Destin Seafood Festival Oct 4-6 Canceled

2013 DESTIN SEAFOOD FESTIVAL HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER
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The first weekend of October is almost here and people on the Emerald Coast know what that means - it’s time for a great weekend on the Destin Harbor celebrating the annual Destin Seafood Festival! From Friday Oct. 4th to Sunday Oct. 6th, the Destin Harbor Boardwalk will be the center of the party that locals look forward to every year.

The Destin Seafood Festival was first held in 1978 by the Destin Charter Boat Association’s Women’s Auxiliary as way to raise funds for the fleet and to draw visitors during the slower fall season. Now in it’s 35th year, its has become a Destin tradition that brings families down the docks to celebrate the best that the harbor to offer. This year the schedule is packed with the best lots of family fun like dozens of the best local and regional bands, kid friendly activities and of course, amazing local seafood.

If you’ve never had a chance to experience all of the great dining options on the harbor, this is the perfect chance to get a sampling of everything the area has to offer. Local favorites like Dewey Destin’s, Fisherman’s Wharf and the Boat House are just a few of the great seafood restaurants participating this year. Just walk down the boardwalk and see the vast array of seafood samplings each one has to offer. Even if seafood isn’t your thing, there are an array of local places with vendor booths like Tucker Duke’s burgers or Crab Island Cantina that will definitely delight your taste buds.

Music has become a big part of this exciting weekend, and this year is no exception. There will be three different stages on the boardwalk, as well as live performances at A.J.’s Oyster bar, the Boathouse, Harry T.’s and Coyote Ugly, all showcasing the areas best music, with acts ranging from reggae to country, island music and more. Some of this year’s stand out performers include local favorites like Heritage and Caddilac Willy, country-rockers Andy Velo Band and big band swingers Louis Pima Jr. and the Witnesses. The three main stages along the boardwalk are the HarborWalk Village stage, located in front of the Emerald Grande, The Destin City Stage next to Dewey Destin’s and The Heron Harbor Stage across from Burrito Del Sol.

Adults won’t be the only ones having fun, though. The festival has several areas the cater just for kids. Down at the East Pass Marina, kids can play on inflatable games or visit a petting zoo, and at the Heron Harbor Kids Fun Zone, they can learn how to paint their own skateboard or skim board. They can even get their picture taken with a real life mermaid! At the HarborWalk Village West Stage, no one will want to miss the entertaining stage show “Pirate Pete and The Missing Fisherman.” This interactive performance for kids is put on the Emeral Coast Theater Company and will run daily during the festival.

The excitement of the Destin Seafood Festival shares the docks with another iconic local event: The Destin Rodeo. The festival serves as nice kick off party for this month long fishing tournament that brings people from all over hoping to get this year’s best catch. The Rodeo has daily weigh ins on the docks all month long and the seafood festival offers a chance to see the Destin’s famous fishing fleet in action, bringing world-class seafood straight from the Gulf to the dock.

Admission to the Destin Seafood Festival takes place on the mile and half long Destin  Harbor Boardwalk and is free and open to the public. The festival also offers VIP passes that include complimentary food, drinks and special prizes.