Destin hosts numerous special events and activities throughout the year. Many times, the Resorts of Pelican Beach will offer a special discount for visitors to many of Destin's best events!

FEATURED EVENTS

All Events

 

March 2019

Mardi Gras Parade
March 2, 2019

Beads, dazzling floats, street performers and live music– don’t miss the biggest Mardi Gras Parade on the Destin Harbor at Harbor Walk Village! The parade rolls at 2:00pm followed by the lively cajun/zydeco tunes of Fais Do Do on the main stage!

Polar Plunge Destin
March 2, 2019

Polar Plunge events are one of our signature peer-to-peer fundraisers here at Special Olympic Florida. Simply put: Polar Plunge is a fun, interactive experience where team members charge the cold waters of Florida’s beaches and waterparks. Plungers must raise a minimum of $100 to participate – that’s it! Their efforts allow Special Olympics Florida to continue providing year-round training and athletic competitions at no cost to our 40,000+ athletes statewide. You can find more event-specific information at www.PlungeFL.org

Tequila and Taco Fest
March 8-10, 2019

Enjoy tequila tastings, live music, and tacos during the Tequila and Taco Fest! The two-day festival happens each March at HarborWalk Village. Over 30 varieties of tequila are paired with creative twists on fish, shrimp, beef and authentic Latin tacos.

Inaugural Destin Pickleball Tournament
March 15, 2019

The Inaugural Destin Pickleball Tournament will take place on Friday, March 15, 2019! Hosted by Destin Commons.

 

April 2019

Sandestin Wine Festival
April 11-14, 2019

The Sandestin Wine Festival at Baytowne Wharf brings an opportunity for discovery. Four days of unique events open up a wide range of experiences from attending wine dinners with celebrity chefs, participating in preview events throughout the year, and taking part in wine tastings that showcase hundreds of wines.

 

May 2019

Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival
May 31 - June 1, 2019

The dastardly Billy Bowlegs has been seen off t’shores of T’Emerald Coast and rumor is that he be plannin’ to dock his ship once t’again at The Fort Walton Beach Landing! The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber o’ Merchants welcomes landlubbers and swabbys of all ages t’dis two day jolly family event.

 

June 2019

Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival
May 31 - June 1, 2019

The dastardly Billy Bowlegs has been seen off t’shores of T’Emerald Coast and rumor is that he be plannin’ to dock his ship once t’again at The Fort Walton Beach Landing! The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber o’ Merchants welcomes landlubbers and swabbys of all ages t’dis two day jolly family event.

Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic
June 19-23, 2019

Taking place in one of the most productive fisheries in the United States, timed to coincide with the peak of the Gulf Coast’s blue marlin season and located at the South’s number-one ranked resort destination, the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin® (ECBC) has set the precedent for world-class sportfishing tournaments.

 

July 2019

Smoke on the Coast BBQ and Fireworks Festival
July 3, 2019

The Annual Smoke on the Coast BBQ and Fireworks Festival at Destin Common starts at 5 p.m. on July 3, 2019. Family entertainment and live music will kick off the day. At 6 p.m. BBQ aficionados can enjoy $1 samples from 18 area restaurants and BBQ groups and vote for their favorite as People’s Choice winners. Last year $87,500 in donations benefited local charities! Stop by for family fun activities including an Independence Day firework extravaganza!

 

August 2019

Emerald Coast Poker Run
August 10, 2019

Powerboats, fishing boats, pleasure boats, and all in between, will fill the waterways for one of the largest and most popular charity poker runs in the USA! Affectionately called “The Big One,” the Emerald Coast Poker Run has been held along the beautiful waters in and around Destin, Florida for over 25 years.

27th Annual Greek Festival
August 30 – September 2, 2019

Come out and enjoy the 27th Annual Greek Festival during the Labor Day weekend at the Emerald Coast Convention Center on Okaloosa Island. Taste the various Greek foods, desserts, and drinks being served up throughout the festival. Let your ears enjoy the sounds provided by the Kosta Kastanis Band, one of the hottest and most exciting Greek bands in the U.S. Let your eyes marvel at our local Greek dancers as they perform live for you our guests. We will have multiple local and national vendors showing and selling their crafts and goods.

 

September 2019

27th Annual Greek Festival
August 30 – September 2, 2019

Come out and enjoy the 27th Annual Greek Festival during the Labor Day weekend at the Emerald Coast Convention Center on Okaloosa Island. Taste the various Greek foods, desserts, and drinks being served up throughout the festival. Let your ears enjoy the sounds provided by the Kosta Kastanis Band, one of the hottest and most exciting Greek bands in the U.S. Let your eyes marvel at our local Greek dancers as they perform live for you our guests. We will have multiple local and national vendors showing and selling their crafts and goods.

 

October 2019

Destin Fishing Rodeo
October 1-31, 2019

The Destin Fishing Rodeo began in May of 1948 to bring people to Destin. It worked! Destin shortly became known as a summer tourist destination and “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village”. The Destin Fishing Rodeo is the ultimate fishing tournament for salt water anglers of all ages. The Rodeo founders, people such as Howard Marler, Jewel Melvin and Willie Marler, decided that moving the Rodeo to October would lengthen the tourist season another month. Today the Rodeo is held October 1- 31.

Mattie Kelly Festival of the Arts
October 26-27, 2019

One of the Southeast's premier art festivals, the two-day signature event features art exhibits of nearly 200 total artists (including the juried and collaborative exhibit) from 13 states showcasing a diverse palette of artistic styles in 22 different art mediums.