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EVENT CALENDAR Plan a
SEASIDE HALF MARATHON & 5K
EVENTS
Afamily night (or day) out on the town is the perfect chance to start a new tradition when you visit Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. South Walton on Florida’s Emerald Coast is packed with a bevy of family-friendly events, festivals and holiday celebrations packed with spectacular food, one-of-akind art, live music and dazzling theater. Warm up the winter by revisiting some of your favorites dishes at the annual Sandestin Gumbo Festival, a favorite for guests and locals for three decades. As the weather warms up, venture outdoors to the Artsquest Fine Arts Festival or light up your night — and your visit — with a stop by Digital Graffiti, a dazzling showcase as original artwork is cast onto the walls of Alys Beach. Many of these annual events are hosted a free shuttle ride away at The Village of Baytowne Wharf, and other are just minutes away from the resort. So gather your family, mark your calendar and we’ll see you there.
February SANDESTIN GUMBO FESTIVAL
Find your favorite gumbo at the annual Sandestin Gumbo Festival, an event sure to warm your soul. Stroll through Baytowne Wharf while listening to live musical entertainment.
30A WINE FESTIVAL
Distinguished vintners and culinary experts descend on Alys Beach for this four-day showcase that includes wine seminars, bonfires, brunch options and croquet tournaments.
March
↑ SEASIDE HALF
MARATHON & 5K
Whether you come as a racer or spectator, you’ll enjoy this funfilled event that raises funds for the Seaside School.
April SANDESTIN WINE FESTIVAL
Uncork some fun at the 34th annual Sandestin Wine Festival. Savor wines and fine food while enjoying live music and a picture-perfect atmosphere at The Village of Baytowne Wharf.
May ARTSQUEST FINE ARTS FESTIVAL
This popular event held over Mother’s Day weekend is produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance and features more than 150 artists, live music, local food and fun throughout Grand Boulevard at Sandestin.
DIGITAL GRAFFITI
Innovative artists from around the globe use the latest technologies to project their original artwork onto the stunning alabaster
Tom & Dana Saffell enjoy the revelry at the annual Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center gala. This year’s event will be held Spring 2021.
architecture, walls and bridges throughout Alys Beach as part of a juried art competition.
OUTDOOR SUMMER CONCERTS
Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s familyfriendly outdoor summer concert series features a variety of music for all ages. Local and regional touring artists perform Motown, R&B, dance music and rock ‘n’ roll, at the Cultural Arts Village in Destin.
September SANDESTIN TRIATHLON
Come to the beach to cheer on athletes as they endure a half-mile Gulf of Mexico swim, a 20-mile bike ride along the coast and a 4-mile run through Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort’s beach and bayside community.
October BAYTOWNE BEER FESTIVAL
unique suds and ales. The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin hosts the 13th annual Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival. American specialty beers from around the nation will be available for participants to sample and savor.
BEST OF THE EMERALD COAST
The best of the best businesses from throughout the region, as determined by an Emerald Coast Magazine reader poll, will gather at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin to s howcase their award-winning food, drinks, products and services.
DESTIN SEAFOOD FESTIVAL
The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village celebrates its heritage with the 42nd annual Destin Seafood Festival that attracts thousands who enjoy fresh seafood and live entertainment all along the Destin Harbor.
EMERALD COAST CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER
OUR MEMORIES
• I grew up vacationing at the Hilton Sandestin Beach when my mom’s business had their annual conference there every summer. Personally, I have enjoyed visiting Hilton Sandestin Beach for over 20 years, but my professional relationship with them began about five years ago.
Every year, the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center hosts our gala at the Hilton Sandestin Beach, along with a couple of other more intimate events. The ECCAC had already been working with the team at Hilton Sandestin Beach for many years before I came on board. And each year during my tenure, I have had a pleasant experience working with them. It is no surprise as to why we choose to continue to have our gala there year after year.
Their staff has always been extremely friendly and accommodating. I’ve worked closely with special events manager Angela Coteat for several years, and she always goes above and beyond for us.
They cater to your needs by providing you with an “on-call” team member that is available to assist with whatever you need during the entire duration of your event. This includes while you’re setting up and breaking down as well. This particular employee is designated to ensure your event goes smoothly and that you have everything you need.
In addition to being wonderful to work with, Hilton Sandestin Beach is also extremely charitable. They are always giving back to their community and have supported the ECCAC for many years. We are extremely grateful to have their continued support. Chelsea Fox, Development Manager, Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC)
Sinfonia Gulf Coast
FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s familyfriendly, two-day signature event in Destin features nearly 200 artists from 13 states showcasing art in many media, from paintings to metal sculpture. Plus watch Plein Air artists at work, browse art by emerging and student artists, and get hands-on in the interactive Kids ArtStop station.
HARVEST WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL
Sip and savor some of the world’s finest wine and culinary selections at this three-day affair. Events include a celebrity winemaker dinner and an al fresco reserve tasting that features a library of rare vintages. The main grand tasting includes local restaurants, celebrity chefs and tasting stations featuring over 400 wines from around the world. Craft beer and spirits tents and VIP tickets also available.
November SPARKLING WINE & HOLIDAY LIGHTS
Kick off the holiday season with this annual sparkling wine and champagne event at The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Guests also enjoy live music, the first tree-lighting of the season, and the Village’s choreographed light show “12 Nights of Lights.”
BAYTOWNE ON ICE
Make memories with a visit to the iceskating rink at The Village at Baytowne Wharf, open November through February. The first hour of each day is a reserved “Kids Skate,” for children ages 12 and under.
TELLURIDE MOUNTAINFILM FESTIVAL
This three-day outdoor film festival in WaterColor showcases a selection of films from the International Film Festival that tie in with the MountainFilm mission of exploring cultures, preserving environments and promoting adventure.
December DESTIN BOAT PARADE
Gather on the Destin Harbor for live music, children’s arts and crafts, hot chocolate and a visit from jolly ol’ St. Nick during the Destin Boat Parade, followed by a spectacular fireworks display over the harbor.
BAYTOWNE COUNTDOWN
The skies above The Village of Baytowne Wharf will come alive during the annual Baytowne Countdown celebration on New Year’s Eve. A family-friendly evening, including fireworks, will be held from 6–8 p.m. Learn more about South Walton events at VisitSouthWalton.com/events.
SOCIALLEE PR & MEDIA CO
OUR MEMORIES
• The Hilton Sandestin Beach has been a founding partner of Sinfonia Gulf Coast since 2006. We have worked together on a multitude of events and partnerships over the years, and we have always enjoyed a wonderful and rewarding relationship.
Hilton Sandestin Beach has an outstanding team that transcends from top to bottom. They go above and beyond in treating us like family and taking care of our musicians and hosting guest artists such as Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone and other big-name artists.
From an event perspective, they do everything and more that we need to enable our events to be successfully produced. The banquet and event staff, the culinary team and the marketing department are wonderful and go above and beyond to accommodate us. Patrons notice this. It translates to the guests attending because they know a Sinfonia event at Hilton Sandestin Beach will be top-notch and well done. They are a remarkable entity that is community minded and supports so many aspects of our region and local nonprofits.
You cannot find a better location locally or regionally that provides the services, space, personnel and capabilities at such a high caliber. You can expect the very best because they invest in their people and their property.
