Our Top Picks for October 10-12 Entertainment on the Emerald Coast

This fall weekend is full of an assortment of events, ranging from a haunted house to a fun festival for dogs! For current weather updates, be sure to reference weather.com or tune in via television to The Weather Channel.

The Life’s A Beach crew wishes everyone a safe and BEACHY weekend! Enjoy!

Friday, October 10, 2014:

The DARK Haunted House

Destin Commons

4000 Legendary Drive

Destin

Time: 7 p.m.

The DARK 8^th Annual Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Haunted House will be held at the old Hard Rock Café location in Destin Commons. Tiptoe through the haunted maze of darkness. The hauntings will take place nightly Oct. 11, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25 and 31. Tickets are $10. This is not a haunted house for the faint of heart. Small children are not recommended.

Saturday, October 11, 2014:

Dog Daze

Lisa Jackson Park

318 Miracle Strip Parkway

Fort Walton Beach

Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

To download the Dog Daze 2014 registration form, visit www.FWBChamber/DogDaze.

Sacred Heart Guild to Host 4^th Annual Emerald Coast Duck Regatta

The Village of Baytowne Wharf

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

9300 Emerald Coast Parkway

Destin

The Emerald Coast Duck Regatta will benefit the Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast Guild. On October 11, approximately 4,000 ducks will begin their race across the Lagoon at the Village of Baytowne Wharf. Prizes will be awarded to the owners of the first ducks to cross the finish line, including a $5,000 prize for first place. For in-depth details of the event, please visit www.DestinChamber/DuckRegatta.

Sunday, October 12, 2014:

6^th Annual Sugar Sands Charity Golf Classic

Oct. 12-13

307 Kelly Plantation Drive

Destin

Time: 6:30 p.m.

The pre-registration party will be held at Tommy Bahamas restaurant on Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m. The golf tournament will be held at Kelly Plantation Golf Club in Destin. The event is being held in order to raise vital funds to help feed, clothe and care for the foster children living at The Children’s Neighborhood. Lunch and check-in will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a shot gun start at 1 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 13. Dinner will follow at Tuscany Italian Bistro at 6:30 p.m. Please call 850.864.4242 for more information or visit www.FWBChamber/SugarSandsCharityGolfClassic.

Some Sunday Brunch spots in and around Destin:

Crab Island Cantina, Destin Harbor crabislandcantina.com

Harry T’s, Destin Harbor harryts.com

Angler’s Beachside Grill, Okaloosa Island Boardwalk anglersgrill.com

McGuire’s Irish Pub, Destin mcguiresirishpub.com

Our Top 10 Picks for May 2-4 Entertainment on the Emerald Coast

This weekend it’s all about CINCO DE MAYO! In honor of this festive holiday, there are a few events going on around the Emerald Coast, including a two-day festival and a pub crawl at Destin Harbor. Some other events taking place this weekend are a concert, crawfish bash and charity event. For current weather updates, be sure to check weather.com or tune in via television to The Weather Channel.

The Life’s A Beach crew wishes everyone a very safe and BEACHY weekend! Enjoy!

Friday, May 2, 2014:

Burning Up The Beaches Benefitting the Horizons Foundation

4/2-4/4

Okaloosa Island Boardwalk

1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy.

Fort Walton Beach

Experience this great, weekend-long event for a fantastic cause! Your entry gives you access to three parties, featuring live music, food, prizes, cash giveaways, six fun-filled stops along the Emerald Coast, T-shirts, an event sticker, one car show entry, shows on the Midway, 24/7 vehicle security and it is tax deductible. New for 2014, are car corral and valve cover races. Visit www.BurningUpTheBeaches.com to learn more.

2^nd Annual Cajun Crawfish Bash

Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation

Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village

4323 Commons Drive West

Destin

Time: 5:30 p.m.

The Rotary Club of Destin presents this event that will benefit young families in need through Food For Thought, Harvest House and the Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast. This Cajun-style celebration features Destin Rotarians serving as “Private Peelers” and “Bucket Barmaids” to earn generous tips and compete for the coveted title of “Top Crawdad”. The public is invited to join in the Cajun festivities with pounds and pounds of classic crawfish cuisine and fixings. Other food will also be available for those that don’t fancy crawfish. Tickets are $25 per person and $10 for children under 12. Day of event tickets are $30 per person. Please call the main ticket hotline at 850.837.1071.

Home School Fridays

Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida

115 Westview Ave.

Valparaiso

Time: 10 a.m.

The month of May focuses on the topic “Mothers of the Past” during Home School Fridays. The program will study mothers from generations past, and discover what parts of their lives changed over time and the timeless roles that have remained the same. Each child will craft a token of gratitude to give to their mother. Please pre-register by calling 850.678.2615.

Concerts at the Landing – Forrest Williams Band

The Landing in Downtown Fort Walton Beach

139 Brooks Street

Fort Walton Beach

Time: 6-8 p.m.

For 10 consecutive weeks, The Landing will be THE spot for an unforgettable live concert every Friday night from 6-8 p.m. On May 2, Forrest Williams Band will perform. In the following weeks, there will be performances by Boukou Groove, Season Ammons Bands, Chris and Gileah, Heritage and more! For more information, visit www.1021TheWave.com.

Saturday, May 3, 2014:

Charity Day at Belk

Belk at Destin Commons

4101 Legendary Drive

Destin

Time: 6-10 a.m.

All nonprofit organizations can pick up charity tickets to sell, starting now. Remember, you keep 100 percent of your ticket sales! Charities are also needed the morning of the sale to volunteer help with selling tickets at the door to customers. Those that volunteer get an equal split of the money taken in at the doors that morning for their charity.

Cinco de Mayo Festival

4/3-4/4

HarborWalk Village

10 Harbor Blvd.

Destin

Saturday will host a Cinco de Mayo Pub Crawl through HarborWalk Village venues along with contests and live Latina-themed entertainment.

Pub Crawl Schedule:

6 p.m. Jester Mardi Gras Daiquiris

7 p.m. Jackacudas

8 p.m. Crab Island Cantina

9 p.m. Harry T’s Lighthouse

10 p.m. Margaritaville

11 p.m. Fishheads

12 a.m. Coyote Ugly Saloon

It’s Cinco de Meow-YO!

SOCKS

498 Carmel Drive

Fort Walton Beach

Time: 6-8:30 p.m.

SOCKS Thrift Store, located directly behind the shelter, will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Mexican-themed food and drinks. Store specials will also be a part of the celebration! Tickets are $5 per person and are available for purchase in advance or at the door. The cost provides you with a raffle ticket and two drink tickets. You can purchase additional raffle tickets at the event if you choose. Silent auction items will also be present. If you have an auction item that you’d like to donate or if you would just like more information on this event, please call the store at 850.863.8999 or call Nancy at 850.865.6866.

Hands-On History Saturdays

Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida

115 Westview Ave.

Valparaiso

Time: noon

The month of May focuses on the topic “Mothers of the Past” during Hands-On History. The program will study mothers from generations past, and discover what parts of their lives changed over time and the timeless roles that have remained the same. Each child will craft a token of gratitude to give to their mother. Please pre-register by calling 850.678.2615.

“Come Together 2014” Choctawhatchee Style Marchers

Choctawhatchee High School Auditorium

110 Racetrack Road NW

Fort Walton Beach

Time: 7-9 p.m.

The Choctawhatchee Style Marchers along with the Beachside Community Church present “Come Together 2014”. If you like STOMP, Blue Man Group, Blast or RamCorps, you will love this event. Sixty-one performers, projection, lighting, a house band—it will all be under one roof for ONE night! Percussionists from Meigs Middle School will also be present. Admission is $5. Children six years old and younger get in for free.

Sunday, May 4, 2014:

Cinco de Mayo Festival

HarborWalk Village

10 Harbor Blvd.

Destin

Time: 5-11 p.m.

Sunday brings live entertainment to include folkloric dancers, the 3^rd Annual Running of the Bulls and Macho Nacho Contest, piñata breaking and crafts for families to enjoy! The celebration will include a spectacular fireworks display over the stunning Destin Harbor.

Rock and Roll Fans Reunite for “Gimme Abbey” Tribute Event

What’s better than holding a tribute to one of the greatest bands in Rock and Roll history? Holding a tribute for TWO of the greatest Rock andRoll bands!

On April 24, 2014, at 7 p.m., Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) and Ocean Reef Vacation Rentals & Real Estate present A Rock and Roll Tribute to The Beatles & The Rolling Stones in a live, onstage performance by The Return & Satisfaction called “Gimme Abbey.” This much-anticipated event will be held at Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village at 4323 Commons Drive West in Destin.

General Admission is $15 for MKAF members and $18 for non-members. Children under the age of 12 get in for free. Picnic Supper Club Tables are open to everyone for purchase at $125 seating six people and $150 seating eight. Please call 850.650.2226 to reserve your table today. A charity raffle will also be held during intermission.

Feel free to bring your favorite chair, wine and picnic for the event. Or, you can purchase dinner prepared onsite by Carrabba’s Italian Grill. For more information, visit MattieKellyArtsFoundation.org.

Life's A Beach Publications is a proud sponsor of this tribute event!

What Are You Doing This Weekend? June 15-17

What’s happening on the Emerald Coast this weekend?

There’s tons of great stuff happening this Father’s Day weekend. Grab your rod and reel and compete for some fantastic prizes, take in some art, enjoy a tasty treat, try your hand at a game of chance, don your favorite high heels for a good cause, adopt a new furry friend, or take the kids out of for a fun-filled day of activities just for them. No matter what you choose to do this weekend, it’s sure to be amazing when you spend your time here on Florida’s beautiful Emerald Coast.

Multi-Day Events

The 2^nd Annual Big Mac Shoot Out Fishing Tournament will begin at the Elks Lodge in Fort Walton Beach, and take place June 15-17. 100% of the proceeds from this tournament benefit Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Florida. Tons of cash and prizes awarded. Be sure to ask about the Women’s Division Awards.

BigMacFishing.EmeraldCoastMcDonalds.com

Friday, June 15

Celebrate the 6^th Annual National Flip Flop Day with Tropical Smoothie Café. HarborWalk Village Tropical Smoothie will hand out free Jetty Punch smoothies to guests wearing flip-flops plus families will enjoy games and activities for all ages to raise money for Camp Sunshine; an organization that helps children with life-threatening illnesses and their families to make magical memories within the unique confines of Camp Sunshine. Enjoy a performance by the Flip Flop Boys on the HarborWalk Village main stage.

NationalFlipFlopDay.com

Grab the kids and head out to the Fort Walton Beach Landing from 10am-1pm for Kid’s Day, a special day of kid-geared activities taking place along the water of the Santa Rosa Sound. The event will feature several interactive programs including a magic show, face painting, karaoke, a rock wall climb, water slides, and of course, Dunk-A-Cop presented by the City of Fort Walton Beach Police Department. Animal exhibits will be presented by the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society, PAWS, Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, and Seacrest Wolf Preserve. The Emerald Coast Science Center, Indian Temple Mound Museum, the Gulfarium and the Okaloosa County Health Department will also have activities centers and touch tables set up on site. Kids, parents and day care providers are all welcome to this free program at the Landing.  Concessions will be available for purchase and can be enjoyed along the boardwalk or under the trees.

FWB.com

 

Stroll the streets of downtown Fort Walton Beach between 5:30-8:30pm and enjoy the live music, local art and demonstrations, shopping and dining at this month’s Downtown Fort Walton Beach Art Walk. Artists will be set up in front of every store displaying and selling their wares, including a wide variety of mediums from hand-made fishing lures, to wood burning, to oil paintings and everything in between. Many stores will be offering special discounts as well as refreshments. Don’t miss out on the surf movie hosted by Fluid Surf Shop on the lawn behind Fired Up.

Facebok.com/DowntownFortWaltonBeachArtWalk

Put on your favorite pair of high heels and head to Rosemary Beach for the “Walk Her Way” Charity Event. Men, women and children of all ages are invited to don high heels for Walk Her Way at Rosemary Beach’s Town Center starting at 5:30pm. Sponsored by Rosemary Beach Foundation, this one-mile strut around the square aims to raise awareness of domestic violence with a portion of proceeds benefiting Shelter House.

WalkHerWay.com

 

Join Horizons of Fort Walton Beach from 6-9pm at their annual Casino Lights Gaming Night at the HarborView Room at HarborWalk Village. Everybody wins when you bet on a great cause! Enjoy live entertainment, prizes, food, poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, a silent auction, and more!

www.horizonsfwb.com

Saturday, June 16

Looking for a new furry friend? You may want to head over the SOCKS (Save Our Cats and Kittens) 2^nd Annual Kitten Extravaganza Event from 12-5pm. Plenty of food, fun and feline festivities will be available, so bring the kids to participate in free games where everyone’s a winner! Come see all the cats and kittens waiting for their forever homes. The event will also feature reduced pricing on kitten adoptions and the usual free adoptions for cats over 5 years old. The SOCKS Thrift Store will be having a yard sale as well, so don’t miss out on those bargains!

850-863-5756

Swing by Books-A-Million in the Destin Commons from 2-5pm and meet author Ramona Bridges as she signs copies of her books, “Sweet By and By” and “Standing on the Promises”.

Sunday, June 17

Thank you to all the dads out there that hold their children’s hands, who make sure their children do what their mother says, who comfort their children when they are sick, who brush their children’s hair when it’s tangled, who let their kids eat ice cream for breakfast when their mother is away. Thank you to all the fathers out there who walk their daughters down the aisle, who give such great advice, and who forgive their children their mistakes. Thank you to all the dads out there who tell their children everything’s going to be ok, and who find a way to make it so.

P.S. Thank you to all the mom’s out there that step gracefully into the dual role of being both mom and dad.

Happy Father’s Day!

If you have a deserving dad, treat him to something special today!

As always, have a super-fantastic beachy weekend!

            -The Life’s A Beach crew

What Are You Doing This Weekend? April 27-29

What’s happening on the Emerald Coast this weekend?

What a great weekend we have ahead of us here on Florida’s beautiful Emerald Coast! There is truly something for everyone this weekend. Enjoy some fine wine, take the kids out to fun-filled beach fest, take in a sunset, a symphony performance, an enlightening lecture, and so much more this weekend. No matter what you’re in the mood for the Emerald Coast has something for you. Keep reading to find out about all the fantastic happenings coming up in the next few days, and don’t forget to check back next week for a whole new lineup! Don’t forget to take pictures of your Emerald Coast adventures and send them to your friends at Life’s A Beach. Pictures can be uploaded here: LifesABeachLLC.com/Upload_Photos.htm

Multi-Day Events

Image from SandestinWineFestival.com

The 26th Annual Sandestin Wine Festival at the Village of Baytowne Wharf is a picture perfect event complete with white tents, flowing wine, gourmet food, ladies strolling in hats, and live music. Enjoy this event April 26-29.

SandestinWineFestival.com

The Navarre Fun Fest will take place April 27-28 from 3-10 p.m. at Navarre Beach. Non-stop entertainment with fireworks, arts and crafts, a children’s area, and plenty of food.

NavarreChamber.com, 850.939.3267

Friday, April 27

Head out to the 4^th Annual Sunset on the Harbor Hosted by the Destin Chamber of Commerce. This year’s event will kick off at noon with a “Fishing for Business” Corporate Fishing Challenge. The entire Destin community is invited to the Destin Fishing Fleet Marina between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. for a fish fry, silent auction and “Destin Sunset” cocktail making contest. A live DJ will spin the perfect soundtrack as sun sets over the beautiful Destin Harbor.

DestinChamber.com

Help children with special needs right here in your own community by attending Pandora’s Annual Children’s Invitational Charity Auction at the Emerald Coast Convention Center. This unique event provides funding to four local agencies that work together to improve the lives of our area’s special needs children as they strive to become independent adults. Be sure to check out the wide variety of silent auction items ranging from vacation packages, artwork, home decor items, jewelry, sports memorabilia, and much more. Event will be held from 6 p.m.-12 a.m.

For details call 850.244.8660 or email pandorasfwb@aol.com.

Saturday, April 28

Haydn Goes Hawaiian will be performed at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center in Niceville beginning at 7:30 p.m. It's Hawaiian shirt night at the symphony as the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra spotlights the father of the symphony - Franz Josef Haydn and two of his most famous pupils, Mozart and Beethoven. In addition, a world renowned soloist will be featured. Put away your concert attire and put on your most colorful shirt and kick off summer with flair!

NFSymphony.org, 850.729.6000

It’s World Tai Chi Day. Watch Tai Chi demonstrations at Liza Jackson Park in Fort Walton Beach. Refreshments will be available onsite. Join Tai Chi artists from the local area in a standing meditation at 9:55 a.m. Tai Chi artists in 65 countries will be participating in creating a wave of healing energy for the planet and its people.

BlueWillowWellness.com

Join Entomologist Dr. Walter Tschinkel at the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center as the distinguished research professor discusses metal casting of Harvester Ant colonies. Come learn about these amazing ants and the beautiful structures they create! Observe one of his largest Harvester Ant colonies which is housed at the Center.

EOWilsonCenter.org

Sunday, April 29

Go back in time to the Soul Train line and dance the night at the Beal Street Bottle Club as Q’LaLa Productions, Roundtable Radio, Beal Street Bottle Club, and E&J Productions presents a Soul Train Tribute Show. Events include costume contest, live performances, Soul Train Line, and Scrabble board.

For more information, call 850.642.2221.

Hope everyone has a terrific weekend, and as always, keep it beachy!

            -The Life’s A Beach crew