Best South Walton Events for 2018

30A Songwriters, Taste of the Race, Digital Graffiti, & More!

Posted on 12/22/2017

In addition to our beautiful beaches here in South Walton and along the Emerald Coast, there's an abundance of amusements to choose from including championship golf, tennis, water sports, fishing, cruises, fine dining and great shopping. Frequent and informed travelers coincide their beach vacations with awesome seasonal festivals and events. Now is the time to plan your 2018 beach vacation, so we compiled a list of some of the best South Walton events.

30A Songwriters Stage

9th Annual 30A Songwriters Festival

January 12th thru the 15th

This popular music festival transforms village amphitheaters, town halls, bars, covered patios and town greens into unique concert sites. They are spread out from Sandestin's Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach to all along Scenic 30A. These musical venues can seat from 100 to 500 indoors and up to 5,000 on exterior grounds. The artistic line up for 2018 includes songwriters and musicians from across the nation. It is sponsored as a fundraiser by the local Cultural Arts Alliance and features Alternative, Americana, Blues, Country and Folk music by songwriters, many of whom are quite well known. The 2018 30A Songwriters Festival will feature 175 songwriters with 225 separate performances on 25 different stages. Some of the many artists include Emmylou Harris, Charles Kelly of Lady Antebellum, Ann Wilson of Heart, Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Shawn Mullins, North Mississippi Allstars, Lee Ann Womack and The Zombies. Weekend Pass Tickets for the event are $285 and include all 225 performances over four days. They are available at 30asongwritersfestival.com

Valentine Tour of Homes

The Valentine Tour of Homes

February 17th and 18th

This tour will be on Saturday, February 17th from 10:00 am till 4:00 pm and on Sunday, February 18th from Noon till 4:00 pm. This tour showcases acclaimed architectural designs of individual homes in South Walton. It is popular among homeowners who are planning renovations to existing homes and others who are in the process of getting ideas for their dream home. They include stunning interior styling, chic fashionable furnishings and distinctive décor throughout. This South Walton event is also sponsored by the Cultural Arts Alliance.

Alys Beach Wine Festival

7th Annual 30A Wine Festival at Alys Beach

February 23rd thru 25th

The opulent unique sparkling white alabaster village of Alys Beach will play host to the seventh annual 30A Wine Festival which is a charity fundraiser for the worthy local Children's Volunteer Health Network. Weekend passes for all the events are $365, and individual tickets for each soiree are available.


Friday the 23rd
A "Mix n Mingle" at Fire Pit Park from 4:30 till 5:30 pm. There will be libations, tunes and light bites. ($85)

"Bourbon, Beer and Butts" at the Kelly Green from 6:00 till 9:00 pm will feature a night of fine bourbon and beer from local breweries and national distilleries. Great barbeque will be served and live music will be performed by Mark Broussard. ($105)

Saturday the 24th
"Wine Seminars" at Fire Pit Park from 1:00 till 3:30 pm. The nation's renowned wineries will be providing tastings of their best vintages along with some savory morsels to eat so you may sip, swirl, swallow and nibble. ($25)

"Grand Tasting" on South Charles Street from 3:30 till 6:30 pm. Eighty fine wines will be showcased from across the globe while light appetizers will be served from local and regional eateries. ($205)

Sunday the 25th
"Rose' and Croquet" at Kelly Green from 11:30 till 3:00 pm for VIP Weekend Pass ticket holders only. There will be a "boozy brunch" featuring food fare and an elegant assortment of Rose' wines before a fun Croquet Tournament.

Taste of the Race Seaside

Taste of the Race

+ Seaside School Half Marathon & 5K Run

March 2nd thru March 4th

Friday, March 2nd at the Seaside Lyceum from Taste of the Race VIP reception with Emeril Lagasse from 6:00 till 7:00 pm. Famed chef Lagasse will be joined by popular local chefs Jim Shirley and Jim Richards for a cooking demonstration, appetizers, and drinks. Taste of the Race Main Event 7:00 till 9:00 pm. The chefs will still be on hand serving food from Emeril's Coastal Italian restaurant, Great Southern Café, The Bay, Stinky's Fish Camp as well as Bud & Alleys. Fine wine will be provided by Wine World, craft spirits from Buffalo Trace and craft brews from Grayton Beer. Live music will also be performed. (All Inclusive VIP tickets for both events are $300. Single Individual tickets are $99.)

Saturday, March 3rd at Lyceum from Noon till 2 pm. Live Music followed by a Silent Auction at 6:00 pm and Race Packet distribution.

Sunday, March 4th   7:00 am Half Marathon begins at Seaside Post office. The 5K race starts there at 7:25 am. A Post Race Party will go from 8:30 till 11:00 am with live music, 5K Awards, Half Marathon Awards and Silent Auction Results.

South Walton Wine Festival

South Walton Food and Wine Festival

April 27th thru 29th

A renowned roster of celebrity chefs, winemakers, distillers, brewmasters and entertainers converge for this four-day event that has been acclaimed by Southern Living Magazine as one of the best in the region. It will be held throughout Grand Boulevard, which is the upscale town center of Sandestin in Miramar Beach. They will be featuring a "Spirit's Row," a "Rose' All Day" garden event, "Nosh Pavilions," and a "Savor South Walton Culinary Village." Over 800 different fine wines will be poured and "Tasting Seminars" will be featured. There will also be a "Craft Beer and Spirits Jam" along with live entertainment. Thursday, April 26th Winemakers, and Shakers; 5 to 7 pm. ($40). Friday, April 27th Craft Beer and Spirits Jam; 6 to 9 pm ($40). Saturday, April 28th Grand Tasting; 1 to 5 pm ($85), Sunday, April 29th Grand Tasting II; 1 to 5 pm ($85). Two-day weekend pass for both these events are $175. There are also VIP Three Day Passes for $325.

Artsquest

Arts Quest Fine Arts Festival

May 12th and 13th

Grand Boulevard at Sandestin will also be hosting the 30th annual Fine Arts Festival produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County. This two-day event will feature over 200 artists from across the nation and also have live musical entertainment. Art categories include ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, wood, watercolors, acrylics, sketches, prints, photography, metal, jewelry and mixed media. Great food and beverage options are available, and there will be a kid's ImagiNation event in Grand Park.

Digital Graffiti

Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach

May 19th thru 21st

The white walls of pristine Alys Beach provide the perfect backdrop canvas for this unique vibrantly colored event that is a one of a kind inspiration. Artists from around the world use the latest in computer simulated projection technologies to create vivid visual displays of their work. Digital submissions are received from across the United States as well as Austria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, and Italy to compete for thousands of dollars in prizes from awards. The entire village is lighted up for an enchanting light fantasy which is truly dazzling.

Friday and Saturday nights the event runs from 8 till 11 pm. Tickets on Friday night are $50 for adults and $25 for children for a self-guided tour of the lighted village with ala carte food and beverage choices. Saturday night is a VIP tour with culinary sampling delights by local chefs, wines, spirits, brews and desserts around the opulent Caliza pool Deck.  Tickets for this event are $150. Prices are subject to change.

Watercolor Film Festival

Telluride MountainFilm Festival at Watercolor

November 2nd & 3rd

Every year in early November the lovely village of Watercolor hosts a salute to the Telluride Mountain Film Festival at the Marina Park Amphitheater. Each year an acclaimed list of films are selected in Telluride, Colorado for this famous event which features films that are educational, inspirational and motivationally entertaining. Their mission is to use the power of film and art to stimulate ideas for the creation of a better world.  The two evening event over a November weekend usually opens up the grounds for guests to set up chairs and blankets around 6 pm. The films begin at 7 pm under the stars. Food and beverage venues are provided. Tickets usually go for about $50 with two day discounted tickets also available. Check mountainfilm.org for more details and ticket prices as information becomes available.

Ocean Reef Resorts welcomes your family and friends to enjoy any or all of these South Walton events throughout 2018. We have South Walton vacation rentals available nearby in Sandestin, Miramar Beach and all along Scenic 30A. See you soon!

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