ticket sales benefit Fresh Start for Children and Families. destinchamber.com/events/details/7th-annual-gumbo-throwdown-19085

St. Marks Stone Crab Festival & ‘Bring Back the Monarchs’ Butterfly Festival

OCT. 28

The annual St. Marks Stone Crab Festival brings thousands of crab-lovers from far and wide to the tiny fishing village of St. Marks to enjoy a parade, live music, children’s activities, the handcrafted offerings of local vendors and, of course, plenty of stone crab. On the same day, the 29th annual St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge “Bring Back the Monarchs” Butterfly Festival is timed so that festivalgoers can witness the fall migration of these regal butterflies, whose numbers are in sharp decline. stmarksstonecrabfest.com, fws.gov/refuge/st_marks

Autos & Oysters Auto Show

OCT. 28

An event that brings autos and oysters together? What’s not to love? Bring your family and your appetite to this fun event, held on Water Street in the historic fishing village of Apalachicola. apalachicolabay.org/event/autos-oysters-auto-show

Festival of the Arts

OCT. 28-29

Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation hosts the 22nd Annual Festival of the Arts at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village in Destin, showcasing the original artwork of more than 100 artists from across the United States, competing for $10,000 in prizes. The festival celebrates art, music, food and family fun, including live music, art activities for children, local cuisine and a wine/beer garden. MattieKellyArtsFoundation.org

Harvest Wine & Food Festival

NOV. 2–5

The inaugural Harvest Wine & Food Festival is produced by Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, at WaterColor in South Walton. Sip and savor some of the world’s finest wines and culinary selections. Key events are Celebrity Winemaker Dinners, Al Fresco Reserve Tasting, and the Grand Tasting. All festival proceeds benefit the Foundation’s mission to help children in need in Northwest Florida. dcwaf.org/events/2017/11/harvest-wine-food-festival

Foo Foo Festival

NOV. 2–13

Pensacola’s annual Foo Foo Festival is a memorable 12-day celebration of artistic expression, enthralling performances, eclectic entertainment, cultural events and more. Find a full listing of events, dates, times and admission prices online. foofoofest.com

Florida Seafood Festival

NOV. 3–4

The 54th annual Florida Seafood Festival is a celebration of all things seafood, held in historic Apalachicola’s Battery Park, at the mouth of the Apalachicola River. Festivalgoers will enjoy oyster-shucking and oyster-eating contests, a parade, the 5K Redfish Run, the Blessing of the Fleet and renowned musical talents performing on the outdoor stage. Floridaseafoodfestival.com

Seeing Red Wine Festival

NOV. 9–12

The Scenic Highway 30A community of Seaside hosts a four-day wine festival that includes reserve wine tastings and a brunch with guest winemakers. Each evening, wine aficionados enjoy some of the finest cuisine the Gulf Coast has to offer, as Seaside restaurants showcase their best offerings, paired with featured wines. seeingredwinefestival.com

Blue Angels Veterans Day Weekend Air Show

NOV. 10–11

The NAS Pensacola Blue Angels, performing 70+ shows per year, go all out for Veterans Day with a “Homecoming” air show. For two days, experience the thrill and adrenaline of watching the precision maneuvers of the U.S. Navy’s elite flight-demonstration squadron. The show also features the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs parachute team, Shockwave Jet Truck, and some of the best civilian aircraft performances in the nation. Head to the Gulfside Pavilion in Pensacola for a great view of the aerial action. naspensacolaairshow.com

Blue Angels Veterans Day Weekend Air Show

NOV. 10–11

The NAS Pensacola Blue Angels, performing 70+ shows per year, go all out for Veterans Day with a “Homecoming” air show. For two days, experience the thrill and adrenaline of watching the precision maneuvers of the U.S. Navy’s elite flight-demonstration squadron. The show also features the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs parachute team, Shockwave Jet Truck, and some of the best civilian aircraft performances in the nation. Head to the Gulfside Pavilion in Pensacola for a great view of the aerial action. naspensacolaairshow.com/

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