From local networking events to concerts and fundraisers, we’ve gathered up a few of the most-anticipated events happening in the next few weeks so you can easily add them to your calendar!
April
Spring Fashion Show & Tea Party presented by La Luna Children’s Boutique
April 1st, 3 p.m. | Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, Miramar Beach
Join La Luna Children’s Boutique for a Spring Fashion Show and Tea Party at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin! Enjoy light refreshments, giveaways, crafts, and Easter bunny photos with your family. Plus, all proceeds from the event benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast!
Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s First Friday Coffee
April 7th, 7 a.m. | Christian Life Center at First Baptist Church, Fort Walton Beach
Make new connections and build on existing relationships at the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s First Friday Coffee sponsored by Bank of England Mortgage. It’s the most highly attended networking event in the area!
Women’s Climbing Circle at Rock Out Climbing Gym
April 8th, 9 a.m. | Rock Out Climbing Gym, Destin
Join other women for a monthly climbing session designed to foster the female climbing community at Rock Out Climbing Gym. This is the perfect opportunity to meet new climbing partners, focus on your climbing goals, and enjoy a safe community space of like-minded women!
Jacobe Turner Teen Center Bowling Tournament
April 8th, 1 p.m. | Fort Walton Beach Bowl, Fort Walton Beach
Join the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast for their inaugural Jacobe Turner Teen Center Bowling Tournament! Team registration includes bowling, shoes, t-shirts for your team, and more. There will be a 50/50 raffle and silent auction at the event, too!
Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Nothing But Networking
April 13th, 11:30 a.m. | University of West Florida Emerald Coast Campus, Fort Walton Beach
Enjoy a delicious lunch, make new connections, and network with other local professionals at the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Nothing But Networking sponsored by the University of West Florida Emerald Coast!
Military Family Appreciation Day
April 15th, 11 a.m. | Fort Walton Beach Landing, Fort Walton Beach
Join the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber for a full day of family-friendly fun, including free lunch and free entertainment, designed to honor the service and the sacrifices made by military families and veterans throughout our area. The event will include military service organization exhibitors and food and drinks from a variety of vendors. There will also be drawings for incredible prizes throughout the day!
Concerts in the Village: Post Modern Jukebox
April 20th, 7 p.m. | MKAF Cultural Arts Village, Destin
One part celebration of vintage music and culture, one part Saturday Night Live for singers, a Post Modern Jukebox show is an unforgettable trip back in time sure to make Pop Music History in Destin. This isn’t just a concert; this is a must-not-miss music experience!
Concerts in the Village: Roman Street Party Band
April 27th, 7 p.m. | MKAF Cultural Arts Village, Destin
Get ready to get on your feet and sway to the beat. Hailing from Mobile, Alabama, Roman Street delivers a lyrical amalgamation of acoustic guitar, classical, gypsy, contemporary jazz, Latin, and nuevo flamenco sounds. There is a reason this mesmerizing music group is a proven local favorite!
South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival
April 27th through 30th | Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, Miramar Beach
A dazzling roster of dozens of celebrity winemakers, distillers, brewmasters, and chefs converge in South Walton, Florida to wine, dine, educate, and entertain guests as part of the three-day celebration of wine. Make your plans now and be prepared to sip more than 600 wines presented by knowledgeable wine industry insiders, savor delectable small bites from Nosh Pavilions, led by the best restaurants South Walton has to offer and stroll the beautiful boulevard!
Beethoven v. Coldplay: A Merging of Musical Giants
April 29th, 7:30 p.m. | Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, Fort Walton Beach
Beethoven V. Coldplay transforms the Eroica into an oratorio, weaving the melodies and lyrics of Coldplay into the original Beethoven, and pairing them together based on content and context. It is the alternate Eroica Beethoven may have created had he known the music of Coldplay at the time. Many of Coldplay’s most well-known songs are interpolated, including Yellow, Viva La Vida, Clocks, and The Scientist.
18th Annual Destin Charity Wine Auction presented by the Jumonville Family
April 28th through 29th | Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, Miramar Beach
The Destin Charity Wine Auction weekend kicks off with Patron Dinners hosted in private homes and restaurants along the Emerald Coast on April 28th, each dinner supporting one of DCWAF’s benefiting charities. The Destin Charity Wine Auction, hosted on April 29, includes a Reserve Tasting and Live Auction held under an air-conditioned tent at Grand Boulevard’s Town Center. The event will feature distinctive wines from internationally reclaimed vintners, poured and paired with cuisine created by a selection of the area’s top local restaurants.
May
Concerts in the Village: Ozomatli
May 4th, 7 p.m. | MKAF Cultural Arts Village, Destin
A cacophony of sounds melding salsa, jazz, funk, reggae, and hip-hop is Ozomatli. This social-minded ensemble rock band was formed in Los Angeles in 1995 to give voice to Latinos, fight for workers' rights, and promote global unity. After performing around the world, they are ready to rock Destin headed into Cinco de Mayo weekend!
Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee
May 5th, 7 a.m. | Christian Life Center at First Baptist Church, Fort Walton Beach
Make new connections and build on existing relationships at the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s First Friday Coffee sponsored by Zerorez of Northwest Florida. This monthly event is one of the most popular networking events in our region!
Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce's Nothing But Networking
May 11th, 11:30 a.m. | The Place on Beal, Fort Walton Beach
Enjoy a delicious lunch, make new connections, and network with other local professionals at the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Nothing But Networking at The Place on Beal!
Concerts in the Village: Lucky Chops
May 11th, 7 p.m. | MKAF Cultural Arts Village, Destin
Lucky Chops has been unleashing high-energy brassy funk on the world since forming in NYC in 2006. The intensity of the band’s energy is fueled by their desire to share the healing and inspirational power of music with others. It’s your lucky day to see Lucky Chops live in concert.
Women’s Climbing Circle at Rock Out Climbing Gym
May 13th, 9 a.m. | Rock Out Climbing Gym, Destin
Join other women for a monthly climbing session designed to foster the female climbing community at Rock Out Climbing Gym. This is the perfect opportunity to meet new climbing partners, focus on your climbing goals, and enjoy a safe community space of like-minded women!
May 13th, 6 p.m. | Emerald Coast Science Center, Fort Walton Beach
Take part in this cocktail mix-off as you sample and vote for the most scientific cocktails in the area. Local bartenders and mixologists will be showcasing the chemistry, biology, and physics behind preparing these cocktails. The evening will also include light refreshments, live music, and chances to win prizes. Get into the spirit at this amazing evening for guests ages 21 and up! All proceeds benefit the Emerald Coast Science Center.
35th Annual ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival
May 13-14th, 10 a.m. | Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, Miramar Beach
Produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County and presented by Grand Boulevard Town Center, ArtsQuest provides an opportunity to view and purchase original artwork from more than 100 artists from around the country. You can see artwork in the categories of ceramics, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, oils & acrylics, photography, wood, and much more!
Concerts in the Village: Yacht Rock Revue
May 18th, 7 p.m. | MKAF Cultural Arts Village, Destin
This top-notch group of musicians trademarked the term “yacht rock,” both metaphorically and literally (U.S. Registration Number 3834195). From humble beginnings in a basement, they’ve rocked onstage with John Oates, Eddie Money, and now headline sold-out shows across the country. While rising from bars to amphitheaters, they’ve ticked every box on the Rock Star Accomplishments bingo card, except for one: writing and singing their own songs.
Concerts in the Village: Sinfonia Gulf Coast feat. Morgan James and Symphonic Soul
May 25th, 7 p.m. | MKAF Cultural Arts Village, Destin
Sinfonia Gulf Coast featuring Morgan James and special guest Ryan Shaw brings the classic sounds of Memphis to life with soulful new arrangements of classics by Al Green, Otis Redding, Ann Peebles, Sam and Dave, and, of course, Elvis. James rounds out the evening with her own Memphis soul originals and storytelling.
June
Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee
June 2nd, 7 a.m. | Christian Life Center at First Baptist Church, Fort Walton Beach
Make new connections and build on existing relationships at the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s First Friday Coffee sponsored by Florida Power & Light Company. Don’t miss the chance to make new connections and network!
Concerts in the Village: Gotta Groove Band
June 1st, 7 p.m. | MKAF Cultural Arts Village, Destin
Gotta Groove Band puts a fresh spin on popular cover tunes from the ‘60s to today. With outstanding vocals and top-shelf musicianship, they feature their own arrangements and mix many popular songs together to create a fun flow of entertaining energy. You will not want to miss the party this Land O Lakes, Florida, band throws down.
Concerts in the Village: Adam Ezra Group
June 8th, 7 p.m. | MKAF Cultural Arts Village, Destin
Fusing folk intimacy and rock energy with soul power and pop charm, the band first emerged from Boston in the early 2000s and quickly garnered widespread acclaim for their bold, insightful songwriting and interactive, euphoric performances.
Women’s Climbing Circle at Rock Out Climbing Gym
June 10th, 9 a.m. | Rock Out Climbing Gym, Destin
Join other women for a monthly climbing session designed to foster the female climbing community at Rock Out Climbing Gym. This is the perfect opportunity to meet new climbing partners, focus on your climbing goals, and enjoy a safe community space of like-minded women!
Concerts in the Village: Journeyman: A Tribute to Eric Clapton
June 15th, 7 p.m. | MKAF Cultural Arts Village, Destin
At just 17, Shaun Hague was named “Best Young Blues Guitarist” by The House of Blues. By 21, he was sharing the stage with the likes of blues phenoms such as Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Amos Lee, John Waite, Terra Naomi, and John Fogerty. In honor of his biggest musical influence (Eric Clapton), he and his three-member band have been making waves with their powerful live music performance.
Concerts in the Village: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
June 22nd, 7 p.m. | MKAF Cultural Arts Village, Destin
With appearances from the Hollywood Bowl to Lincoln Center, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy continues its decades-long mission to celebrate and revitalize jazz and swing music — America’s original musical art form — and bring joy to audiences around the world. Get ready for a jumpin’, jivin’, wailin’ good time.
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