DESTIN VACATION RENTALS, FLORIDA

HarborWalk Marina presents this annual 3-day event at the end of April with a kickoff party on a Friday on Destin Harbor. Tournament weigh-in begins on Saturday and continues through Sunday at HarborWalk Marina. An awards ceremony is held at 7pm on Sunday to end the tournament.

This annual 2-day festival in early May features musicians, carnival rides, arts, crafts and food vendors. Festivities begin on Friday, from 3 – 10 PM and continue on Saturday from 1 – 10 PM. The festival is held at the Old Spanish Trail Festival site in Crestview.

It is an old-fashioned block party with a 75-mile vehicle scavenger hunt in the surrounding area. Held in early May, the party features bands and fashion shows that will entertain from 10 AM to 11 PM. The party is sponsored by Destin Commons. It is held on the street in front of co-sponsors businesses: Bass Pro Shops, the Hard Rock Café and the Blue Point Fish Club. Entry fees for the scavenger hunt are $25.00, which is a 100% tax deductible donation that will support go to the Emerald Coast Foundation and the Larry Hatchett Foundation, organizations that support local young people.

This international bead and jewelry show features demonstrations from an Italian master bead maker. Beadmaking, beadwork and jewelry making classes are available during the four-day event. Held at the NW Florida Fairgrounds in late May, the festival is a 4-day event.

The 4-day festival begins at 3 PM on a Friday in early June at the Fort Walton Beach Landing. Food vendors, an arts and crafts fair, music and entertainment will be available. At 8:30 PM, there will be fireworks display. On Saturday, from 10 AM to 7 PM, the Billy Bowlegs Armada will land between 3 and 3:30 PM. A parade will roll north on Eglin Parkway from 2nd Street in Fort Walton Beach beginning at 8 PM on Monday night.

Enjoy a free concert at Destin Commons Center Plaza, from 6 – 10 PM the first Friday of each month. The event includes food tastings from Destin Commons restaurants, face painting and more. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcomed, but please leave your coolers at home.

The Bike Parade, sponsored by the Destin Recreation Department, begins at 10 AM at Morgan Sports Center in Destin. An Independence Day fireworks display over Destin Harbor begins at 9 PM. Or, take the family to enjoy the Destin Commons Fireworks Show, which begins at 8:30 PM. Enjoy the 49-head pop fountain and listen to patriotic music.

Venture to the City of Fort Walton Beach, which sponsors an outdoor summer film series at the Fort Walton Landing each Friday, July through August. Showtime is 8:30 PM and admission is free.

A Poker Run Rally will be held in Destin in mid-June. Activities begin in Destin Harbor at 9:30 AM. Poker Run stops will be open from 10 AM – 4 PM. A Poker Run party will be held at Legendary Marine Sales at 6:30 PM.

The Seabreeze Jazz Festival Weekend begins on a Friday in late April, between 5 – 7 PM at Chan's Wine World, across from Destin Commons. The event features an exclusive Wine Walk-About with some of the top wine makers in the world. Enjoy a jazz concert while tasting over 100 wines and great food.