As if the people of Florida's Emerald Coast aren't already proud to call this beautiful and much admired place home, popular news outlets have recently ranked the area for its alluring qualities, raising the level of gratitude even more.
In summer 2014, leading media outlet, MSN News, named Fort Walton Beach as one of the “10 Happiest Cities in America.” The Fort Walton Beach area landed as the happiest location in Florida and the 10th overall happiest city in the nation, according to the rankings. The results are based on satisfaction levels reported by respondents to a multi-year survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and were presented in a working paper through the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Also in 2014, Destin was voted number six for "Best Spring Break Destinations: Readers' Choice Winners" by USA Today. After four weeks of voting in 10Best.com's Readers' Choice contest, USA Today readers helped name the best Spring Break destinations.
These acclaims are much appreciated and adored by locals and visitors alike, and we look forward to receiving more in the years to come!
Spring is here on the lovely Emerald Coast and we would like to be the first to WELCOME you to our little piece of paradise. The water is clear and the temperature is on the rise, let us guide you through all of the wonderful events and activities the Emerald Coast has to offer. Be sure to pick up our Spring Edition and Like us on Facebook for the latest news and events, be sure to enter our spring giveaway for your chance to "Win" a Life's A Beach souvenir box of spring time "must haves".
If there’s one thing you won’t want to miss
this weekend, it’s the 36th Annual Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival.
Recently named one of the USA’s top 12 food festivals by Parade Magazine, this spirited fall festival offers something for
everyone. Festival fun will include high-quality arts and crafts, a huge
selection of clothing, jewelry and other goods, collectibles and merchandise,
carnival rides and booths, kids’ activities, local and big-name entertainment,
and more!
Festival History
Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival 1978
The festival began back in 1976 in the town
of Niceville, then a happy little fishing village known simply as Boggy Bayou.
In those days, local fisherman poled flat-bottomed skiffs out into the bay at
night, listed for the jumping mullet, and cast their nets. During the
depression, mullet saved the Boggy Bayou area by providing pioneer families
with the means to barter with regional farmers for needed goods and services,
so this little town owes the mullet a lot.
Since its beginning, this annual festival
honoring the mullet has grown to one of the South’s most celebrated festivals,
gaining much recognition and notoriety nationwide. It has become one of the
best-known country music events in the South.
For folks living in the area, it’s an event
that brings the townsfolk together every year, allowing them to renew old
friendships and celebrate with neighbors. For visitors, it’s an excellent
opportunity to have some good old-fashioned family fun.
Food
Photo: MoscatoMom.com
Throughout the three day festival, thousands
of hungry mullet fans will consume up to 4 tons of this tasty fish. Of course,
everyone who goes the Mullet Festival will have something to eat. Aside from
fried and smoked mullet, a wide variety of menu options will be available including
seafood, oriental foods, Cajun and country cooking, sweet treats and more. Just
a few of these must-try items include shrimp, shark, alligator, crawfish, BBQ,
shrimp tempura, fried vegetables, bratwurst, wings, chicken, burgers, funnel
cakes, kettle corn, cotton candy, hot apple dumplings and ice cream!
Arts and Crafts
A large arts and crafts show will make for
some truly unique finds. This juried show features only original, high-quality
work. All exhibitors are eligible for the “Best of Show” Purchase Award. In
addition, there will be tons of hand-made and/or decorated clothing available
in the Boutique section.
Entertainment Galore
As previously mentioned, the Boggy Bayou
Mullet Festival has become known as one of the South’s best country music
festivals. Known for featuring nationally-recognized country acts in a small,
festival atmosphere, if there’s one thing there’s no shortage of at this event
it’s entertainment. The best part? The festival’s low admission price INCLUDES
all the entertainment. How awesome is that?
To see a complete schedule of entertainment Click Here.
Family Day
Sunday, October 21 is Family Day at the
Mullet Festival. Sponsored by Fort Walton Beach Medical Center and Twin Cities
Hospital, this is the festivals only alcohol-free day. No sales of beer or any
other alcoholic beverages will be permitted on this day. On Family Day,
volunteers from Fort Walton Beach Medical Center and Twin Cities Hospital will
be selling soft drinks on site to raise funds for the United Way.
The entertainment on this day is geared
specifically towards a family audience. Children can enjoy rides, clown shows,
cartoon characters, pony rides, magicians, face painting, and much, much more!
What’s A Mullet?
Black or striped mullet are a versatile fish
that can be found throughout the world in warm, coastal marine waters and
sometimes in fresh water. They are abundant in Florida Waters, especially in
Choctawhatchee Bay and its bayous. Mullet are sometimes called jumping, or
happy mullet because these fish leap right out of the water and skip along the
surface in great exuberance.
Well known and held in high esteem for
centuries, these fish were often included in the writings of the ancient
Romans. Mullet, which feed on vegetation, algae and plankton, take on the
flavor of their surroundings. In most areas, dirty or polluted waters render
mullet inedible. For this reason, the mullet is no longer a prize delicacy in
Rome because Italy’s canals and coastal waters became polluted.
Mullet taken from the Niceville’s
sandy-bottomed waters are fat and clean. Their firm-texture has a mild, almost
sweet, nutlike flavor. Don’t take my word for it, come out to the 36th
Annual Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival and see for yourself!
Check out this Mullet Festival T-Shirt Worn by the "Sam Merlotte" Character on HBO's Popular TRUE BLOOD Series
If you enjoy fantastic entertainment, delicious food, and
exciting activities for all ages, then you won’t want to miss the 2012 Destin
Seafood Festival. This year, the festival will be presented by the Destin
Charter Boat Association, along with many community businesses. To these folks,
it’s more than just a festival – it’s a tribute to the rich history of the
Destin Harbor. This year’s festival will be taking place along the beautiful
Destin Harbor which now features the new and improved Harbor Boardwalk.
The event will feature tons of entertainment and fun for all
ages, as the entire harbor district is abuzz with the excitement of the
festival. There will be two outdoor main stages featuring performances from musical
groups such as Heritage, Cadillac Willy, Coconut Radio and Cheryl Jones, just
to name a few. An exciting addition to this year’s musical lineup is Wild
Country Blue, an amazing U.S. Air Force band. There will also be live music at
several other locations throughout the harbor. Kid’s activities will include
bounce houses, pony rides, a petting zoo, hamster balls, Euro bungee, face
painting, arts & crafts and more! If all this isn’t enough, the Destin
Fishing Rodeo will be in full swing, with exciting weigh-ins taking place
daily.
When you attend the Destin Seafood Festival this year, you
better come hungry! Tons of succulent seafood items will be on the menu this
year including lobster, crab cakes, scallops, shrimp, mullet, shark, mahi mahi,
crawfish, clams and much, much more!
Come down to the Destin Harbor and see why more than 60,000
locals and visitors are expected to visit this year’s Destin Seafood Festival –
exceptional food, outstanding entertainment, and loads of fun for the whole
family.
Are you looking
for a fun fall activity for the whole family? You might consider loading the
kids up in the car for scenic drive to the north of the beautiful shores of the
Gulf of Mexico. The picturesque Blackwater River State Forest is awe-inspiring
with its towering trees, and lush plant life. Within the forest, you will find
Blackwater Canoe Rental, a friendly little outpost in the woodland. Here, you
have many options for optimal enjoyment of the Blackwater River and surrounding
forest. Rent canoes, kayaks or tubes from these fine folks and embark upon a
memorable adventure.
The staff at
Blackwater Canoe Rental will ensure your trip is safe, easy, and fun. Park your
car at the end of the canoe route and they will shuttle you upstream to the
launch area. When you reach the end, simply beach your vessel and walk straight
to your vehicle. (It doesn’t get any easier than that!) Bonus! The ride to the
launch point is absolutely stunning!
As you begin
your adventure, there is much to notice about this unique area. The Blackwater
River is one of the few shifting sand bottom streams which remains in its
natural state for nearly its entire length. Its sugar-white sand beaches and are
both beautiful and relaxing. The river is one of the purest sand-bottom rivers
in the nation, making this park a popular place for swimming, fishing, camping,
and paddling. This is definitely one of the most unique bodies of water you
will ever see. The water has a dark appearance when seeing it from afar and yet
is crystal clear, allowing you to see every little thing on the bottom – every swimming
fish, every turtle, every rock, stick or grain of sand – you can see it all.
Along the way there are plenty of places to
pull up on the sandy shore and enjoy the water, the plant life, a picnic lunch,
or just relax for a spell. Near the end of the route, you will enter the
Blackwater State Park. It offers large pavilions, restrooms, and outdoor
showers.
We talk a lot about all the fun of the
coast, but this incredible area offers a ton of opportunities for merriment of
all kinds. A canoe trip down the Blackwater River is a must for anyone who
longs to be one with nature while enjoying a day of fun in the Florida sun. One
thing’s for sure, you’ll have a memorable adventure and a story to tell for
years to come.
Check out this video of the Life’s A Beach
canoe trip.
For more information on Blackwater Canoe
Rentals visit their website at BlackwaterCanoe.com. Also, look for their coupon in our the spring and summer issues of Life's A Beach.
If you’ve been wanting to visit the always
lovely Emerald Coast all summer long, and haven’t yet made it down, don’t
worry! You haven’t missed your chance. The first official day of fall is this Saturday,
September 22, and it is a wonderful time to plan an escape to this magical
area.
There are a ton of things to look forward to
throughout this lively season. One of my personal favorites of course is that
the fall/winter edition of Life’s A Beach will be hitting the stands throughout
the region. (We in fact, just received this edition from the printer this
morning, so look for it at a location near you!) This means new artwork,
photos, coupons, articles, events and more for our readers. How sweet is that!?
Another favorite is the weather. Fall weather
on the Emerald Coast is ideal for almost any activity you can imagine. It’s
still great for spending a day at the beach, or out on the water, and it’s
fantastic if you just want to get out there and experience the beauty and
wonder of Mother Nature in a comfortable setting. The slightly cooler evenings
are awesome for a stroll on the beach, or for cuddling up with that special
someone. If you enjoy camping, this is an optimal time of year for sleeping out
under the stars and roasting marshmallows by the fire.
During the fall, the whole area comes alive with
the vibrance of the season. There is always something happening, and there is
so much to see and do you will never be bored. Let’s take a brief look at some
of the things that will be happening throughout this magical season.
Throughout the entire month of October, spend a little time at the Destin Harbor,
and enjoy the festivities of the 64th
Annual Destin Fishing Rodeo. There will be tons of cash and prizes awarded
to anglers from all over the country. Best of all, participation in the Rodeo
is FREE to when you fish aboard any boat registered in the Rodeo. Even if you’re
not fishing, you can still enjoy the merriment of the daily weigh-ins held on
the docks. Don’t miss Shark Saturdays!
The 34th
Annual Destin Seafood Festival will be entertaining thousands October 5-7. This tribute to the rich history of the Destin Harbor will
feature 3 days of fun-filled activities for the whole family. There will be
over 10 stages, and over 60 shows of amazing live music, kid’s activities, arts
and crafts vendors, delicious food, beer, and much, much more! This event is
also free and open to the public, however donations are accepted.
The Destin
Beer Festival on October
13 will be held along the main
street of Destin Commons. This event will feature an afternoon of specialty
brews, eclectic cuisine, live entertainment, a merchandise booth and more!
Event proceeds will benefit The Children’s Neighborhood of Children in Crisis,
Inc. Come out and enjoy some great beer for a great cause!
Enjoy even more beer October 19-20 at the 5th
Annual Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival. The event will feature over 40 onsite
craft brewers, over 100 domestic and international beers, seminars and
samplings, and live music.
Make your way to Niceville October 19-20 for the 36th
Annual Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival. (Don’t worry folks, that’s mullet as in
fish, not the popular 80’s hairstyle that’s business in the front and a party
in the back!) The festival always promises a great time for the entire family with
big-name entertainment, the highest quality fine art and home hand-crafts,
numerous exhibits and a staggering array of food concessions. Don’t miss other
special events throughout the festival such as the Mullet Toss!
If you are a dog lover, you will not want to
miss Dog Daze on October 20 at Liza Jackson Park in Fort Walton Beach. This canine-centered
event featuring doggie arts and crafts, informational booths, lots of freebies
and giveaways, a dog parade, wiener races and more! Come out for a day of fun
focused around man’s best friend. Dog Daze benefits Alaqua Animal Refuge, RUFF
(Rescue Unwanted Furry Friends), and PAWS (Panhandle Animal Welfare Society).
If there’s art in your heart you will not
want to miss the 17th Annual
Destin Festival of the Arts sponsored by the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation.
The festival will be held October
27-28 at Henderson
Beach State Park. The event will feature over 100 artists from across the
United States in a vast variety of mediums. There will be kid’s events, live
music and lots of fun.
November 1-4 grab your glass and head to Seaside for the Seeing Red Wine Festival. This for day event is choc-full of
decades of southern tradition, and is sure to satisfy your taste for wine… and
the beach! An extensive array of tasting tents will be onsite with wine samples
from around the world.
The Great
Golf Coast Arts Festival is a juried art show that takes place in Seville
Square in Downtown Pensacola November
2-4. Over 250,000 visitors
flock to the area to enjoy this event every year.
On November 10 head
down to the Destin Harbor for the Blues,
Brews & BBQ event. Local restaurants will be firing up the frills and
the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Northwest Florida chapter will
be onsite hosting a craft beer tasting and creative BBQ competition.
These are just a few of the many events you
can enjoy this fall. Other things you may want to check out include touring
shows, orchestra performances, Halloween festivities including multiple haunted
houses and more! Check back with us often for more information on these and
other upcoming events in addition to your regular Emerald Coast connection.
Until next time, enjoy the fruits of the season
and remember to send us your Emerald Coast vacation photos!
What’s happening on the Emerald Coast this weekend?
Well friends, it’s Thursday, and we all know what that means; it’s almost Friday, the start of the weekend. The long holiday weekend last week has allowed this to come to us a little more quickly this week, so that’s a nice bonus. The only downfall is that this allows it to sneak up on you a little bit. There you sit, reading this blog thinking, ‘Oh no! It IS almost the weekend and I’ve made NO plans! Whatever will I do?’ Not to worry, we’re here to help! Check out this list of fantastic events happening this very weekend. There’s a ton of great stuff to choose from, so you’re plan-less weekend problems are solved!
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
The Emerald Coast Home Show will be held at the Emerald Coast Convention Center on Okaloosa Island September 8-9. Over 90 vendors from the home and health industries will be on site offering super discounted specials and more. Heath care evaluations will include chair and back massages, dental and sleep evaluations, chiropractic evaluations, vitamin, nutrition, and weight loss advice, skin cancer spot checks and more. Over $10,000 in door prizes and freebies will be given away at this event, which is FREE and open to the public.
"Inspired by Peter Max" Opening Reception and Gallery Show at the Arts and Design Society of Fort Walton Beach will be held at the gallery from 6-8pm. The exhibition of art, in any medium, is based on the works of Peter Max, known for his iconic bright posters and art in the 1960's and '70's. Admission to the reception and the gallery is FREE and open to the public. If you miss the reception, the show began September 4 and will run through September 29.
The Camp Walton School House will be having its 100th Birthday Party this year! Everyone is invited to join the celebration. The theme of the day is the time period in which the structure functioned as a school: 1912 – 1936. There will be an old-fashioned party with decorations, cake and ice cream! There will also be live music, games such as 3 legged races, educational exhibits on inventions, toys and newspaper headlines from the time period. Antique cars will be on Heritage Park grounds, and there will be old-fashioned photo opportunities and shopping for schoolhouse-related items. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet Fort Walton Beach’s founding families whose ancestors attended the school and learn about the past. Admission to all museums at Heritage Park and Cultural Center will be FREE this day.
The Gulf Coast Gospel Extravaganza, hosted by Gayla Jones-Singleton will feature performances by God’s Child, Chevon Corlew-Coleman, Lady Cossie Crosswhite, Williams Brothers & Company, Brothers United, and Funny Man-Squaretite Mike. The concert will be held at the Fort Walton Beach Civic Center. Doors open at 4:30pm and the show starts at 5pm.
850.624.1752
As always, have a fun-filled, sun-filled and BEACHY weekend! After all, Life’s A Beach!
