Outdoor Adventure Film Night April 15th
On Saturday, April 15th, the Watersound Origins community will host an Outdoor Adventure Film Night at Village Commons featuring “Ground Swell: The Other Side of Fear” is an in-depth look at the 2021-22 big wave season. Beginning at 7PM, this event is free and open to the public. Attendees are invited to bring low back chairs or blankets. Coolers are permitted. Pets are not permitted. Event is suggested for those ages 10 and up. Ground Swell: The Other Side of Fear… The logical thing, the same thing, is to stay on land… But they paddle out. Why do these big wave surfers risk their lives to ride these mountain-sized waves? The answer is overcoming fear. “Ground Swell: The Other Side of Fear’’ is an in-depth look at the 2021-22 big wave season. These surfers push past their fear and find out what is on the other side as they tackle monstrous waves in locations from Nazare in Portugal, Jaws and Pipeline in Hawaii and Mavericks in Northern California. Free and open to the public. Follow Watersound on Facebook on social media.
Watersound Origins Village Commons Lawn, 530 Pathways Dr. Inlet Beach.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park: Guided Plant Stroll April 17
9:00 am to 11:00 am – Join Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and Master Gardener Bill Kuenstler on the third Monday each month from 9:00a.m. – 11:00a.m for a Guided Plant Stroll. The stroll begins at Tram Stop #2 . This program is free with regular park admission. Park programs are made possible by Friends of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. For more information about the Friends of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, please visit: www.topsailparkfriends.org or email friendsofthsp@gmail.com. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, located on the west side of Scenic 30A in South Walton, offers a wide variety of natural resources including 3.2 miles of secluded, white sand beaches with majestic dunes over 25 feet tall. Three rare coastal dune lakes provide excellent freshwater fishing. 7525 W County Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach.
The REP Theatre: The Adventures of Hansel and Gretel April 17
The Seaside REP Theatre presents The Adventures of Hansel and Gretel at the Seaside Amphitheater at 6 p.m. Presented by the Seaside Merchants, this complimentary event will entertain the entire family. Another favorite fairy tale brought to life by The REP Theatre. A group of traveling actors creates much onstage merriment by presenting their own fast-paced and funny version of the classic children’s story, Hansel and Gretel. Join these two legendary siblings on an epic adventure through the woods in this boldly reimagined twist on the classic storybook tale. Seaside Amphitheater, Central Square, Santa Rosa Beach. Visit www.lovetherep.com.
Seabreeze Jazz Festival April 19-23
Named a “Top 10 Jazz Festival in the USA” by JazzIZ Magazine and recently nominated as “Best Jazz Festival” at the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards, the Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Panama City Beach combines the top national smooth jazz artists with a full weekend of fun, sun, great beaches, and good times – all on the west end of Panama City Beach. The event now attracts over 20,000 fans from the USA, Canada, and Europe for the ultimate performance-packed weekend of jazz.
Purchase tickets at www.seabreezejazzfestival.com.
MKAF Concerts in The Village: Postmodern Jukebox April 20
The Concerts in the Village series returns to the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village in Destin, Florida. Music-lovers can enjoy a night under the stars featuring local and national acts. Gates open at 6PM with concerts beginning at 7PM. To purchase tickets visit MKAF.org. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, picnic, wine, or purchase food and beverages on-site prepared by featured restaurants and food trucks.
Moon Crush at Seascape Resort April 20-23
Moon Crush will be held at Seascape Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida April 20 – April 23 under The Pink full moon. JJ Grey & Mofro, The Avett Brothers, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, and The Black Crowes are among the acts on the lineup for the 2023 event.
Learn more about Moon Crush at www.mooncrush.live.
Earth Day Cleanup at Sandestin Baytowne Marina April 22
Celebrate Earth Day with Sandestin on Saturday, April 22nd at Baytowne Marina. Beginning at 7:30 a.m., help clean the shoreline by removing plastics and other debris harmful to local wildlife, bay water and natural resources along the Sandestin boundary of Choctawatchee Bay. Refreshments will be provided.
Earth Day Town Hall at Padgett Park April 22
Join fellow South Walton earth-lovers for an Earth Day Town Hall on Saturday April 22nd from 12 – 3PM in Padgett Park off JD Miller Road in Santa Rosa Beach. Hear presentations, enjoy demos and displays from the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Coalition, and get tours of Walton County’s only Community Garden with Satsuma planting by Trees on the Coast. The event is free to attend and family-friendly. Saturday, April 22, 12 to 3 pm. Presentations Include: Billy McKee, Solid Waste Director for Walton County On Recycling: What’s Now and What’s Next, Point Washington Forest Service on keeping the forests healthy, UF/IAFS Master Gardeners on Florida Friendly Landscapes. Get involved in preserving the beauty of Walton County! Follow Earth Day Town Hall for updates and additional details. Padgett Park, 810 J D Miller Road, Santa Rosa Beach. Visit www.treesonthecoast.com.
Huck & Lilly @ Seaside Amphitheater April 25
Huck & Lilly will perform LIVE in the Seaside Amphitheater Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00PM. Bring a chair or blanket, snacks and drinks, and enjoy the show. Free and open to all ages. Singer/songwriters Ken Johnson and Andi Zack-Johnson as Huck and Lilly specialize in music for kids and the grown ups who love them! Seaside Amphitheater, 25 Central Square, Seaside.
South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival April 27-30
A dazzling roster of celebrity winemakers, mixologists, and chefs will converge April 27 – 30, 2023 for the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival in Grand Boulevard Town Center to wine, dine, educate and entertain guests as part of the four-day celebration of wine, spirits, food, music, fun and goodwill.
Kick off the festival at the Winemakers and Shakers event on Thursday, April 27th from 5 – 7 p.m., held at Wine World in Destin. Join fellow wine-lovers as you mingle with some of the top wineries in the world and taste great wines.
South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival festival features a stunning showcase of some of the best wines in the world. Celebrity wine producers and chefs present fine wine and food pairings from the world’s most famous appellations. The Culinary Village offers a sumptuous array of foods to taste, wines to pair, as well as wine and food tasting seminars.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.SoWalWine.com.
The event is a major fundraiser for Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, which benefits children in need in Northwest Florida. To learn more about this worthy foundation, visit DCWAF.org.
Sinfonia Presents Beethoven V. Coldplay: A Merging of Musical Giants April 29
Beethoven V. Coldplay transforms the Eroica into an oratorio, weaving the melodies and lyrics of Coldplay into the original Beethoven, pairing them together based on content and context. It is the alternate Eroica Beethoven may have created had he known the music of Coldplay at the time. Many of Coldplay’s most well-known songs are interpolated, including Yellow, Viva La Vida, Clocks and The Scientist. The event takes place at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center. Visit sinfoniagulfcoast.org for more information.
Paddle for Peace at Grayton Beach April 29
Join local charity Gulf Therapy for the 3rd Annual Paddle For Peace on Saturday, April 29th in Grayton Beach. Paddle For Peace welcomes all community members with the focus on love and peace. Follow Paddle For Peace on Facebook for event updates. Pre-registration is encouraged as boards sell out fast. Register at www.gulftherapy.org/paddleforpeace. Be sure to drop off your board early then park at the county lot, 1427 County Highway 283 S, Santa Rosa Beach. The Grayton Beach shuttles will start earlier for paddlers this day and have all hands on deck. Paddle For Peace schedule: 9AM – 9:30AM – Arrive with your Board, 9:30 AM – Opening Ceremony 10:00AM – Intentional Paddle 11 AM – 5:00 PM – Live Music on the Dock. Grayton Beach Dune Access East of the Boardwalk Bordering Western Lake.
Foster Gallery May Fête May 5
The Cultural Arts Alliance invites you to join them for their May Fête on Friday, May 5, 2023 from 5 – 7PM at the Miramar Beach Creative Campus, home to The Foster Gallery and J. Leon Studio. Meet the artists in the Spring Rotation, enjoy light bites as you stroll the gallery to view incredible works on display and available for purchase.
The Creative Campus is open Tuesday – Saturday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information, call 850.837.3037 or visit www.CulturalArtsAlliance.com.
Emerald Coast Theatre Presents The Sound of Music May 5 – 14
Don’t miss the world’s most beloved musical based on the true story of the Von Trapp family. Featuring a trove of cherished songs, including “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “My Favorite Things,” “Do Re Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” and the title number “The Sound of Music,” this is one inspiring musical that brings joy to audiences of all ages.
Showtimes are Thursday – Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 10 at 2:30 p.m.
Visit www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org.
11th Annual Paddle at the Park May 6
The 11th Annual Paddle at the Park, sponsored by HCA Florida Destin Emergency, is moving its location and date. This standup paddle board race will take place in the Gulf of Mexico behind The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island on Saturday, May 6. It features 1- and 3-mile recreational races, a 6-mile elite race and a kids’ fun out-and-back paddle, to be followed by awards. Kayaks and inflatables are welcome too. Registration is now open on Paddleguru.com.
Join us at Al’s Beach Club from 4 – 6 p.m., on Friday, May 5, for live entertainment! Packets will be available for pickup at the nearby Daiquiri Bar. Explore the race venue and catch up with racers old and new. Racers who pick up here will receive a drink ticket for Al’s Beach Club.
Packets are available for pick up at the Destin Chamber, located at 4484 Legendary Drive, Suite A, in Destin, on Friday, May 5, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. They may be picked up at the Racer Welcome Party and on the day of the race beginning at 7 a.m., at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island.
Follow Facebook.com/PaddleAtThePark for event details.
Want to sponsor? Email bryana@DestinChamber.com.
Tequila & Taco Fest at Baytowne May 12-14
Hosted at The Village of Baytowne Wharf, the Tequila & Taco Fest is set for Friday, May 12th – Sunday, May 14th. Purchase tickets at efestevents.com.
Local restaurants and food trucks will be competing for the Best Taco on The Emerald Coast with a first-place prize of $2,500, and you, will have a say in the People’s choice Award. Sample many types of Tequilas and Margaritas from Blancos, Resposados, Anjieos, and even Mezcals while indulging on some of the area’s best tacos.
To learn more about Tequila & Taco Fest, visit baytownewharf.com.
Longleaf Writers Conference May 13
The Longleaf Writers Conference to take place May 13 – 20 in Seaside as part of Art Month South Walton. The Longleaf Writers Conference includes a full week of workshops, seminars, agent consultations, school outreach, and more. The conference, which takes place in and around the Academic Village in Seaside, FL, provides an opportunity for beginning, intermediate, and advanced writers to celebrate writing, to network, and to hone their craft.
2023 Visiting Authors: Rebecca Makkai, Kwame Dawes, Derrink Harriell, Erika Krouse, January Gill O’Neil, Michael Farris Smith, Matt Bondurant, Seth Brady Tucker, Wendy Rawlings, Alex Glass and Jade Wong-Baxter
Longleaf Writers Conference is part of Art Month South Walton, an initiative of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County with the purpose to bring communities, organizations and businesses together to present quality arts and entertainment to the community. Spanning the month of May, Art Month will feature visual, performing and literary arts programming in diverse formats and in various venues throughout South Walton.
Learn more at longleafwritersconference.com.
Artsquest Fine Arts Festival May 13-14
In 2023 ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival celebrates its 35th year! The event is planned for Saturday, May 13, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 14, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County and presented by Grand Boulevard Town Center, ArtsQuest provides an opportunity to view and purchase original art from over 100 artists from around the country. ArtsQuest is a juried show that includes artists in the categories of Ceramics, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Metal, Mixed Media, Oils & Acrylics, Original Digital Art, Photography, Sculpture, Wood and Works on Paper (Watercolor, Printmaking, Pastels, Pencils, Ink). ArtsQuest awards $10,000 in cash prizes. ArtsQuest is a rain or shine outdoor event. The festival is open to the public, and a $5 admission donation is requested.
16th Annual Digital Graffiti Festival May 19-20
Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach is a one-of-a-kind projection art festival where artists from across the globe use the latest digital technologies to project their original works onto the iconic white walls of Alys Beach, and it returns for its 16th year.
For more info and tickets visit www.digitalgraffiti.com.
