The Destin Seafood Festival is one of Destin’s most celebrated traditions, kicking off the Destin Fishing Rodeo that extends the entire month of October. The event was started in 1978 by the Destin Charter Boat Association Women’s Auxiliary. While the festival has grown into its new home on the Destin Harbor Boardwalk, the Destin Seafood Festival remains the primary fundraiser for the Destin Charter Boat Association. Formed in 1954, the Destin Charter Boat Association is a Non Profit Organization that provides many valuable contributions to our beloved city: their primary function is advocacy for Fisheries Management. They also contribute to various community development projects, and award a scholarship to the winner of the Miss Destin Pageant.
This year’s Destin Seafood Festival will feature nearly 100 arts and crafts vendors, kids activities, and plenty of local and regional food vendors. The dates and times for the festival are as follows:
Friday, October 4 – 4 pm- 10 pm
Saturday October 5 – 10 am- 10 pm
Sunday October 6 – 10 am – 4 pm
The Destin Seafood Festival will feature six stages of live music, including the stage at HarborWalk Village, two stages at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar, two stages at Boathouse Oyster Bar, and a stage at the Harbor Tavern. Notable acts include lap and pedal steel guitar player, AJ Ghent, playing two sets on Saturday October 5 at the AJ’s Jumbotron Stage, and an entire day of reggae music on Sunday October 6 at HarborWalk Village.
Parking is limited on the Destin Harbor, but off site parking and transit service will be provided for a small fee. Transit service will run from the West from the parking lot at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island. Transit service from the East will run from the Target Parking lot in Destin, and the Bealls Parking lot in Destin. Both will drop off at the Destin Harbor, and will run from one hour before the Festival begins until one hour after the Festival ends.
For more information, visit at DestinSeafoodFestival.com