The beach towns along Scenic 30A do not slow down at all in the slow season, not with their packed event schedule each year. Up and down 30A and into Miramar Beach, you’re never too far away from one great event after another from wine and food festivals to music and fine art shows. We’ve got the top annual events on 30A in this comprehensive list.
January on 30A
The 30A Songwriters Festival is a music enthusiast's dream featuring well-renowned artists performing live in a variety of unique venues. The festival is held in January during Martin Luther King Jr weekend every year with hundreds of artists and thousands of music fans gathering to celebrate the love of music on stages throughout the 30A community. It takes places at several venues on 30A with the main stage at Aj’s on Grayton Beach.
February
Sandestin Gumbo and Bloody Mary Festival features a delicious gumbo cook-off with unlimited samplings of gumbo, bloody marys, and live music. In addition to the gumbo cook-off, area bars, and restaurants also compete in the Best Bloody Mary at the Beach competition. This lively two-day festival in the Village of Baytowne Wharf in Miramar Beach will leave you full, happy, and wanting more
Camellia Festival at Eden Gardens State Park is hosted by The Friends of Eden and is free with paid park admission which is $4 per vehicle. There are educational stations set up throughout the park for guests to enjoy, and live music, food and drinks near the pavilion.
March
Seaside Neighborhood School Half Marathon & 5K weekend has over 4,000 participants and remains as one of the largest events held on 30A. Every year, athletes from around the world meet up in Seaside on 30A for Northwest Florida's signature running event and paramount fundraisers for the Seaside School.
With lots of festivities throughout the weekend, including Taste of the Race, a culinary extravaganza celebrating local flavors and culinary masters, to the Race Expo silent auction, the race is a great way to reach your running goals and spend time with your friends and families in one of the most iconic beach communities in the world. Note: sometimes held in February.
April
The Sandestin Wine Festival occurs annually in April where you will celebrate food, wine, and more at the Village of Baytowne Wharf. This fun festival offers four full days of unique events including wine dinners with celebrity chefs, yoga, live music, interactive experiences, culinary tents, brunch events, and of course wine tastings.
The South Walton Beach Wine and Food Festival is held at Grand Boulevard and combines the perfect mix of world-class wines, culinary icons, singers and songwriters, educational seminars, and fun activities. This celebrity worthy event is one you will want to attend in April.
May
Art Month South Walton celebrates creativity, innovation, and the beauty of self-expression including Dine and Dive, a fundraiser for the Underwater Museum of Art, ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival, Longleaf Writers Conference, Sinfonia Goes Pop!, performances by the Emerald Coast Theatre Company, Emerald Coast Storytellers events, and more.
Digital Graffiti in Alys Beach is an art festival that employs the latest in digital technologies to project original works onto the town’s iconic white walls. Roughly 70 works of art are projected onto the canvases of exterior walls and architectural features, pathways, and landscape in a show that combines juried pieces submitted by artists from around the world, as well as those of Residency Artists, emerging artists and creative partners.
Each May the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County presents the Artsquest Fine Arts Festival at Grand Boulevard where artists from across the country showcase their latest works. Artquest awards $10,000 in cash prizes to artists. There are a variety of activities and attractions for art enthusiasts of all ages. The festival is open to the public and a $5 admission donation is requested.
June
The Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic is one of the Emerald Coast's favorite fishing tournaments located in Sandestin. The fishing tournament includes a captain's meeting, kickoff party, live music, fireworks, awards brunch, afterparty, and plenty of fishing, of course. This event is timed to coincide with the peak of the Gulf Coast’s blue marlin season and includes lots of cash prizes. The event will take place at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
July
30A and Destin are known for their spectacular Independence Day Celebrations full of live music, food, and fireworks. For an extensive list of fireworks displays in the area check out Where to Watch Fireworks in Destin and 30A.
September
International Coastal Cleanup Day engages people to remove trash from the world's beaches and waterways and is held each September on 30A’s beaches and worldwide.
October
The Harvest Wine & Food Festival is hosted in Watercolor along Grand Boulevard each October with four days of excellent food and wine, the festival is sure to delight both wine and culinary enthusiasts alike. The Harvest Wine and Food Festival provides patrons the opportunity to sip and savor some of the world’s finest wine and culinary selections. Check out all of the wine festivals that take place on 30A including Rosemary Beach Uncorked in October.
November
The annual Mountain Film on Tour Festival takes place at Watercolor’s Marina Park Amphitheater, offering a breathtaking outdoor setting to enjoy thought-provoking films under the stars. This two-night outdoor film festival is dedicated to educating, inspiring, and motivating audiences about issues that matter.
Flutterby Arts Festival is a beloved family-friendly art festival taking place every November at The Pavilion at Watersound Town Center. The festival celebrates the migration of the Monarch Butterfly through kid's art activities, live performances, lawn games, a student art exhibit, a curated professional artist market, a butterfly parade, a science station, a book nook and so much more.
December
Destin and 30A have great spots to celebrate the holidays from Rosemary Beach to Seaside, Grayton Beach and beyond. There are many annual events including holiday parades, tree lightings, photos with Santa, and New Year’s Eve celebrations you will want to make sure to attend. To find the best places to celebrate your holiday check out Holiday Celebrations on 30A and Destin.
Book your stay on 30A for one of these great annual events
We've got vacation rentals all across 30A and would love to be your host during the shoulder seasons and even winter months. From Inlet Beach all the way to Dune Allen Beach, browse our exclusive selection of 30A rentals and be our guest!