Posted on 6/12/2015
The heartwarming memories of tomorrow are always created today. Cherishing bright magical moments in time with your loved ones is what life is all about. Certainly the most wonderful memories usually occur during major holidays, on special trips with friends, or on fun family vacations. Ocean Reef Resorts has the next wonderful memory waiting for you here in Destin and along the Emerald Coast over the upcoming July 4th 2015 holiday weekend. Many of our loyal guests have made a traditional journey here every year for the celebration of our nation's birth. It is not a surprise to us since there are so many cherished memories to be had along our beach.
A Destin July 4th 2015 experience runs the whole gamut from nostalgic charming village outings with old fashioned games and BBQ around a town green, to free live concerts under the stars in outdoor amphitheaters, to fabulous firework displays over the water just about everywhere! Since Ocean Reef Resorts has distinctive private vacation rentals everywhere along the Emerald Coast you may pick whichever "memory setting" you wish to choose from.
If you want to have an "in town" happening Destin's Harborwalk Village has a number of festivities planned to help America celebrate the 239th year of her birth. This "village" is located right on the Destin harbor which is home to the largest private charter fishing fleet in the Gulf of Mexico. It is the original heart and soul of Destin where fresh caught fish are unloaded daily on the docks by the lucky charter Captains along with their adventurous angler guests. Pontoon party boat rentals, jet skis, fishing charters, dolphin sunset cruise and large sailing schooners are also readily available. Our complimentary Reef Rewards program provides special discounts for many of these venues for our guests. Restaurants, retail shops and fun lively waterside bars with open decks are in abundance here. This creates an all inclusive fun festive atmosphere in an idyllic harbor village setting.
The Harborwalk Village July 4th 2015 festivities kick off on Thursday July 2nd at 7:00 pm billed as their Red, White and Blue Hero's Fireworks Show. Actually this event is a weekly occurrence each and every Thursday throughout the summer season. Vintage WW II fighter planes buzz the skies above doing barrel rolls and loops with aerial displays of smoke marking their trails. This occurs late in the day punctuated by fireworks over the harbor after dusk. The nation's big birthday event this year occurs on Saturday July 4th from 5:00 to 10:00 pm which they are billing as a Fourth of July Extravaganza! Preceding this truly awesome pyrotechnic display you can enjoy bopping around the shops, restaurants and friendly bars that line the street. Free live musical entertainment will be performed on the Main Stage starting at 5:00 pm. You may watch boats with parties of revelers slowly gather to anchor out in "East Pass" nearby in anticipation of the celebration. A small sea of light may be seen from the glistening lighted boats as it gets dark. The fireworks are truly a sight to behold since it is choreographed to music that blasts from the sound system and they provide a vivid display in the sky that is mirrored in the glassy waters of the harbor.
If a charming French Quarter New Orleans inspired, colonial village on the bay is more to your liking you may want to experience The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin. This fairytale community is kind of a bay version of the Destin's Harborwalk Village. Here in this exclusively gated resort the activity is centered near the Sandestin Marina where you will see giant boats and yachts anchored on behalf of their owners for personal use. However wave runners, kayaks and some other watercraft are available for rent.
The 2015 Red White and Baytowne July 4th celebration starts late Saturday afternoon. Baytowne is accustomed to hosting free festivities for the public throughout the year especially during the summer season. "Sunday Cinema" is held every week where family friendly movies are shown under the stars at the Events Plaza while theatergoers sit on blankets or lawn chairs to watch them. Their "Hydro Flight Mondays" include a guy performing three shows featuring his Aqua show and going airborne over the lagoon. "Booming Tuesdays" includes a fireworks show. Wednesday night is their Concert Series with live musical performances around the green from 7:00 to 9:00pm. Magical Thursdays is done at the Events Plaza as well with magic shows from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The "Red White and Baytowne" celebration begins on Saturday July 4th beginning at 7:00 pm. There will be face painting, crafts for kids, lawn games and inflatable amusements provided throughout the day. Soul Track Mind will be performing a live musical concert at 7:00 pm. The amazing fireworks birthday celebration will start at 9:15 and may be seen from the green, the bridges that cross over the lagoon in the village, and from the long wharf that juts way out into the bay.
Further down along Scenic Highway 30A, holiday events are more laid back and perfect for experiencing an old fashioned Fourth of July in a picturesque small town setting. Many adults may be whisked back to warm childhood memories of their own as they create new wonderful memories for their children. The main nostalgic celebrations occur in Seaside and Rosemary Beach on July 4th.
Iconic Seaside was one of the first pedestrian friendly pre-planned communities built in the United States which ushered in the New Urbanism movement and is world famous for this reason. Seaside was completed in the 1980s to look like a small "seaside" town from the 1880s. It comes complete with white picket fences, arbors, mini parks, quaint cottages and lovely homes with Americana styled shopping venues nearby. "The Truman Show", a fantasy comedy satire starring Jim Carey and Laura Linney, was filmed here on location here a few years ago. Today this unique town is well known for wonderful art galleries, specialized boutiques, friendly bars, restaurants of all kinds and seasonal festivals. Seaside kicks things off Saturday morning at 8:00 with the annual Seaside Independence Day Parade. This charming "small town" parade starts at Seagrove Plaza and travels down Scenic 30A and ends at Seaside. The Stars & Stripes Seaside Celebration takes place at the outdoor amphitheater in the center of town. Families and friends gather picnic style on the lawn early to enjoy this event which is quite an experience. This year a concert will be held by The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra who will be performing a patriotic pops ensemble with multiple medleys prior to the amazing fireworks finale.
The Colonial Dutch Indies were the inspiration for the creation of Rosemary Beach which is at the very far eastern point of Scenic Highway 30A near our Ocean Reef Seacrest Beach office and was established only ten years ago. You would never know this town was so new since this Dutch colonial looking community looks like it has been here for a couple of hundred years. Parts of the village look like you are actually somewhere in a beautiful part of Europe due to the architectural style. This is especially true where one of the lanes meanders down the dune to the gulf from a Village Hall and around the long grassy lawn at Barrett Square.
Rosemary Beach will be hosting a fun full day of events since Independence Day festivities kick off early here on Saturday at 7:30 am for the July 4th Bike Parade. Bring your own bicycle or rent one to attend this annual parade on bikes which begins at 8:45 am. Prizes will be awarded for the Best Decorated Bike. The Family Field Day goes from 9:00 to 11:00 am on the Barrett Square Lawn with three legged as well as potato sack races, hula hoop and water balloon toss contests. Live music will be played throughout the day by various bands. There will be lots of stuff for the kids with airbrush tattoos, balloon animals and a chance to have a "Moon Walk." A lawn Barbeque will go from 5 to 6 pm which will be the old fashioned type with tickets available at $20 for adults and $10 for kids under 13. Their patriotic musical concert will start on the Western Green at 8:30 and be performed which will be followed by an exciting fireworks display.
Check out our Ocean Reef Resorts website to find your perfect Destin vacation rental for a memorable July 4th 2015 holiday vacation. Reservations fill up quickly this time of year so don't procrastinate too long. Begin today to plan having some wonderful times that will create precious memories for you and yours tomorrow. Happy Birthday America!
