Please send your events, meetings, etc., to pgriffin@thedestinlog.com at least 2 weeks in advance.
Destin City Hall
All city meetings are being held at the City Hall Annex, 4100 Indian Bayou Trail, until further notice. All meetings are subject to change or cancellation. To virtually view the meeting, https://www.cityofdestin.com/. To view/stream is www.youtube.com/CityofDestin.
Harbor CRA-AC, 5:30 p.m. May 12
City Council, 6 p.m. May 17
Special Magistrate Hearing, 5:30 p.m. May 18, City Hall
Town Center CRA-AC, 5:30 p.m. May 19
Parks & Recreation, 4 p.m. May 25
Harbor Capacity Steering Committee, 5:30 p.m. May 26
Local Planning Agency, 5:30 p.m. May 27
Lionfish Restaurant Week
Emerald Coast Open’s Lionfish Restaurant Week is back from 12-10 p.m. through May 15 in Destin. Local chefs will highlight lionfish with unique dishes to bring awareness to the lionfish invasion in the Gulf of Mexico. Restaurants include La Paz, May 12; Harbor Docks, May 13; and AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar, May 15.
Wednesday Night Concert Series
Enjoy free live entertainment with Shenanigans from 7-9 p.m. May 12 on the Events Plaza stage at The Village of Baytowne Wharf.
• May 19: Chris Alvarado
• May 26: Flash Flood
• June 2: Cadillac Willy
• June 9: Biscuit Miller and The Mix
• June 16: Will Thompson Band
• June 23: Luke Langford
• June 30: Dion Jones & The Neon Tears
• July 7: Boukou Groove
• July 14: Forrest Williams Band
• July 21: Six Piece Suits
• July 28: Rust & Gold
Concerts in the Village
M80s performs at 7 p.m. May 13 at Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s Dugas Stage. Admission is $15/adults, $10/active-duty military, and children (12 and under) and MKAF members are free. Purchase tickets online at Eventbrite. Gates open 6 p.m.
• May 20: A Brother’s Revival, an Allman Brother Tribute
• May 27: Deana Carter
• June 3: The Tams
• June 10: Kara Grainger
• June 17: Petty Hearts, Tom Petty Tribute
• June 24: Air National Guard Band of the South
Blessing of the Fleet
Destin’s 64th Annual Blessing of the Fleet will be held May 13 at the docks behind Brotula’s Seafood House and Steamer Restaurant on the Destin harbor. The event begins at 4 p.m. with a Captains’ Worship and Prayer Service to be held under a large tent. The public is encouraged to attend. Then local clergy will process to the dock to begin blessing vessels. A community fish fry will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a suggested meal donation.
Grief Class
Beginning at 1 p.m. May 13, Destin United Methodist Church will have grief classes discussing different stages of grief and how they apply to loss. Loss which include life, relationships, health, careers and self worth. For more information and registration, contact Ken Gay at 582 2548 or email kengay.kg@ gmail.com.
Storytime at Destin Library
Cuddlers and Toddlers Storytime is live on the lawn at the Destin Library 10:30 a.m. May 13, 20, and 27 as weather permits. Bring a chair or blanket to sit on the grass while Miss Laura reads picture books and leads the group in songs, rhymes, and fingerplays. For more information, call 837-8572 or email library@cityofdestin.com.
Park Ribbon Cutting
The mayor, City Council, staff and special guests will host a ribbon cutting and grand opening of Captain Leonard Destin Park at 10 a.m. May 13.
Bubbly Baytowne
Enjoy an evening full of free champagne (21+) and shopping during Bubbly Baytowne from 5-7 p.m. May 13 at The Village of Baytowne Wharf.
Art at Destin Library
During the month of May, the expressive pastel work of artist Melody Bogle is on display at the Destin Library. Take a tour through her land and seascapes as you browse the stacks.
Sew Spring Crafts
Celebrate spring and learn a useful skill with the Sew Springs Crafts Beanstack Challenge presented by the Destin Library. Through May 23, have fun learning basic sewing stitches while creating a new spring-themed craft each week. You can earn badges by completing the challenges or by reading sewing books and logging your reading minutes. Beanstack is available as a free app for your mobile device or through the web at www.cityofdestin.beanstack.org. If you need information, contact Sandee Kelly at 837-8572 or email skelly@cityofdestin.com.
Music on Main
West Hine performs from 7-9 p.m. May 14 at “Music on Main” concert series in DeFuniak Springs. Guests are invited to enjoy a listening room experience at the historic Florida Chautauqua Theatre, 840 Baldwin Avenue. Doors open at 6 p.m. for cocktail hour. Guests can grab a bite to eat before the concert at one of the downtown restaurants or from the food truck setup in front of the theatre. Tickets purchased in advance are $15/adults and $5/children and are available at fcweb.org/musiconmain. Ticket prices increase $5 on the day of the show.
May 21: Longleaf Drive
May 28: The Wortheys
Nothin’ Funner Than Summer
Spend a day exploring exhibits before hiking to Camp Longleaf at E.O Wilson Biophilia Center’s Nothin’ Funner Than Summer from 9 am. to 2 p.m. May 15 in Freeport. Free for members-use; code in email. Adults $8 and children 3-12 $5. Pre-registration required at eowilsoncenter.org or call 835-1824. Food will be available for purchase.
College and Career Day
The Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation is sponsoring a free College and Career Day for high school students in Okaloosa County from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 15 at the Beachside Community Church on Racetrack Road in Fort Walton Beach. Visit with businesses and representatives from College Boards.
Lionfish Festival
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced the seventh annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Festival is scheduled for May 15 and 16 at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar and HarborWalk Village in Destin. Come out and celebrate the fight against invasive lionfish with the FWC and Destin–Fort Walton Beach. Activities will include fillet demonstrations; family-friendly games and activities; art, diving and conservation booths; and the world’s largest lionfish spearfishing tournament, the Emerald Coast Open. Satisfy your taste buds by visiting any of the participating locations of Lionfish Restaurant Week May 10-14 for your chance to try this delicious invasive.
Sunday Cinema
Grab a lawn chair or blanket and cozy up at 8 p.m. May 16 on the Events Plaza Lawn at Baytowne Wharf for the free movie “Coco,”:a featured film on the big screen.
May 23: Ralph Breaks the Internet
May 30: Incredibles 2
June 6: Maleficent
June 13: Croods A New Age
June 20: Secret Life of Pets 2
June 27: Moana
July 11: Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
July 18: Pete’s Dragon
July 25: Sing
Hydroflight Monday
Enjoy shows from fly-board extraordinaire Ben Merrell over the lagoon at The Village of Baytowne Wharf at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Mondays, May 17-Aug. 2.
Boomin’ Tuesday
Turn your eyes on the sky at Baytowne Wharf and watch as the sky lights up with a fireworks show over the Lagoon at 9:15 p.m. Tuesdays, May 18-Aug. 3. Also, a DJ Dance Party with DJ Mike Whitty begins at 7 p.m. in the Events Plaza.
Magical Thursday
Magic, music, and mayhem with Baytowne Wharf’s featured pirate Captain Davy takes you on an adventure with two magic shows at 7 and 8 p.m. Thursdays May 20-Aug. 5.
Community Yard Sale
The Destin Community Center will host a community yard sale May 22 from 8 a.m. to noon. For those interested in participating, there is a $15 sign-up fee for residents and $20 for non-residents. The fee will include one table and two chairs and participants are welcome to bring one additional table. Set-up will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot on the day of the event. To reserve a spot or for more information, call the community center staff at 850-654-5184.
Artful Dining
Join Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation at Vin’tij Food & Wine in Grand Boulevard at 6 p.m. May 25 for the next ArtFul Dining series of wine dinners benefiting MKAF’s arts education and community engagement initiatives throughout Northwest Florida. Vin’tij Executive Chef Iganacio Bernal will orchestrate a culinary palette to pair with the incredible wines of the Jean Charles Boisset Collection. Tickets are $195 for non-members and $175 for members and includes all food and wine.
Mattie Kelly Arts Center
Enjoy classic rock music from a local band at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Amphitheater for Goldilocks & the Dancing Bears May 26. Doors open 6 p.m.; music begins at 7 p.m. Food trucks and beverages will be available for purchase. Tickets are $10, kids under 12 are free. Call the Box Office for tickets at 729-6000 or visit https://mattiekellyartscenter.org/.
• Highway 98 Country welcomes live country music at Hot Country Night featuring Parmalee June 12 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Amphitheater in Niceville. Doors open at 6 p.m. Duchess performs prior to Parmalee taking the stage. Tickets are $20.
• Jesus Christ Superstar is the 2021 Summer Musical. This year’s show will be Jesus Christ Superstar at 7:30 p.m. July 21-24 and 2 p.m. July 25 on Mainstage.
Memorial Day Weekend
Kick-off the summer season with live music, fireworks and a silent disco party at HarborWalk Village. Events include Flash Flood at 7 p.m. May 29; Cadillac Willy and fireworks at 7 p.m. May 30; and a silent disco party with DJ Chubby and DJ D Funk at 7 p.m. May 31. Parking on-site is $10. All guests are encouraged to social distance and wear masks while visiting HarborWalk Village.
Memorial Day Celebration
Kick off your summer with a free Memorial Day Celebration at The Village of Baytowne Wharf from 7-9 p.m. May 29 and 6-9 p.m. May 30. Enjoy music with Forrest Williams Band on Saturday and TBD on Sunday. Enjoy kids activities and a patriotic fireworks show on Sunday evening.
Destin Blues Fest
A Memorial Day Weekend Blues Fest that features Award Winning Ana Popovic will be held from 3:30-8:30 p.m. May 30 at Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation in Destin. Also performing are Laura Vida and Mike Zito. Purchase tickets at https://top-shelf-blues.ticketleap.com/destin-blues-fest/
Memorial Day Program
The Village of Baytowne Wharf will hold a free Memorial Day Program at 5 p.m. May 31. The Sandestin Veterans present a program in honor of veterans.
Young Frankenstein
Stage Crafters presents the Mel Brooks musical, Young Frankenstein, June 4-6 and 11-13 at the Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium, 109 Miracle Strip Parkway SW. For Friday and Saturday performances, doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. For Sunday matinee performances, doors open at 1:30 p.m., and the show starts at 2 p.m. General Admission tickets are $30 and can be purchased at www.StageCraftersFWB.com or at the door.
Chef Presentation
Chef Warren Caterson shares all the tips and hints you’ll need to elevate your grilling from “ho-hum” to “oh, my” at 1 p.m. June 8 at the Niceville Community Center.
Tailgates Down Concerts
The Emerald Coast Parrothead Club will host “Tailgates Down” Phriends All Around on June 12 at Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village, 4323 Commons Drive W in Destin. Gates open at 9:30 a.m. for tailgating and music from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The concert series benefits Fresh Start for Children & Families. Local musicians Jeff and the Camaros, Brent Burns, trop rock artist Mike Nash and nationally renowned Buffett tribute band Gary Roland and the Landsharks will play. Tickets available through Eventbrite are $25 in advance, $30 day of show at the gate.
Food Truck Fest Destin
Orange Beach Breeze brings the Food Truck Fest from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 20 at Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village in Destin. The fest will feature many food trucks in the Panhandle, vendors exhibiting and selling gifts, crafts, jewelry, personal care products and more. This is a family-friendly event. Entry fee is $5 with 12 and under free. Visit www.foodtruckfestdestin.com for more information.
Smoke on the Coast
Destin Commons will host 15 local non-profit organizations at the 10th annual Smoke on the Coast BBQ & Fireworks Festival from 5-10 p. m. July 3. Each non-profit organization teams up with a restaurant or BBQ aficionado. Cast your vote for $1 for your favorite BBQ team, support their mission, and enjoy a day of family fun.
Destin Woman’s Club
The Annual Fashion Show held by the Destin Woman’s Club has been cancelled this year due to the Covid virus. The Fashion Show for 2021 has been scheduled for Nov. 5. As their major fundraiser, net proceeds go toward the Club’s Family Assistance Fund designed to help local families and a local charity.
RECURRING EVENTS
Destin Community Center
All activities are at the Destin Community Center, unless noted. Call 654-5184 or email recreation@cityofdestin.comfor information and to register. Persons with disabilities who require assistance are asked to notify the center 48 hours in advance.
Pickleball: Sessions are Mondays from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m. and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Fee is $3/session. Racquets and balls are available, just bring your gym shoes.
Table Tennis: Play from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Paddles and balls provided. Fee is $2/resident and $3/non-resident.
Senior Programs
All activities are at the Destin Community Center, unless noted. Call 654-5184 or email recreation@cityofdestin.com for information and to register. Persons with disabilities who require assistance are asked to notify the center 48 hours in advance.
— Destin Senior Membership: Join the Destin Seniors to enjoy multiple festivities including the senior lunch bunch, potluck, casino trips, cruises, bingo, chair exercise, knitting, scrabble, and Mexican dominoes. Members must be a Destin resident.
— Senior Book Club: The Destin Senior Members meet at 10 a.m. the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Destin Library, 150 Sibert Ave.
— Senior Drop-In Hours: The Destin Senior Center at Buck Destin Park, 724 Legion Drive, offers senior drop-in hours from 9 a.m. to noon every Tuesday and Thursday for Seniors (50 years and older) to meet and enjoy each other’s company, participate in games such as Mexican Train Dominoes, Scrabble, cards, etc.
— Senior Walking Club: The Destin Senior Members walk around the Destin Community Center’s gymnasium from 8-9 a.m. Monday-Friday. All of the miles that you walk will be added to the “team map” as we travel from one region to the next. The team’s miles are reported on the 4th Friday of each month at the Destin Senior Membership’s Potluck.
— Destin Senior Chair Exercise 50+ years: Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10-10:45 a.m. at Buck Destin Park consists of performing light exercises to help improve balance, flexibility, strength, and circulation. Free/residents.
Book Club
The Destin Library’s Novel Idea Book Club is open to adults and meets every fourth Thursday of the month at 11:30 a.m. via Microsoft Teams. Club members can submit book recommendations – primarily fiction with the occasional non-fiction title – and the club will vote on which ones to read. Membership is open to everyone; however, you will need an Okaloosa County Public Library card to check-out materials. Members will need an email address and internet access to join the discussion.
City of Destin Annual Passes
Full-time residents (within the incorporated city limits) are encouraged to submit their request for a 2021 Annual Pass at https://www.cityofdestin.com/342/Annual-Passes. For those who do not have internet access, beach parking passes are only available at City Hall. Henderson Beach State Park and Joe’s Bayou Boat Ramp passes are available at both City Hall and the Destin Community Center. For questions, call 837-4242.
Adopt-A-Street
The City of Destin’s Adopt-A-Street Program allows local families, businesses and community groups to perform a valuable community service by adopting sections of a street to keep clear of litter and debris. Groups who participate in this program will have their name listed on the City’s website and signage installed on their adopted street. For more information, call 837-6869 or email adoptastreet@cityofdestin.com.
Grand Boulevard Farmers Market
Grand Boulevard Farmers Market takes place every Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Grand Park in the heart of Grand Boulevard in South Walton. Bring your shopping bag and load up on local produce, eggs, jams and pies. Homemade soap, good olive oil, and pickled things are all there for the taking.
Rosemary Beach Farmers Market
Come browse the 30A Farmers Market in Rosemary Beach on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The local farmers market takes place on Sundays year round, and Thursdays throughout the summer months, in North Barrett Square along Scenic 30A.
