Events Calendar

Things To Do on 30A & the Emerald Coast

Plan your stay around the best festivals, concerts and seasonal events from Seaside to Panama City Beach.

Wine festival placeholder

Wine festivals

Holiday lights placeholder

Holiday lights

Live music placeholder

Live music

Farmers markets placeholder

Farmers markets

Art on 30A placeholder

Art on 30A

Fishing tournaments placeholder

Fishing tournaments

November 2026

Great month for a getaway

Featured

Nov 5–8

Seeing Red Wine Festival

Seaside

Four days of wine tastings, special dinners and culinary events.

Food & Wine

Nov 6–7

Mountainfilm on Tour

WaterColor

Outdoor adventure and documentary films under the stars.

Arts & Culture
Featured

Nov 11–15

Alys Beach Crafted

Alys Beach

Culinary experiences, craft beverages, dinners and a makers market.

Food & Wine

Nov 14

Rosemary Beach Uncorked

Rosemary Beach

Wine tasting and food event.

Food & Wine

Nov 20

Sparkling Wine & Holiday Lights

Baytowne Wharf

Bubbly and twinkling lights to kick off the season.

Holiday

Nov 27

Alys in Winter Wonderland

Alys Beach

Festive holiday celebration in the Alys Beach Amphitheatre.

HolidayFamily-Friendly

Thanksgiving weekend

Beach Home for the Holidays

Dates TBC

Aaron Bessant Park, Panama City Beach

Santa, s'mores, holiday concerts and fireworks. Free.

HolidayFamily-Friendly
Featured

Nov 28

Turn on the Town

Seaside

Holiday parade and Christmas tree lighting.

HolidayFamily-Friendly

December 2026

Holiday magic on the coast

Dec 1–23

12 Nights of Lights

Baytowne Wharf

Nightly holiday light shows in the village.

HolidayFamily-Friendly

Dec 5

Eden Gardens Christmas Candlelight Open House

Point Washington

Candlelit tours of the historic Wesley Mansion.

HolidayFamily-Friendly

Dec 6

Winter Wonder Watersound

Dates TBC

Watersound Town Center

Santa comes to 30A for a family holiday celebration.

HolidayFamily-Friendly

Dec 12

Destin Christmas Parade

Destin

HolidayFamily-Friendly

Dec 12

Destin Harbor Lighted Boat Parade

Destin Harbor

Holiday-lit boats parade across the harbor.

HolidayFamily-Friendly

Mid-December

Photos with Santa

Dates TBC

Seaside

Free visits with Santa in Seaside's Central Square.

HolidayFamily-Friendly

Mid-December

A Christmas Carol

Dates TBC

Seaside

Free outdoor performance by Emerald Coast Theatre Company.

HolidayFamily-Friendly

Dec 18–23

Coastal White Christmas

Dates TBC

Grand Boulevard, Sandestin

Festive family events in Grand Park leading up to Christmas.

HolidayFamily-Friendly
Featured

Dec 31

New Year's Eve Celebrations

Baytowne Wharf, Destin Harbor and Rosemary Beach

Early-evening kids' activities and fireworks at Baytowne, then live music until 1 a.m.

HolidayFamily-Friendly

January 2027

Major 30A event

Featured

Jan 15–18

30A Songwriters Festival

Venues throughout South Walton

One of the area's biggest annual events, with songwriters performing at intimate venues.

Music

February 2027

Feb 17–21

30A Wine Festival

Alys Beach

Wine tastings and culinary events.

Food & Wine

Feb 19–20

Sandestin Gumbo Festival

Baytowne Wharf

Gumbo tastings and live entertainment.

Food & WineFamily-Friendly

March 2027

Mar 28

Easter Celebration

Seaside

Photos with the Easter Bunny, face painting, live music and kids' activities.

HolidayFamily-Friendly

April 2027

Excellent festival month

Apr 2–3

UNwineD

Panama City Beach

Food, wine, spirits and culinary experiences.

Food & Wine

Early April

Kite Festival

Dates TBC

Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island, Fort Walton Beach

Giant kites fill the sky over the beach.

CommunityFamily-Friendly
Featured

Apr 21–25

Seabreeze Jazz Festival

Panama City Beach

Major jazz festival with nationally recognized performers.

Music
Featured

Apr 24–27

South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival

Grand Boulevard, Sandestin

Wine tastings, culinary events and celebrity chefs.

Food & Wine

May 2027

Featured

May 2027

Digital Graffiti

Alys Beach

A unique outdoor digital art festival projected onto Alys Beach's white walls.

Arts & Culture

May 2027

ArtQuest Fine Arts Festival

Grand Boulevard, Sandestin

Juried art show with a Kids' Zone.

Arts & CultureFamily-Friendly

May 6–23

Frozen: The Musical

Emerald Coast Theatre Company, Miramar Beach

Arts & CultureFamily-Friendly

May 8

DwightFest

Watersound

Outdoor music and community celebration.

MusicFamily-Friendly
Featured

Mid-May

Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival

Dates TBC

The Landing, Fort Walton Beach

Pirate invasion, kids' pirate walk, treasure hunt and torchlight parade. Free.

CommunityFamily-Friendly

June 2027

Summer music season

June 2027

Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic

Sandestin

Major sport fishing tournament with dockside weigh-ins.

Sports & OutdoorsFamily-Friendly

June–August

Summer Concert Series

Aaron Bessant Park, Panama City Beach

Free outdoor concerts.

MusicFamily-Friendly
Featured

Jun 3–6

Gulf Coast Jam

Panama City Beach

One of the region's biggest country music festivals.

Music

July 2027

June–August

Summer Concert Series

Aaron Bessant Park, Panama City Beach

Free outdoor concerts.

MusicFamily-Friendly
Featured

Jul 4

Independence Day

Seaside, Destin and Panama City Beach

Parades, festivities and fireworks over the Gulf.

HolidayFamily-Friendly

August 2027

June–August

Summer Concert Series

Aaron Bessant Park, Panama City Beach

Free outdoor concerts.

MusicFamily-Friendly

October 2027

Fishing rodeo & pirate season

Featured

Oct 1–31

Destin Fishing Rodeo

Dates TBC

Destin Harbor

Month-long fishing tournament with daily weigh-ins, plus kids' events like the Wagon Boat Parade and a kids' pier fishing day.

Sports & OutdoorsFamily-Friendly

Oct 1–31

BOOtowne Wharf

Dates TBC

Baytowne Wharf

The village is decked out for Halloween all month.

HolidayFamily-Friendly
Featured

Columbus Day weekend

Pirates of the High Seas & Renaissance Fest

Dates TBC

Aaron Bessant Park, Panama City Beach

Pirate parades, mermaid shows, a fire circus and fireworks. Free.

CommunityFamily-Friendly

Oct 31

Halloween Trick-or-Treating

Baytowne Wharf, Grand Boulevard and Destin Harbor

Free trick-or-treating, costume fun and fireworks at Baytowne.

HolidayFamily-Friendly

Every Week on 30A

Even when there isn't a major festival in town, there's plenty to enjoy close to the cottage.

  • Saturdays, 9 AM–1 PMSeaside Farmers MarketFamily-Friendly
  • Saturdays, 9 AM–1 PMGrand Boulevard Farmers MarketFamily-Friendly
  • Sundays, 9 AM–1 PMRosemary Beach Farmers MarketFamily-Friendly
  • Mondays, 6 PM (spring & summer)Free Children's Theater · Seaside AmphitheaterFamily-Friendly
  • Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5 PM (spring & summer)Huck & Lilly Kids' Concerts · Seaside AmphitheaterFamily-Friendly
  • OngoingLive music and seasonal entertainment at Baytowne Wharf, Gulf Place and The Big Chill

Stay steps from it all

Book direct for the best rate and plan your trip around the events you love.

Event dates and details are set by organizers and may change. Please confirm with the event before you plan your trip.