Events

For the captain and crew of Cotton Patch, the 13th Annual Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic (ECBC) was anything but unlucky. Lance Hill from Orange Beach, Alabama labored for almost six hours on Friday afternoon before reeling in an event record 899.6-pound blue marlin. The record billfish was measured at 134-inches with a girth of 74-inches to earn Team Cotton Patch first place and a payout of $195,277 for a tournament that doled out more than $1.5 million in winnings. The Baytowne Marina at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is the host venue for the event which took place June 17-21.

Magic for the 21st century comes to South Walton this summer as magician Jeanette Andrews returns to the stage in Seaside, Florida. Andrews presents a new and thought-provoking take on the art of the impossible with classic pieces and new magic that is sure to have everyone talking.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is a wonderful place to explore any day of the year. You'll love taking advantage of some of the weekly events at the park this summer. What a great way to get out and explore one of South Walton's most beautiful coastal areas directly on the Gulf of Mexico. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park admission fees are waived for Summer 2015.
 

Keeping the tempo on the Emerald Coast’s cultural scene since its founding in 2005, Sinfonia Gulf Coast will mark its milestone 10th season as the region’s only fully-professional symphony orchestra by offering a stellar lineup of concerts and educational initiatives featuring the orchestra, world-renowned guest artists and a 10th anniversary gala event headlined by an Emmy and Tony Award-winning singer and actress.

Building upon the success of its annual Valentine Tour of Homes each February, the Cultural Arts Alliance rolls out a Summertime Tour of Homes sure to delight vacationers and locals alike who are looking to beat the heat in the steamy afternoons while touring five spectacular homes in South Walton. The tour runs Thursday, June 25 through Saturday, June 27 from 1-5pm each day.

The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) of Northwest Florida State College announces the summer session of its award winning eco-tourism initiative, Discover Roads Less Traveled: Eco-Adventures of Walton County. Voted Best Outdoor Adventure in the 2015 Perfect in South Walton- Best of the Best list, the summer tour line-up falls nothing short. Don’t miss the chance to get outdoors this summer and explore!

It’s time for big fish, big prizes and family fun on the Emerald Coast of Florida! Recognized as one of the elite big-game fishing tournaments in the world, the 2015 Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic is set to get underway June 17-21, 2015, at the beautiful Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in the Florida Panhandle.

WaterColor Inn & Resort has a great line up for everyone in SoWal this summer with weekly concerts and movies in the amphitheater at Marina Park. Bring your friends and family and a chair or blanket for seating to enjoy outdoor entertainment every week under the stars.

All summer long, enjoy Tuesday Night Favorites and Throwback Thursday Night movies beginning at sunset. Concerts begin June 1 and will take place on Monday nights from 6-8 pm. Movies and concerts are open to the public and admission is free.

The 19th edition of the annual Rags To Riches Regatta returns to Grayton Beach on July 4, 2015 in celebration of American Independence Day. The small catamaran race is a tradition among SoWal sailors, families, friends, and Grayton Beach lovers.

Read about the history of the race >

Race registration begins at 8 A.M. on the beach at the mani Grayton Beach access behind the Red Bar with a Captains' meeting at 11 A.M. and the race beginning soon after that.

An outdoor concert on the green on a warm summer night is a sweet part of SoWal beach life. And what a perfect way to end the weekend. Gulf Place Sunday Concert Series for Summer 2015 is underway for the season and the lineup is looking hotter than ever.