This October is all about seafood. Whether you’re coming to eat it or coming to catch it, the fishing rodeos and seafood festival are too good to miss.
Destin Seafood Festival
Seafood isn’t just healthy, it’s downright delicious. It’s no wonder that the Destin Seafood Festival is one of the area’s most anticipated yearly events. Prepare to indulge in some of the freshest seafood and best entertainment at this October event.
How to Attend Destin Seafood Festival
The 39th Annual Destin Seafood Festival takes place Oct. 6–8 along the historic Destin Harbor and the Harbor Board Walk. Admission is FREE on all three days.
Hours
- Friday, Oct. 6, 4 p.m.–10 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 8, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Free parking is available throughout the area, with a free shuttle service running from Big Kahuna’s Water and Adventure Park and Destin Target. Drop off locations include the Destin Fishing Fleet Marina (main entrance), HarborWalk Village, and Heron Harbor.
General admission is free, but if you want to experience the absolute best of the festival, check out the VIP package. With these passes, guests receive access to private VIP seating and restrooms; complimentary unlimited seafood; and drinks including beer, wine, and cocktails. Plus, get a 2017 festival T-shirt and poster at no extra charge. Check out the VIP page for pricing.
Food Vendors
Enjoy fresh-caught local seafood served by some of your favorite Harbor and HarborWalk Village restaurants.
- AJ’s
- Asiago Skillet
- Big Red Grill & Big Red Truck
- Boathouse Oyster Bar
- Brotula’s Seafood House and Steamer
- Buck’s Smokehouse
- Dewey Destin’s
- Duck Duck
- Landshark’s Pizza
- Tailfins Alehouse & Oyster Bar
- The Red Door Saloon
- Crab Island Cantina
- Fishheads
- Harry T’s Lighthouse
- Jackacudas Seafood & Sushi
- Margaritaville
Music & Entertainment
The scene at the Destin Seafood Festival will be set to the tune of some of your favorite local bands. There will be a little something for everyone with this mix of rock, reggae, country, and tropical tunes. You can see the full lineup here, and decide which times to be at the stage.
Each day, three stages will feature continuous performances by an impressive lineup. The Destin City Stage is located toward the center of the festival, by Brotula’s Seafood House and Steamer. Then, you can find the HarborWalk Village Stage on the west end of the festival. And finally, AJ’s Game Stage will be north of the HarborWalk Stage.
Fun for the Kids
Even if your children don’t like seafood, there’s still plenty of ways to keep them entertained at the Destin seafood festival. The Kids’ Fun Zone at HarborWalk Village features hamster balls, a rock climbing wall, and a zip line over the festival crowds. At East Pass Marina, the Kids’ Zone includes pony rides, a petting zoo, and games geared toward younger kids and toddlers. Both zones have shaded seating for parents to take a rest.
Don’t miss the annual Kids’ Mingo Toss on Sunday. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., kids can enjoy an old-fashioned fish-throwing contest with Mingo snappers. There will be certificates and awards for all age categories.
Destin & Navarre Fishing Rodeos
Cowboys aren’t the only ones who enjoy a good rodeo. In Destin and Navarre, competitors trade ropes for reels in these October fishing rodeos.
Navarre Fishing Rodeo
The Navarre Fishing Rodeo will take place the weekend of Oct. 7–8. You can fish wherever you have the best luck – the pier, the shore, a boat, even a kayak. In the seafood open division, fish for something as small as trout or as large as the king mackerel. There will be $125, $75, and $50 prizes for each fish category. Weigh-ins take place at Juana’s Pagodas on Navarre Beach from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
Register online for a $45 rodeo fee. Plus, enter to win a Native Watercraft 2017 Slayer Propel 10, valued at $2,399. A $5 discount is available for active or retired military members with code MILITARY.
Proceeds from the rodeo benefit the Navarre Beach Marine Park, Heroes on the Water, and Take a Kid Fishing.
Destin Fishing Rodeo
The annual Destin Fishing Rodeo will take place Oct. 1–31. This event is free to anglers who fish aboard boats registered in the Destin Fishing Rodeo. You can register your own private boat or find a pre-registered boat to fish from. You can also fish from kayaks, paddle boards, the pier, or the shore for a separate fee.
Each day, there will be $100,000 worth of cash and prizes available to win. Weigh-ins take place daily on the docks at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. There are separate divisions for juniors, teens, ladies, and seniors. Fishing from the pier, bridge, and jetty is free for anglers 14 and under.
Lee Nissan
Close by in Fort Walton Beach, Lee Nissan offers exceptional deals on the best selection of new and pre-owned vehicles. Stop by today and see for yourself!
Disclaimer: The stock image is being used for illustrative purposes only, and it is not a direct representation of the business, recipe, or activity listed. Any person depicted in the stock image is a model.