South Walton and the 30A area are full of family-friendly things to do!
All Month
The Village of BOOtowne Wharf
Stroll through the haunted streets of Baytowne Wharf the whole month of October! Visit the Haunted Courtyard if you dare or swing by Baytowne Adventure Zone’s graveyard for a freaky good time. Be sure to tag us in all your spooktacular pictures by using @baytownewharf! Located at 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway, Miramar Beach.
Wednesdays
Baytowne Wednesday Night Concert Series
In The Village of Baytowne Wharf, live music concerts take place in the Baytowne Events Plaza every Wednesday night from 7-9 p.m. Various local and regional artists perform throughout the year – see the lineup. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Free and open to the public. Oct. 11: Below Alabama, Oct. 18: Casey Kearney, Oct. 25: Forrest Williams Band. The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort is located at 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway, Miramar Beach.
Thursdays
Eden Gardens Fall Film Series
Eden Gardens Fall Film Series includes three movies in the park in October. It’s become a fun neighborhood tradition leading up to Halloween each year. Watching Frogs once again in the very place where it was filmed in 1972. Come out to relax under the live oaks at Eden Gardens State Park and enjoy the movie starting at 6:30 p.m.! Films are free with paid park admission. Bring chairs, blankets, coolers & bug spray. Concessions will offer popcorn, candy and drinks for sale. Movies include: Thursday, October 12: The Sandlot, Thursday, October 19: Peewee’s Big Adventure, Thursday, October 26: Frogs (Filmed at Eden in 1972). Location: 181 Eden Gardens Road, Santa Rosa Beach.
Fridays and Saturdays
Grand Boulevard: Lawn Games in Grand Park
Grand Boulevard invites you to bring the entire family out to enjoy some fun in the sun! Lawn Games will take over Fridays & Saturdays in Grand Park from 4-8 p.m. from Sept. 8th — Oct. 28th. Grab some food and drinks from one of the many restaurants in Grand Boulevard before you settle in to a fun round of corn hole, giant lawn chess, checkers and more. Learn more: grandboulevard.com. Located at 495 Grand Blvd, Miramar Beach.
Saturdays
Pumpkin Patch at Camp Helen State Park
Join The Friends of Camp Helen State Park for Saturdays in the Patch from 11AM – 3PM. This year, Saturdays in the Patch will feature wildlife crafts, nature walks, games, haunted history tour, storytelling and live music with Huck & Lily. Food will be available for purchase in the park via food trucks. Pumpkins will be sold 7 days a week, from 9AM – 4PM through October 31 or until sold out. Find out more information at Facebook.com/FriendsOfCampHelenStatePark. Contact: (850) 233-5059. Located at 23937 Panama City Beach Pkwy, PCB.
Patch Activities include:
Saturday, October 14: Haunted History Tour, Live music, crafts, games. Saturday, October 21: Huck and Lily, face painting, crafts, games. Saturday, October 28: Pumpkin patch will be open with Trail bingo and yard games.
Saturdays
Sounds of Seaside Concert Series
Enjoy an afternoon of live music in the Seaside Amphitheater on Saturdays from 3-6 p.m. Sounds of Seaside features musicians ready to entertain the whole family. Bring a chair or blanket, snacks and drinks, and enjoy the show. Free and open to all ages. October 14: Roman Street, October 21: Roman Street, October 28: Dion Jones & The Neon Tears. Visit www.seasidefl.com for more information. Seaside Amphitheater, 25 Central Square, Seaside.
Saturday, October 14
Eggs on the Beach Cooking Competition
Bay Breeze Patio, an official retailer of the Big Green Egg, announces the 9th annual Eggs on the Beach: EggFest Cooking Competition taking place on Saturday, October 14 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Seascape Towne Center in Miramar Beach. Tasters enjoy unlimited bites, live music, Knob Creek samples, a chance to win a Mini-Max Big Green Egg, and more.
Taster tickets are also on sale now with special advance pricing of $45/adult, $15/child (age 11-17) and kids 10 and under are free. Sponsorships are also available. To learn more or to register a cook team or purchase a taster ticket, visit EggsontheBeach.com.
Cook teams will be serving delicious bites cooked on the Big Green Egg and competing for cash and prizes. This year’s event will be held behind the Seascape Towne Center, which features a tiki bar with flat screen TVs that will air the day’s most popular college football games. The event benefits two local non-profits–Fisher House of the Emerald Coast & Food for Thought.
New to this year’s event, Eggs on the Beach will include a Junior Chefs Competition. Open to five youth cook teams, the junior cook team category will allow young chefs, ages 8-14, an opportunity to showcase their talents and compete for the grand prize—a Mini-Max Big Green Egg. Located at 32 Forest Shore Dr., Destin.
Saturday, October 14
ECTC: Comedy on the Boulevard
Emerald Coast Theatre Company invites you to Comedy on the Boulevard on Saturday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m. Come for an uproarious night of laughs. Hosted by resident funny guy Jason Hedden, ECTC presents some of the Southeast’s most hilarious comedians.
All ECTC productions will be staged at ECTC’s space located upstairs at 560 Grand Boulevard in Grand Boulevard Town Center, Miramar Beach.
For additional info, visit www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org or follow along on ECTC Facebook.
To make a tax-deductible donation, volunteer or learn more about Emerald Coast Theatre Company, find them on Facebook, call (850) 684-0323 and visit www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org.
October 16 – 21
Walton County Fair
The Walton County Fair 2023 takes place October 16 – 21 at the Fair Grounds in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Lots of family fun for the week! See Walton County Fair website for schedule of events, rides, pricing, youth activities, contest entries, live entertainment, and more!
The fair prides itself on continuing to update the areas for exhibits and entertainment. Exhibits at the fair still include animal, art, agriculture, handicrafts, potted plants, photography, and canned foods divisions. Children also have the opportunity to showcase their skills and talents with animals, speeches and educational posters.
Entertainment is a big deal at the fair. Each year the building is filled with music – from gospel to country and western performers. The gospel sing on Saturday night has become a great hit and much-anticipated event.
Open Monday – Friday 5-10 p.m. and Saturday 12-10 p.m. Learn more: waltoncountyfair.com. Located at 790 N 9th St. (Highway 83), DeFuniak Springs.