Updated September 10, 2026
Fall festivals in Destin and on 30A are in full swing this year and it’s not just wine tastings and art walks. Think all-you-can-eat burgers benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs, a four-day wine and culinary celebration in WaterColor, and a songwriter weekend that brings Nashville hitmakers to the Destin Harbor. Here’s the full lineup, with dates and details for each so you can start planning your fall calendar.
Burgers, Bourbon & Beer Fest
Saturday, September 19, 2026 | Noon – 4pm
Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village
4323 Commons Dr W in Destin
Indulge in mouth-watering burgers, sip on smooth bourbon, and enjoy ice-cold craft beer all while supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. Come hungry, because you’ll have access to all-you-can-eat burgers from the area’s best restaurants! Click here to purchase tickets to the 6th Annual Burgers, Bourbon & Beer Festival.
Destin Seafood Festival
September 25 – 27, 2026
Destin Harbor
The Destin Seafood Festival is a celebration of our city’s rich fishing heritage and kicks off the Destin Fishing Rodeo, which takes place throughout the month of October. Set along the scenic Destin Harbor, the festival spans multiple days and features fresh Gulf-to-table seafood, live music across multiple stages, local art vendors, and family-friendly activities. It’s free to attend, but VIP tickets will get you into a smaller, exclusive area where you can sample items from local chefs and restaurants, drink local beers, and enjoy seating, private bathrooms, and TVs to watch your favorite football teams.
Want to learn more? Here’s our guide to the Destin Seafood Festival.
Destin Fishing Rodeo
October 1 – 31, 2026
Destin Harbor
The Destin Fishing Rodeo is a month-long tournament that’s been a local tradition since 1948. Anglers register their boats, from big charter fleets to private boats, kayaks, and paddleboards, and compete across categories for the biggest catches of the season.
You don’t have to be an angler to get in on the fun. Daily weigh-ins at the Destin Harbor are free and open to the public, so you can wander down most afternoons and watch massive king mackerel, snapper, and other Gulf catches get hoisted onto the scale. There are also kid-friendly events and a Rodeo Run for those who want to join in beyond the docks.
It’s a laid back, come-as-you-are way to spend an October afternoon in Destin, and a fun follow-up to the Destin Seafood Festival that kicks the month off. Check the Destin Fishing Rodeo site for the daily weigh-in schedule and a full rundown of events.
Bloody Mary Festival
Saturday, October 10, 2026 | 11am – 2pm
The Market Shops
Get ready to eat, drink, and B MARY at The Market Shops 11th Annual Bloody Mary Festival! This popular fall event brings together some of the Emerald Coast’s best local restaurants, bars, and catering companies for unlimited tastes of hand-crafted Bloody Marys made with Distillery 98’s Half Shell Vodka. Expect creative recipes ranging from spicy to smoky, with over-the-top garnishes that have included everything from grilled cheese sandwiches and shrimp to sushi.
And the fun goes well beyond the Bloody Marys. Guests can also enjoy local bites, craft brews, champagne, spiked seltzers, mocktails, shopping, a cigar bar, an interactive photo booth, live music, and SEC football streaming on the big screen. The festival takes over the grand lawn and courtyard at The Market Shops, creating a lively fall afternoon that’s as much about hanging out with friends as it is sampling creative drinks.
The festival is 21+ and has sold out in advance in recent years, so if you’re planning to go, it’s worth grabbing your tickets early. It’s a fun Destin-area tradition that brings together good food, creative cocktails, live entertainment, and plenty of fall football spirit—all for a good cause.
Baytowne Wharf Beer Fest
October 16 & 17, 2026
Sandestin
Calling all craft beer fans! The Baytowne Wharf Beer Fest returns to Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort for its 18th annual celebration on October 16 – 17, 2026. The festival features more than 100 domestic and international craft beers, brewery representatives, live music, food tents, bourbon tastings, and plenty of opportunities to discover new favorites.
This year’s festival also brings back Seltzer Lane for those who prefer something bubbly, along with tasting spots featuring local brews and flavors from around the globe. New for 2026 is the Baytowne Backyard Bash, a Friday night tailgate-style kickoff with football on the big screen, beer, bourbon, food, live music from 55 South, and cozy bonfires under the stars.
On Saturday, the Grand Craft Beer Tasting takes over the Village of Baytowne Wharf from 2pm – 5pm, giving attendees the chance to stroll the village while sampling craft beers, chatting with brewery representatives, enjoying live music, and grabbing bites from the food tents. It’s a fun fall tradition on the Emerald Coast and a must for beer lovers!
Destin Songwriter Festival
October 24 & 25, 2026
Destin Harbor
Get ready for a weekend of music, storytelling, and unforgettable performances at the 2nd Annual Destin Songwriter Festival, happening October 24 – 25 along the Destin Harbor. Set against the beautiful backdrop, the festival brings acclaimed Nashville hitmakers, rising stars, and talented local artists together to share the stories, inspiration, and emotion behind the songs you know and love.
This year’s lineup includes acclaimed songwriters and artists Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Bridgette Tatum, Jeffrey Steele, and Terri Jo Box, with performances ranging from free, family-friendly entertainment and waterfront acoustic stages to high-energy main stage shows and exclusive VIP songwriter rounds. It’s a unique chance to hear the stories behind the hits while enjoying live music with the harbor as your backdrop.
The festival is also proud to continue its partnership with Operation Song, a nonprofit that helps veterans, active-duty military members, and their families heal through songwriting. A portion of festival proceeds will support the organization’s programs.
Whether you’re a country music fan, a lover of live music, or simply looking for something fun and different to do in Destin, this is one weekend that puts the spotlight on the stories behind the songs—and the talented people who wrote them.
Harvest Wine & Food Festival
October 15 –18, 2026
Grand Tasting: Saturday, October 17 | 1pm – 4pm
Cerulean Park in WaterColor
Sip, savor, and celebrate the season at the 10th Annual Harvest Wine & Food Festival in beautiful WaterColor! Taking place October 15 – 18, 2026, this four-day celebration brings together exceptional wines, talented chefs, and food lovers for a lineup of wine dinners, tastings, culinary experiences, and more.
The festival’s signature event, the Grand Tasting, takes place Saturday, October 17, in Cerulean Park. Guests can wander among tasting stations featuring wines from around the world while sampling fresh seafood, barbecue, artisanal provisions, and other culinary creations from some of the Southeast’s best chefs and makers. A VIP experience is also available with premium wine, beer, and culinary selections, plus a dedicated lounge, live music, and cocktail bar.
The weekend offers plenty beyond the Grand Tasting, including intimate wine dinners throughout South Walton on Thursday, Harvest After Dark in Cerulean Park on Friday evening, and a Jazz Cocktail Brunch on Sunday to wrap up the weekend.
Best of all, the festival benefits the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation and its mission to support children in need across Northwest Florida. Since its founding, DCWAF has donated more than $38 million to Northwest Florida children’s charities, impacting more than 100,000 youth.
Festival of the Arts
October 24 & 25, 2026
MKAF Cultural Arts Village in Destin
Celebrate 31 years of creativity, community, and culture at the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s Festival of the Arts, returning October 24 – 25, 2026, at the Mattie Kelly Dugas Pavilion Green in Destin. This free, family-friendly festival features more than 100 acclaimed artists from across the country, showcasing original works in a variety of mediums alongside live demonstrations and continuous entertainment.
Beyond the art, enjoy hands-on children’s activities, local food vendors, a beer and wine garden, an art raffle, and the chance to vote for the People’s Choice Award. This year also features Panama City Beach artist Jamie Babula as the Featured Poster Artist, with her original piece Drawn to Paint offered in a silent auction benefiting MKAF. It’s a fun fall weekend for art lovers and families alike!
Seeing Red Wine Festival
November 5 – 8, 2026
Seaside, Florida
Wine lovers, mark your calendars for the 34th Annual Seeing Red Wine Festival, returning to Seaside November 5 – 8, 2026. This four-day celebration brings together acclaimed winemakers, vintners, chefs, and wine enthusiasts for an unforgettable weekend of food and wine along the Gulf Coast.
The lineup includes intimate winemaker dinners, an Al Fresco Reserve Tasting, the new Battle of the Somms, and the signature Grand Tasting in Seaside’s Central Square, featuring wines from around the world, local culinary creations, and live music. The weekend wraps up with the Celebration of Bubbles, a sparkling wine brunch featuring Champagne, Cava, Prosecco, and more paired with creations from Chef Jim Shirley. Whether you’re a serious wine lover or simply enjoy a good glass in a beautiful setting, Seeing Red is a 30A fall favorite worth adding to your calendar.
30A BBQ Festival
Friday, November 6, 2026 | 5:30pm – 8pm
Grand Boulevard
Now in its 7th year, the 30A BBQ Festival brings pitmasters and restaurants from across the Emerald Coast to Grand Boulevard for an evening of all-you-can-eat barbecue, live music, and friendly competition, all benefiting The Sonder Project. Guests get to sample the lineup and cast their vote for who takes home the title of 30A’s Best BBQ.
Beyond the barbecue, the evening includes live music, a photo booth, silent auction, and raffle, plus beverages from local favorites like Grayton Beer Company and The 30A Company. General Admission gets you all-you-can-eat BBQ and unlimited beer and wine for guests 21 and up, while VIP tickets add early entry at 5pm, a dessert spread, a welcome gift, a private photo booth, and an open bar with cocktails included. Kids 12 and under can attend for a discounted $20.
This one is presented rain or shine and has sold out in past years, so it’s worth locking in tickets ahead of time here.
Eggs on the Beach
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 10am – 1pm
Seascape Towne Center, Miramar Beach
Eggs on the Beach is one of the official Big Green Egg cooking competitions held around the country, and it lands right here in Miramar Beach. More than 20 cook teams fire up their Big Green Eggs and serve up bite-sized samples, while tasters cast their votes for the best of the bunch.
Presented by Bay Breeze Patio, the event also brings live music, honorary judges, prize giveaways, and a cash bar to Seascape Towne Center, with free parking and an outdoor setup that runs rain or shine. It’s a fun, casual way to spend a Saturday morning sampling some of the best backyard-style cooking on the coast, and proceeds benefit Fisher House of the Emerald Coast and Food for Thought.
Tickets are available through Eventbrite, and more details can be found at EggsontheBeach.com.
Alys Beach Crafted
November 11 – 15, 2026
Alys Beach
Alys Beach Crafted is a refined celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and culinary excellence, set against the stunning backdrop of one of 30A’s most iconic communities. This multi-day event brings together top chefs, brewers, distillers, designers, and artisans from across the country for an immersive experience filled with tastings, workshops, and beautifully curated gatherings. Signature events include the Firkin Fête, where guests sample rare cask ales and gourmet bites; the Spirited Soirée, an elegant afternoon of cocktails and live music; and the Holiday Makers Market, a festive shopping experience featuring handmade goods and seasonal gifts. There’s even Pickleball & Picklebacks for a playful twist on the weekend. Now in its fifth year, Crafted continues to highlight the excellence and authenticity behind every creation—whether you’re sipping a small-batch spirit or picking up a piece of handmade art. Proceeds benefit the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County.
Rosemary Beach Uncorked
Saturday, November 14, 2026
Rosemary Beach
Experience one of 30A’s most anticipated culinary events of the year: Rosemary Beach Uncorked, returning Saturday, November 14 from 1pm to 4pm. Set along the picturesque streets of Rosemary Beach, this iconic festival pairs exquisite wines from around the world with signature dishes from the town’s top culinary talents. While the event is currently sold out, a waitlist is available for those hoping to snag tickets.
Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival
Saturday, November 14, 2026 | 1pm – 4pm
HarborWalk Village
Spend a fall Saturday afternoon working your way through HarborWalk Village, sampling smoky barbecue, cold craft beer, and handcrafted cocktails while live blues music plays on the main stage and the harbor sparkles behind you. Local restaurants, breweries, and distilleries face off in a friendly competition, and your vote helps crown the winners in categories like Best BBQ and Most Creative Cocktail. The best part: each winner receives a donation to a charity of their choice, so every bite and sip is supporting a good cause.
Bonus: There’s free parking! Tickets are on sale now through Event Live.
As you can see, the coastal excitement doesn’t stop when summer crowds head home. Whether you’re a foodie chasing fresh seafood and fine wine, an art lover browsing coastal creations, or a music fan looking for your next favorite songwriter, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So grab your calendar—and maybe a sweater—and make the most of fall on the Emerald Coast.
Did I miss any of your favorite fall festivals in Destin or on 30A? Contact us or send us a message on Instagram!
exploring:
Leave a comment