We're about to enter one of our favorite months of the year – October! With the air starting to cool, the stunning sunsets over the water, and so many annual events, October gives us so much to love! Whether you're sharing in the annual or weekly festivities, you're sure to have a fun time. Check out some events below and plan a visit. If you're lucky enough to be local – enjoy them all!
FESTIVALS & HAPPENINGS:
SandJam Music Festival
When: September 30th - October 2nd
Where: Frank Brown Park
Description: SandJam, the adult-alternative rock music festival will take at Frank Brown Park September 30 - October 2 in beautiful Panama City Beach, FL. Come for the music, stay for the beaches, and make memories to last a lifetime with those closest to you! Headliners are to be announced.
Follow along and join the conversation on the SandJam Facebook Page.
When: October 2nd
Where: Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village
Description: Celebrate Sunday Funday at Destin Food Truck Fest on October 2 at Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village in Destin, FL. Starting at 11AM, the family-friendly event will feature several of the city’s finest food trucks, live entertainment, vendors exhibiting and selling gifts, crafts, jewelry, personal care products and much more. Adult beverages will be available to purchase at event so no outside alcohol allowed to be brought in. Pets are not allowed at this venue.
Destin Food Truck Fest Sunday, October 2 | 11AM - 7PM
$5 Admission. Kids 12 and under are free.
When: October 7th-8th
Where: The Village of Baytowne Wharf
Description: Time to roll out the barrel and discover unique suds & ales! The Village of Baytowne Wharf presents the 14th annual Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival on October 7 & 8, 2022. American specialty beers from around the nation will be available for sampling and savoring. Tickets and info: baytownebeerfestival.com
Presented by The Village of Baytowne Wharf, this year’s weekend long events will have even more ways for you to enjoy your favorite brew.
Friday, October 7th, 6 - 8 PM: Enjoy an intimate evening and a pre- grand tasting party at Beer From Around Here event. This night will be filled with samplings of local brews and food from merchants, and live music featuring Jarred McConnell and The High Aces on the lawn! Limited Number of tickets available.
Saturday, October 8th: 1-2 PM VIP ticket holders will have an all-inclusive package this year with a tasty lunch at Slick Lips Seafood & Oyster House, exclusive beer not at the festival, and the option to skip the lines and walk right in to the main event! Limited amount of tickets for this event, so don't wait to purchase! 2 - 5 PM the main event will feature more than 200 domestic and international craft beers available for sampling. Brewery representatives will be available at the event, offering an opportunity to learn about the different types of lagers and ales from a variety of styles.
When: October 7th-9th
Where: Destin Harbor
Description: The 44th annual Destin Seafood Festival takes place along the Destin Harbor Boardwalk Oct. 7 - 9, 2022! Come out to the world's luckiest fishing village for this three-day festival filled with great seafood, live music and family fun on the Destin Harbor. Free admission.
Friday, October 7th | 4 PM - 10 PM
Saturday, October 8th | 10 AM - 10 PM
Sunday, October 9th | 10 AM - 6 PM
Live Music Schedule: TBA
Destin Seafood Festival kicks off Friday, Oct. 7 and goes through Sunday, October 9. It will showcase the best that Destin has to offer on the Harbor. Stroll along the Harbor Boardwalk from one end to the other with over a mile of festival on the water showcasing Destin's Fishing Fleet, Harbor restaurants, bars and shops, and breathtaking views!
For more information and updates visit destinseafoodfestival.com or their Event Facebook Page.
Pirates of the High Seas & Renaissance Fest
When: October 7-9
Where: Pier Park
Description: October brings waves of fun-filled adventures to Panama City Beach with the annual Pirates of the High Seas & Renaissance Fest. Setting sail October 7 - 9, 2022, this year's FREE festival is sure to take pirate fun to a whole new level. Bring the family to experience all the FUN, including a scavenger hunt, pirate invasions, a kids parade and main parade, live music, vendors, fireworks and so much more!
Come one, come all to experience the enchanted artisan marketplace, play medieval games of chance and skill and enjoy delectable desserts and quinch your thirst with a cold ale. The new addition of the Renaissance Fest is sure to take you back in time where Knights and Pirates roamed the land and sea!
Follow Pirates of the High Seas & Renaissance Fest on Facebook for event updates and more.
When: October 8th
Where: Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort
Description: The Harbor Rats Charity Golf Tournament will take place at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort’s Raven Golf Club on Saturday, October 8th. Benefiting Sandestin Foundation for Kids (SDFK), the range opens at 8AM with breakfast to follow at 9AM and a shotgun start at 10AM. After the tournament, join fellow players and friends for an award lunch & auction under the tent at The Raven. Purchase tickets and learn more about the event here!
When: October 8th
Where: Idyll Hounds Brewing Company
Description: Idyll Hounds Brewing Company celebrates their 8th Anniversary with HoundFest 2022 on Saturday, Oct. 8th from 1PM - 6PM. Enjoy an afternoon of live music, multiple beer releases, great food, guest breweries and more!
Looking to extend your HoundFest experience? The Hounds are partnering up with Back Beach Barbecue to create a spectacular beer & food pairing experience on Serenoa the evening before the big party, Friday, Oct. 7th from 5PM - 8:30PM.
Learn more and purchase tickets here!
Follow Idyll Hounds Brewing Company on Facebook for HoundsFest updates .
Watersound Origins Porchfest
When: October 9th
Where: Watersound Origins Village Commons
Description: The Watersound Origins community will host the annual Watersound Origins Porchfest on Sunday, October 9 from 3 - 6PM. This event will take place throughout Watersound Origins on the front porches and lawns of the community.
This event is FREE and open to the public. Bring a lawn chair and friends and be ready for an afternoon of good music, good people, and good neighbors. Food Trucks at the event include: Curry in a Hurry and Taco 30A.
3PM - Jessi Ritter
3PM - Anthony Peebles
3PM - Big Phun
4:30PM - The Cosmic Rascals
5PM - 30A Songwriters Fest Stage: Abe Partridge Band
When: October 10th-15th
Where: Walton County Fairgrounds
Description: The Walton County Fair 2022 takes place October 10-15 at the Fair Grounds in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Lots of family fun for the week! See Walton County Fair website for schedule of events, rides, pricing, youth activities, contest entries, live entertainment, and more!
Walton County Fair | Oct 10-15, 2022
Mon - Fri | 5pm - 10pm
Sat | 12pm - 10pm
The fair prides itself on continuing to update the areas for exhibits and entertainment. Exhibits at the fair still include animal, art, agriculture, handicrafts, potted plants, photography, and canned foods divisions. Children also have the opportunity to showcase their skills and talents with animals, speeches and educational posters.
When: October 13th-16th
Where: WaterColor Resort
Description: Welcome to 6th Annual Harvest Wine and Food Festival weekend in WaterColor, Florida. Held October 13 - 16, 2022, the Grand Tasting takes place on Saturday, October 15th in Cerulean Park from 1 - 4PM. More information and tickets at harvestwineandfood.com.
Produced by Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF), Harvest Wine & Food Festival provides patrons the opportunity to sip and savor some of the world’s finest wine and culinary selections while enjoying the iconic beach town of WaterColor.
HARVEST WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL Schedule of Events:
October 13 - October 16 || Virtual Auction
October 13 & 14 || Winemaker Dinner Series throughout South Walton
October 15 || Grand Tasting in Cerulean Park, WaterColor, Fla.
October 16 || Agave Road Trip Brunch in WaterColor, Fla.
Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation’s (DCWAF) mission is to connect wine enthusiasts to raise money to benefit children in need in Northwest Florida. Learn more at DCWAF.org.
Panama City Beach Oktoberfest
When: October 14th-16th
Where: Aaron Bessant Park
Description: Panama City Beach Oktoberfest returns to Aaron Bessant Park October 14-16. Enjoy three days of German and locally brewed beer, food, music, as well as activities for kids and families. The event will feature a massive tent decorated like the authentic Oktoberfest tent in Munich, Germany, as well outdoor beer gardens and a VIP section under the tent.
Purchase tickets at pcboktoberfest.com.
Kids 12 and under are FREE but require a FREE kids ticket!
Get ready for great German food! Pair your beer with brats, either famous or smoked, meterwurst, or hot dogs (with or without sauerkraut). Plus, nothing is better with your new and old favorite beer than giant pretzels with beer-infused cheese. Come out for good eats including other traditional Oktoberfest fare.
Expect two days of music and entertainment from mixes from DJ Will, as well as live music by Krankenhaus, Darrell and Beatrice Band, the Heritage Band and more!
Enjoy 3 days of FUN
Oct 14 | 4 - 11pm
Oct 15 | 11am - 11pm
Oct 16 | 11am - 4pm
Bring the kids and they will enjoy rounds of corn hole, or they can burn off excess energy in one (or all eight) of the blow-up bounce houses and slide zone. Kids and adults alike can get their faces painted and get a photo memento of the fun they had at the gif photo booth. For the grown-up kids, don’t miss out on the stein hoisting competition on Saturday to test your strength and distance throwing abilities!
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit pcboktoberfest.com
When: October 15th
Where: Seascape Towne Center
Description: Bay Breeze Patio, an official retailer of the Big Green Egg, announces the 8th annual Eggs on the Beach: EggFest Cooking Competition taking place on Saturday, October 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Seascape Towne Center in Miramar Beach, Florida.
Learn more or register a cook team at EggsontheBeach.com.
Cook teams will be serving delicious bites cooked on the Big Green Egg and competing for cash and prizes. Tasters enjoy unlimited samples and vote for their favorites. This year’s event will be held behind the Seascape Towne Center, which features a tiki bar with flat screen TVs that will air the day’s most popular college football games. The event benefits two local non-profits--Fisher House of the Emerald Coast & Food for Thought.
When: October 19th-23rd
Where: Frank Brown Park
Description: Head to Panama City Beach Oct. 19 - 23 for the Autumn Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally. This annual event brings people from across the country together to share their enthusiasm for motorcycles, ride the beach and score some cool biker swag from the hundreds of vendors around the beach. Thunder Beach is a free to attend and offers a wide variety of entertainment at venues up and down the beach.
The Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally in Panama City Beach takes place twice a year. The Spring Thunder Beach Rally roars onto the beach the first weekend in May and the Autumn Thunder Beach Rally rolls into town the last weekend in October.
For more information about the Thunder Beach Rally and to get the latest updates, schedule and vendor information visit thunderbeachproductions.com.
When: October 21st-22nd
Where: Alys Beach
Description: Crafted will take place October 21 & 22 in Alys Beach. A celebration of craft and community. Crafted will be a weekend of events in Alys Beach, a gathering of renowned craftspeople from around the region sharing the process, the inspiration, and the product of their craft at the Maker’s Market, Cocktail Seminars, the Spirited Soirée and Firkin Fête. Experience the stories that craft tells—through food, drink, and fine handmade goods. Experience Alys Beach Crafted.
More on Crafted and ticket info at alysbeachcrafted.com.
2022 Crafted Schedule of Events
Friday, October 21:
3PM - 6 PM @ Alys Beach Amphitheatre || Markers Market
6:30PM - 9PM @ Kelly Green || Firkin Fête
Saturday, October 22:
11AM - 1PM || Spirited Seminars
12PM - 4PM @ Alys Beach Amphitheatre || Markers Market
3PM - 6PM @ Alys Beach North Pedestrian Path || Spirited Soirée
Barktoberfest
When: October 27th
Where: Grand Boulevard Grand Park
Description: Dog-Harmony presents Barktoberfest, a doggie social with beer for humans, will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27, in Grand Park at the upscale shopping center Grand Boulevard. This event is free and open to the public. Guests will enjoy light bites, libations, and raffle drawings.
Attendees and their pets are encouraged to dress in their Halloween best and enjoy a canine-only trick-or-treating event. Judging for the Best Pet & Parent Matching Costume Contest will take place during the event with the prize-winning duo announced at 6:15 p.m.
Follow Dog Harmony on Facebook for updates on their training classes, events and socials. Visit dog-harmony.org to learn more, volunteer, donate, adopt.
When: October 27th-29th
Where: Seascape Resort
Description: Moon Crush: Harvest Moon will be held at Seascape Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida October 27 – 29. Eric Church, Turnpike Troubadours, and Throughtout the Weekend are on the lineup for the Fall 2022 event.
Learn more about Moon Crush: Harvest Moon, the lineup, your safety, and the experience here!
Moon Crush is intentionally designed to be a Music Vacation - not just a festival. You can plan on spending days at the beach, by the pool, or enjoying your favorite activities with the people you care about most. Then, as the sun begins to set, you'll make your way to our intimate outdoor venue where you'll have a reserved space for an evening of live music.
Join the conversation on Moon Crush Facebook.
When: October 28th
Where: Alys Beach Amphitheater
Description: Join us in the Alys Beach Amphitheatre on Friday, October 28th as we celebrate the spookiest time of year on 30A with Alys Beach’s inaugural Fall Festival! With activities for all goblins and ghouls beginning at 4:30PM, we invite you, your friends and family to join us for fall crafts, face painting, a photo booth and more – all to the tune of 30A favorites, Huck & Lilly!
Grab a trick or a treat from Henry’s Pizza Truck and load some blankets on your brooms to cozy up for a spooky night under the moon featuring The Addams Family on the big screen, beginning at 6:45PM.
Alys Beach Fall Festival | Friday, October 28
4:30 - 6:30 PM | Children's Activities
6:45 PM | Halloween Movie: The Addams Family
When: October 29th-30th
Where: Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Cultural Arts Village
Description: Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) presents the annual Festival of the Arts October 29 & 30, 2022, an entire weekend of art, music, food and fun for everyone. The area's premiere fine arts festival takes place at the MKAF Cultural Arts Village in Destin, Florida. Free for all attendees. More info here!
Saturday, Oct 29 | 9am - 5pm
Sunday, Oct 30 | 10am - 4pm
Celebrating 27 years, the two-day signature event features artists from across the United States will offer up their original artwork in the form of oil, watercolor, acrylic, and glass paintings; photography, sculpture, pottery, wood, paper, fiber, mosaics, mixed media, jewelry designs, and more. The Festival also features a Collaborative Art Exhibit, which showcases select artwork of more than 65 community adult and student artists. A celebration of art, music, food, and family fun, special features of the Festival include a live music lineup, arts, souvenir posters and t-shirts, and more.
MONDAYS
Live Music @ Old Florida Fish House
TUESDAYS
Live Music @ Old Florida Fish House
Red Bar Jazz Band @ Red Bar 30A
WEDNESDAYS
Wellness Wednesday @ Grand Boulevard
Concert Series @ The Village of Baytowne Wharf
THURSDAYS
Film Series @ Eden Gardens State Park
FRIDAYS
Seaside Central Square Cinema @ Seaside Amphitheater
Brian Kelly: Surf Post Sessions @ Tribe Kelly Surf Post
SATURDAYS
Brunch & Live Music @ Biscuit Kitchen
The REP: Fall Play Series @ Seaside Repertory Theatre (Through October 15th)
Brian Kelly: Surf Post Sessions @ Tribe Kelly Surf Post
SUNDAYS
Brunch & Live Music @ Fish Out of Water
Live Music @ Red Bar
Brian Kelly: Surf Post Sessions @ Tribe Kelly Surf Post
FARMER'S MARKETS
Every Thursday @ The Big Chill on 30A
Every Saturday @ Seaside, Grand Boulevard, Watersound & Baytowne
Every Sunday @ Rosemary Beach & Hammock Bay
Planning to be in town?
Let's Chat!
Let's Chat!