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 Capacity Steering Committee, 5:30 p.m. April 29
City Council, 6 p.m. May 3
Okaloosa Arts Art Show
The Okaloosa School District and Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation host the Okaloosa Arts sixth through 12th grade art show from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 28 and 29 at C. H “Bull” Rigdon Fairgrounds in Fort Walton Beach. Award winners will be displayed, but there will be no reception or ceremony.
Wednesday Night Concert Series
Sit back and relax, and enjoy free live entertainment with the Emerald Coast Blues Brothers from 7-9 p.m. April 28 on the Events Plaza stage at The Village of Baytowne Wharf.
• May 5: Sainte Jane
• May 12: Shenanigans
• May 19: Chris Alvarado
• May 26: The Shakedown
Concerts in the Village
Duchess performs at 7 p.m. April 29 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 6: Shania Twin, Shania Twain Tribute
• May 13: M80s
• May 20: A Brother’ 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
Arbor Day Celebration
The City of Destin will hold its Annual Arbor Day celebration at the Nancy Weidenhammer Dog Park, 4100 Indian Bayou Trail, at 10 a.m. April 29. The event will include remarks from Mayor Gary Jarvis and special guest speaker Aubrey Santucci with Coastline Tree Service. Members of the Destin City Council, the Destin Parks and Recreation Committee, Destin Chamber of Commerce Destin Forward Class of 2021 and Noah’s Ark Pre-School will participate in the tree dedication.
Tequila & Taco Fest
Hosted at The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Miramar Beach, local restaurants and food trucks will be competing for the Best Taco on The Emerald Coast with a first-place prize of $2,500, from 6-9 p.m. April 30, 1-5 p.m. May 1 and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 2. Sample many types of Tequilas and Margaritas from Blancos, Resposados, Anjieos, and even Mezcals while indulging on some of the area’s best tacos. Purchase tickets at bigtickets.com.
Sinfonia’s Crescendo!
Sinfonia Gulf Coast hosts its annual fundraiser Crescendo! A Cultural and Culinary extravaganza, April 30-May 2. On April 30 at 6 p.m. Crescendo! weekend will begin with a series of carefully curated vintner dinners hosted in elegant venues throughout the Emerald Coast. Vintner Dinner tickets are $295 per person and include all food, wine and gratuities.
This year’s main event is themed, “Moulin {vin} Rouge” and is set for May 2 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Miramar Beach. Tickets to Crescendo! 2021 are $150/person. To purchase tickets, visit www.sinfoniagulfcoast.org or call 460-8800.
Kentucky Derby Crazy Hat Contest
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 296 will host a Kentucky Derby Crazy Hat Contest from 2-6 p.m. May 1 at American Legion Post 296, 311 Main street in Destin. Prizes include a $25 bar tab for first place; Bingo ticket for second place; and breakfast for two at the Legion for third place. Bring your favorite dish for a potluck.
Derby Bourbon Tasting
The Courtyard at Pescado will hold a Derby Bourbon Tasting from 4:3-=6:30 p.m. May 1. Watch the Derby while enjoying a Maker’s Mark Mint Julep accompanied by Chef Ken’s Signature Kentucky Dishes. Dress in your finest Derby hat. Tickets are $85 + tax and gratuity. Book at events@thelcrg.com.
Derby Party on the Waterfront
Dust off your bowties and big hats because the Kentucky Derby is right around the corner and North Beach Social is the place to watch May 1. Relax at the water’s edge, as you sip mint juleps and devour hot brown sandwiches. Will and Linda Pleasants will be playing from 12-3 p.m. that day and the race is at 5:50 p.m. sharp. And they’re off!
Yard Sale Rescheduled
A Community Yard Sale will be held in the parking lot of Immanuel Anglican Church, 250 Indian Bayou Trail, in Destin, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 1 in conjunction with the second Immanuel Art & Music Fest. Art vendors will also be set up. Bayou Breaux’s Food Truck will be on site for purchase. Free funnel cakes.
Plant Sale
The Destin Garden Club will have its annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to noon May 1 at the Destin Library.
A Family Night Out
North Beach Social will welcome friends and families for a community event benefiting 30A Trails from 5-8 p.m. May 2. The event, sponsored by Citadel Roofing and Restoration, will feature live music by Wildlife Specials from 5-8 p.m Bring the whole family to dine, enjoy drinks and play on the beach while giving back to a great cause.
Reading
The Destin Library will host a reading by Bev Freeman, author of The Madison McKenzie Files, a trilogy of Appalachian mysteries, at 2 p.m. May 4. She will also be available for a question and answer session afterward.
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.
Tequila Tasting
Pescado has partnered with BreakThru Beverage Group to host a tasting led by Marc Engel from 6:30-8:30 p.m. May 6 at The Courtyard at Pescado.. Chef Ken Duenas will be preparing Cinco de Mayo style appetizers and guests will also receive a welcome cocktail in addition to the food and tasting. Tickets are $90 plus tax and gratuity. Email events@thelcrg.com to book your place. Limited spaces available
Spring Showcase – A Night to Remember
Alissa Steffens Vocal Academy/Studios presents its Spring Showcase – A Night to Remember from 6-8 p.m. May 6 on the Events Plaza Stage at Baytowne Wharf. Singer/songwriter students age 12 to adult will present an evening filled with various solos and duets in a variety of music styles.
Booksigning
Gail Pallotta, award winning author and longtime visitor to Destin, will hold a book signing for her latest book, “Cooking Up a Mystery,” at Sundog Books, 89 Central Square in Santa Rosa Beach in Seaside, at 11 a.m. May 7. Recipes from Destin’s Mission Love Seeds are in the book.
Cajun Crawfish Bash
The Rotary Club of Destin’s Annual Cajun Crawfish Bash Charity Fundraiser will return this year to The Towne Centre at Seascape with co-host, Mezcal Mexican Grill, from 5:30-9 p.m. May 7.
Proceeds benefit young families in need through Food For Thought, Harvest House, Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast, Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s community outreach initiatives and The Rotary Club of Destin Scholarship Fund. The Fais Do-Do Band performs their unique genre of zydeco music. Tickets are now on sale for $30 per person for a large flat of crawfish and fixings, $50 for All-You-Can-Eat (AYCE) crawfish and fixings, and $15 for children or a non-crawfish meal (grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and rotisserie chicken). It is free for kids age three and under. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Newman-Dailey Resort Properties (850-837-1071), from any Destin Rotarian, the Rotary Club of Destin Facebook page or online at www.DestinRotary.com.
Sip N’ Stroll Gallery Night
Enjoy an evening of art from 5-7 p.m. May 7 at J.Leon Gallery and Studio, 13370 U.S. Highway 98 in Miramar Beach, with wine, champagne, and eats.
Music on Main
The Anthony Peebles Trio performs from 7-9 p.m. May 7 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 14: West Hine
May 21: Longleaf Drive
May 28: The Wortheys
Embroiderers’ Guild
The Sand Dunes Chapter of Embroiderers’ Guild of America will meet for a stitch-in from 12-3 p.m. May 8 in the Religious Education building, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 1200 Valparaiso Blvd. in Niceville. Call 496-3466.
Toast to the Coast: A Cocktail & Culinary Celebration
Join in at HarborWalk Village for Toast to the Coast: A Cocktail and Culinary Celebration featuring local cuisine, signature beverages, and live entertainment at 2 p.m. May 8. Area restaurants will showcase matched samplings — a light bite with a complimentary cocktail. Purchase tickets at https://www.eventliveus.com/purchase/event/2204688.
Blessing of the Fleet
Destin’s 64 th 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 classses 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 our veterans.
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 thru Eventbrite are $25 in advance, $30 day of show at the gate.
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.
