All Fired Up for the 4th!

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July has almost arrived and there is no better place to celebrate than on the sugary white beaches of The Emerald Coast. 
Start your celebration early on July 3, at the 5^th Annual Independence Day Celebration and Bike Parade from 6:30-9 pm at Morgan Sports Center in Destin. Live Music,Kick Ball Ultimate Frisbee, Moonwalks and much MORE! Children 14 & under are invited to decorate their bikes, scooters or wagons. Awards will be presented in various categories and ages. Be sure to stay for the fireworks display! CityofDestin.com
 If you want to start your holiday festivities with a picnic supper and live music stop by the Mattie Keely Cultural Arts Pavilion for a Concert in the Village. David Seering will be performing an American Patriotic Tribute on July 3 from 7-9pm. MattieKellyArtsFoundation.org On Thursday, July 4^th you will find fireworks abound. Enjoy the Red, White & Blue display at Baytowne after a fun filled day of kids’ activities and live music enjoy dinner and an evening full of firework delights. BaytowneWharf.com 4^th of July extravaganza on the Destin Harbor includes a hot dog eatin contest, live concerts give -a-ways and of course fireworks. Celebration begins at 6:30. www.CityOfDestin.com 4th of July on the Fort Walton Beach Landing this annual celebration includes live music, local vendors, a fireworks display and FUN for the whole family from 6 -10pm. FWB.org 4^th of July Extravaganza at HarborwalkThe Red, White, and Blue Celebration at HarborWalk Village is a weekly honoring of a local hero. This week, help us honor Lt. Col. Samuel Lombardo for his dedication and service to our country.  Enjoy an exciting live concert from Clinch 46 on the Main stage at 8:00pm, with a special Independence day fireworks show over the harbor at 9:00pm. Top off the evening with a live performance from the Andy Velo Band at 9:15pm! EmeraldGrande.com

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Celebrate Independence Day on the Emerald Coast

Boom, Boom, Boom! The celebration of America’s Freedom has already begun with a bang here on the Emerald Coast. If you’re just arriving to spend the 4^th of July weekend at this lively locale, allow us to outline a few of the events you won’t want to miss. Fun-filled and patriotic events will be occurring throughout the area all week long. Some events are regularly scheduled Emerald Coast Weekly Summer Events, but for the sake of those who are here to celebrate the holiday this week only we’re going to touch on a few of those things as well.

Monday, July 2

Join Magician Rick Moore from 7-9pm at the Events Plaza Stage at the Village of Baytowne Wharf for Magical Mondays, an evening of laughs and illusions.

BaytowneWharf.com

                             Tuesday July 3

The Village of Baytowne Wharf is host to the weekly celebration, Boomin’ Tuesdays. This celebration provides an evening of fun and merriment, complete with face painting, kid’s crafts, and live music by Coconut Radio from 7-9pm. Stick around for the fireworks show beginning at 9:15pm!

BaytowneWharf.com

Head down to HarborWalk Village, where every Tuesday is Fat Tuesday, with their Pardi Gras celebration from 7-10pm! Enjoy dazzling floats, beads, and loads of swag during the parade through the village, and relish the cocktails, red beans and rice, and live entertainment!

EmeraldGrande.com

Enjoy a coastal fireworks display beginning at 9pm in Seaside. Be sure to tune your radio to 30A Radio (107.1) to hear the simulcast soundtrack as you watch the magnificent display.

SoWal.com

Wednesday July 4 

Celebrate the holiday with at the Village of Baytowne Wharf’s Red, White & Baytowne celebration. Bring the kids! Enjoy face painting, crafts and a stilt walker from 6-10pm and live music by The Shrimpboat Cowboys form 7-9pm. A special Independence Day fireworks show will light up the sky over the lagoon at 9:15pm.

BaytowneWharf.com

HarborWalk Village will be offering tons of fun and excitement from 6-10pm at their 4^th of July Extravaganza on the Harbor! Festivities will include family activities, a hotdog eating contest, giveaways, live music on the Main stage by Clinch 46, and of course FIREWORKS!

EmeraldGrande.com

Head to Main Street in Destin for the American Legion Cookout. American Legion post 296 will be hosting an old-fashioned cookout with hamburgers and hotdogs beginning at 2pm. Entertainment will be provided by Rock’n Robbin. This event is open to the public.

Legion.org

The City of Fort Walton Beach will be hosting its annual 4^th of July Celebration at the Fort Walton Beach Landing. The event is scheduled from 4-10pm and will include entertainment, vendors, a bicycle parade for children, a flyover, and kid’s activities and games. The evening will conclude with a breathtaking fireworks display over the sound beginning at 9:15pm.

FWB.org

The annual South Walton 4^th of July Parade will begin in front of Seagrove Plaza at 8am. Participants in patriotic costumes and on festive holiday floats will travel 1.5 miles down Scenic Hwy 30A to Seaside, where a winning parade entry will be selected. After the parade, enjoy music in the Amphitheater from 30A Radio until 11am. Bring your blanket and settle in as the celebration continues with Stars & Stripes at Seaside at 7pm featuring a special performance by Dread Clampitt and Sam Bush. The festivities will come to a close with a spectacular fireworks show viewable from the Seaside Amphitheater or along the beach.

SoWal.com

Spend the holiday building ad sailing a pirate ship with the little ones in the reflection pond during a ranger-led activity from 10am-noon at Eden Gardens State Park’s Fourth of July Family Day.

FloridaStateParks.org/EdenGardens

Enjoy the all-day 4^th of July Celebration in Rosemary Beach. The festivities kick off with the annual Bike Parade through town beginning at 8:45am. A Family Field Day will be held from 9-11am on the Western green. Have a blast with sack races, 3-legged races, hula-hoop contests, a water balloon toss, music, airbrush tattoos, “go fish,” balloons and moonwalks. A barbeque will take place from 5-7 pm on the Eastern Green where an old-fashioned BBQ dinner will be available for purchase. Bring a blanket and enjoy an evening of music under the stars at Concert on the Green from 6:30-8:30pm on the Western Green. The evening will end with a fireworks show at 8:45.

RosemaryBeach.com

The DeFuniak Springs Business and Professional Association presents the 21^st annual Celebration around the Lakeyard, which includes a parade, entertainment with Crossroads, children’s activities, a flyover, a fireworks display and more!

WaltonOutdoors.com

The Walton County Heritage Museum celebrates the museum’s 10^th Anniversary on July 4^th. The museum will open at 10am and remain open until the conclusion of the fireworks over Lake DeFuniak. The caboose will be open for tours from 11am-2pm. Trolley tours of historic homes around Circle Drive will be offered at 11am, 11:45am, 12:30pm and 1:15pm. Tours will include a guided walk through the Heritage Garden and a reception at the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood. Hot dogs, sausage dogs, and drinks will be sold in front of the museum beginning at 11am.

WaltonCountyHeritage.org

Thursday, July 5

Grab your lawn chairs and blankets and head out to the Village of Baytowne Wharf for Sunset Cinema, a fun-filled movie under the stars! This week’s feature film is The Smurfs, and showing begins at 8pm.

BaytowneWharf.com

Can’t get enough fireworks? Check out the Red, White and Blue Celebration at HarborWalk Village from 6-8pm. This weekly honoring of a local hero highlights the efforts of people who go above and beyond to better their community. Enjoy live entertainment, free kid’s crafts and face painting, and a WWII replica flyover. The evening is topped off by a spectacular fireworks display over the Destin Harbor.

EmeraldGrande.com

Friday, July 7

Rock the Docks with Andy Velo at HarborWalk Village from 8-10pm. The evening will include free kids activities and face painting.
EmeraldGrande.com

Saturday, July 8

Relive America’s favorites at Rock the Docks with Ron Adams and Friends at HarborWalk Village from 7-9pm.

EmeraldGrande.com

What Are You Doing This Weekend? June 29 - July 1, 2012

What’s happening on the Emerald Coast this weekend?

Can you believe that July will already be upon us starting this very weekend? Where DOES the time go? Time travel discussion aside, the weatherman says we can expect an absolutely GORGEOUS pre-independence day weekend here on the always lovely Emerald Coast. Isn’t that exciting news? In addition to our regularly scheduled Emerald Coast Weekly Summer Events, we’ve got a few fun and exciting happenings going on this weekend which will highlight the already glorious scene set before us. Check it out!

REMINDER:

Remember, friends and readers, there is nothing we here at Life’s A Beach love more than seeing folks out there enjoying the spectacular Emerald Coast. If you’d like to share your photos with us (and have them considered for future publications) upload those amazing shots here: Life's A Beach Photo Upload

 

Friday, June 29

Join the City of Destin as they host the 4^th Annual Independence Day Celebration and Bike Parade at Morgan Sports Center. The celebration kicks off at 6:30pm with the Bike Parade, in which children ages 14 and under will show off their patriotically decorated bikes, scooters, and wagons. After the parade, enjoy live music, kickball, moonwalks, ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, and more! Stick around! The festivities will come to a close with a spectacular fireworks show you won’t want to miss.

CityOfDestin.com

                                                           Saturday, June 30

Calling all car lovers! Head out to the Santa Rosa Mall for the Summer Heat 2012 Custom Car, Truck and Bike Super Show. Registration starts at 9am in the mall parking lot. With over 25 categories to enter, all makes and models are welcome. “Best of Show” awards will be presented to the two hottest rides and there will be an “Outstanding Female Ride” award as well. This year they’ve added a Sanctioned DB Drag and lasca event to the show, so stereo enthusiasts are invited to come on out and show off those bumping systems. Giveaways and raffles will be happening all day, and there will be live music and entertainment for all ages! A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warriors Project.

SantaRosaMall.com/Events

The American Red Cross invites you to join them at their Annual Red, White and Blue 5k and Paddle Board Race beginning at 7:30am at the Fort Walton Beach Landing. Bring the family, there’s something for everyone including a ½ mile children’s run where everyone’s a winner. The race is open to runners and walkers, so no matter your pace, you’ll enjoy this scenic route. This year, participants will have the option to cool off from the summer heat with the paddle board race following the 5k. Don’t miss the after party hosted by KC’s Bar and Grill complete with food, beverages and a game room for the kids! Proceeds from the race will benefit the American Red Cross of Northwest Florida.

YourRedCross.org 

Sunday, July 1

Love BBQ? Then you’ll want to be at Destin Commons this Sunday as they host their 2^nd Annual Smoke on the Coast BBQ Cook-Off and fireworks festival from 7-9pm. Sample tasty BBQ treats from area teams while enjoying live music, festive art projects, face painting, pirate magic and street dancing. But that’s not all! The festival will end with a bang as it concludes with a 9pm fireworks display. Watch the beautiful flowers of light explode in the sky with a belly full of ‘que!

DestinCommons.com

Enjoy this incredible weekend! Don’t forget to keep it beachy – after all, Life’s A Beach!

            -The Life’s A Beach crew

Stay tuned! We’ll have an entire line-up of 4^th of July-week events coming soon!