Mardi Gras on the Emerald Coast! Join the Celebration(s)!

Mardi Gras is in the Air

It’s that time of year again, folks. That’s right, it’s Mardi Gras time! Tis the season to don your beads and your feathered mask and hit the streets for good some old fashioned Louisiana-style fun! Throw on your best purple, green, and gold attire and head out to some of the area’s most spirited Mardi Gras celebrations. There’ll be no shortage of entertainment with festivities taking place all month long.

February 4^th

The Life's A Beach crew has been busy prepping the
van for the Mardi Gras Kick Off Parade.
It'll be even prettier come parade day.
Come out and give us a wave!
We'll be there with beads on, maybe we'll toss
some your way!

 Mardi Gras Kick Off Parade at Harborwalk Village. Enjoy dazzling floats, colorful costumes, street performers, and of course BEADS!!! The Life’s A Beach gang will be there, decked out in our Mardi Gras best and tossing our goodies. The parade starts at 2:00 P.M. Stay and enjoy live music at the Main Stage after the parade.

www.emeraldgrande.com

February 11^th

Mardi Gras on the Island is a lively festival on that takes place on Okaloosa Island. This event was chosen by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the Top 20 Events for February. Come enjoy the carnival atmosphere with live music, costumes, and more. Parade starts at 11 a.m., come prepared to catch some beads.

www.fwbchamber.com

February 18^th

26^th Annual Mardi Gras Parade theme for 2012 is “United States Military” This year’s parade is dedicated to Pvt. Matthew Colin, who lost his life serving the USA. The parade begins at 1:00 p.m. on Grand Boulevard in Navarre Beach.

www.NavarreChamber.com

1^st Annual Mardi Gras Dog Parade at Hammock Bay in Freeport will kick off at 4:00 P.M. The theme this year is Beach Bound Hounds! Hammock Bay Trail will be filled with dogs dressed in beachy Mardi Gras attire and Hammock Bay’s Town square will be jiving with Mardi Gras jazz rhythm and hound dog bluz. Bring your chairs and cooler and stay for a movie in the park featuring Disney’s animated comedy Princess and the Frog set in the festive city of New Orleans.

http://www.waltonoutdoors.com/mardi-gras-dog-parade-and-festival-at-hammock-bay-feb-18/

3^rd Annual Mardi Gras Masquerade and Parade Event at the Destin Commons will take place from 3-5 P.M. Enjoy delicious seafood with AJ's at our traditional seafood boil! Watch live street dancing presented by ENCORE! The event will also feature live entertainment, arts and crafts, a parade and more!

www.destincommons.com

February 19^th

Mardi Gras Dog Parade at the Village of Baytowne Wharf is one of the premier canine events on the Emerald Coast with members of the four-pawed community coming far and wide to participate. Mardi Gras music will fill the air as the streets fill with costumed dogs, and their owners. This year’s theme is Cruisin' Canines: Fetch a Wave! Parade will begin at 2:00 P.M.

www.baytownewharf.com

February 21^st (FAT TUESDAY!)

HarborWalk Village Mardi Gras Celebration will take place from 6-8 P.M. Enjoy free red beans and rice from Poppy’s Crazy Lobster, street performers, and live music! March through the Harbor with your four-legged friends at the Party Animal Parade at 6:30. Join this wild and vibrant Fat Tuesday celebration!

www.emeraldgrande.com

10^th Annual Fat Tuesday Baytowne Bash Parade starts at 5:00 P.M. Let your hair down and let the good times roll as unique and colorful floats roll down the streets and marchers dressed up in their finest Mardi Gras swag shower parade-goers with a barrage of beads, moon pies, and other trinkets. 

www.baytownewharf.com

Life’s A Beach and the Emerald Coast – Why we love it!

At Life’s A Beach, we live and breathe the Emerald Coast. Our staff is local, and we all have one thing in common… An overwhelming passion for the area we call our home. There’s much to love along our shimmering shores, and here I hope today to give brief indication of what makes this area so special.

Of course there’s the obvious… The beaches! We have some of the most beautiful beaches you will ever see, complete with sparkling emerald green waters and extraordinary sugar-white sand. The water here has an amazing crystalline quality that is truly awe-inspiring, and the unique sand that covers our shores is actually comprised of Appalachian quartz crystals. This fine sand is cool to the touch even on the warmest and sunniest of days.

 Most any adventure you've ever dreamed of can become a reality on the Emerald Coast. Reel in excitement on a deep sea fishing excursion. This area is home to a wide variety of marine life, creating pure exhilaration with every cast out. Get out on the water in a pontoon boat, kayak, or wave runner. If you’d like someone else to do the driving, then hop aboard a sunset or dolphin cruise. Fly high above the water on a parasail chute, or dive in and explore the depths on a snorkel or scuba excursion. No matter how you envision enjoying the water, your Emerald Coast experience awaits.

What!? There’s more than just gorgeous beaches and awesome water sports!? Oh yes! It’s true! There’s a wealth of activities and attractions all throughout the Emerald Coast. The area boasts an impressive water park, museums, art, cultural events, concerts, nightlife, shopping, dining, parks, and so much more! Not to mention that the people you will meet here are among the friendliest, most kind-hearted, caring, and hard-working individuals you will ever have the pleasure of meeting.

These are just a few of the countless things that make this place a home to its residents, a destination for visitors, and a haven for many.

Life’s A Beach loves the Emerald Coast! To find out more about this Life’s A Beach and this magnificent region, keep reading our blog!

What Are You Doing This Weekend? January 27-29, 2012

What’s happening on the Emerald Coast this weekend?

If you haven’t made your weekend plans yet Life’s A Beach wants to help. We’ve highlighted a few of the area happenings for the upcoming weekend below for your convenience.

MULTI-DAY EVENTS

A special showing of the comedy “Greater Tuna” is scheduled for a two-night performance at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 and 28 at the Destin Community Center. For tickets, visit www.marinaciviccenter.com or call 850.763.4696.

The 50^th Annual Antique Show and Sale, the largest antique show with over 60 dealers will be held -January 27-29 at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds in Fort Walton Beach.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27^th

The Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation will host Tasting of Champions from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in The Magnolia Ballroom at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. www.dcwaf.com.

The Denim and Diamonds event to benefit the United Way will start at 6:00 P.M. at the Emerald Coast Convention Center. Come dressed in your favorite denim and enjoy a relaxing evening with friends, great food, casino games and an array of fabulous auction items. You won’t want to miss the dance competition! http://www.united-way.org/2012%20D&D.htm

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28^th

Starting bright and early at 7:30 A.M. join Biggest Loser Season 8 winner Danny Cahill for Destin's Bayou, Bay & Back 5K Run/Walk, 10K & Half Marathon sponsored by Shoreline Church. Race begins at Clement Taylor Park in Destin. www.DestinChamber.com

The TBS Comics Games Workshop – Coastal Assault 2012 will be hosted at the Emerald Coast Convention Center starting at 8:00 A.M. http://www.tbscomics.com/coastal-assault/

The Magnolia Grill is hosting at Pancake Breakfast to benefit the Choctawhatchee HS Chorus. Breakfast starts at 8:00 A.M. and includes pancakes, sausage, juice, coffee, or water. The Choctaw Madrigals will sing and serve breakfast. 

The Crocheted Rug Making Class with Jean Lucas is the first in the Green Earth Living Craft Class Series. In this class, you will learn how to make a crocheted rug from recycled materials. Class is from 10 A.M. to 12 P.M. and advance registration is required. http://www.fwb.org/index.php/museums

"Ruth's Secrets Revealed" Cooking Classes from 12-2 P.M. This class will include the following: 1. Crab Au Gratin 2. Steak Sampling w/salad. Instruction on Prime Steak vs Grocery Meats 3. Baked Ziti and Cheese 4. Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce. www.RuthsChrisDestin.com

Gulf World Marine Park 2012 Winter Concert Series presents Margo Anderson with a Tribute to Patsy Cline. Show starts at 7:00 P.M. www.GulfWorldMarinePark.com

The Tony Award-winning musical comedy Damn Yankees will be performed at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College starting at 7:30 P.M. www.mattiekellyartscenter.org

Coast Guard Auxiliary Boating Safety Class will be held from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. This program is designed to be an introductory course to meet the boating education needs of all recreational boaters. www.flotilla14.org

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29^th

Playground Big Band Winter Concert Series from 2-4 P.M. at HarborWalk Village. Concerts are FREE and open to the public. www.emeraldgrande.com

David Seering and Friends Entertain the Emerald Coast for Children in Crisis at 7:00 P.M. at the Village Baptist Church in Destin.

Who is Life's A Beach?

Who is Life’s A Beach? A Brief Overview

Life’s A Beach Publications is a locally owned and operated company located in Destin, FL. Since opening our doors in 2004, we have been committed to serving the local community. Our goal is to provide the best information possible while enriching visitors’ experiences and enhancing advertisers’ businesses. We are dedicated to providing the most comprehensive information about the area and what makes an Emerald Coast vacation memorable. It is this dedication that not only ensures that visitors get the most out of their Emerald Coast experience, but also that our advertisers will see the successful results of choosing Life’s A Beach.

Our artistic design and rich content separates our publications from traditional magazines. The first thing you may notice about our book is the unique artistic cover art. As a large supporter of the arts, every visitor’s guide printed by Life’s A Beach features a piece created by a local artist. We are proud to bring a unique flair to our visitor guide with inspiring covers and in-depth feature articles that cover every aspect of the Emerald Coast. Our maps contain locations and landmark information with the visitor in mind, providing great exposure for your business.

We are proud to participate in area Chambers of Commerce, Art Associations, as well as many other community initiatives. In every visitor’s guide, Life’s A Beach prints a story featuring a community initiative from the area. Life’s A Beach is grateful to not only our readers, but also to our many advertisers and we devote every day to supporting these local businesses.

Whether you’re a visitor planning a trip to the Emerald Coast, or a local business trying to get your name out there, Life’s A Beach is here to help. Contact us today to see what Life’s A Beach can do for you!

Click here to visit our website!