Everything You Need to Know About the Destin Seafood Festival

Published on August 31, 2018 On Henderson Park Inn Features

Destin, FL is nicknamed “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village”, and our city’s good fortune will be on full display at the Destin Seafood Festival! Held at the beginning of October, this annual tradition features delicious freshly caught seafood from the Gulf of Mexico and wonderful live entertainment. To help you make the most of your fall vacation, we have put together a guide to everything you need to know about attending the Destin Seafood Festival when you stay at the Henderson Park Inn.

When and Where

The Destin Seafood Festival will take place from October 5 – 7, 2018. Here is the schedule for the three-day event:

Friday, October 5th: 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday, October 6th: 10 a.m – 10 p.m.
Sunday, October 7th: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

All of the fun will take place at the Destin Harbor Boardwalk, located on Harbor Boulevard (Highway 98) in Destin. The Boardwalk is just a 12-minute drive from the Henderson Park Inn. Parking will be available at Heron Harbor, the HarborWalk Village, the Destin Community Center, and the Destin Fishing Museum. There will also be a $2.00 per person shuttle service from Big Kahuna’s Water Park and the Emerald Coast Centre (Bealls Plaza).

Admission

Admission to the Destin Seafood Festival is totally free! There will, however, be many opportunities to spend money on all of the mouthwatering food and drinks at the festival.

The Festival also offers special VIP passes that include private seating and unlimited complimentary food and refreshments. To purchase a VIP pass, visit the official Destin Seafood Festival website.

What to Expect at the Destin Seafood Festival

The Destin Seafood Festival is one of the most popular annual events on the Emerald Coast. Around 70,000 people are expected to attend the festival! The highlight of the event is, of course, the incredible selection of fresh seafood. Whether you’re in the mood for shrimp, lobster, grouper, crab cakes, crawfish, or even paella, you will love sampling some of the Florida Panhandle’s signature dishes. Many of Destin’s best restaurants participate in the festival, including Harry T’s Lighthouse, Jackacuda’s Seafood & Sushi, AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar, and Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer.

In addition to all of the amazing food, the Seafood Festival also features live entertainment, arts and crafts, and fireworks.

Entertainment Schedule for the Destin Seafood Festival

The Destin Seafood Festival will have four stages with live music and entertainment! Here is the lineup for the festival’s main stage:

Friday, October 5th

4:00 p.m. Sound Garden
6:00 p.m. Group Therapy
8:00 p.m. Allman Goldflies Band

Saturday, October 6th

12:00 p.m. Stone Ball Jackers
2:00 p.m. Three Bean Soup
4:00 p.m. Fuzzy Jones
6:00 p.m. Emerald Gold
8:00 p.m. Night Tripper

Sunday, October 7th

12:00 p.m. Faus Do Do
2:00 p.m. Moos Bros

Where to Stay in Destin

When you stay at the Henderson Park Inn, you will be just a short drive away from all of the fun at the Destin Seafood Festival. Voted the most romantic hotel in the United States by both the users of About.com and TripAdvisor.com, our adults only inn is a popular destination for honeymoons, anniversaries, and other couples getaways. To start planning your romantic escape, browse our selection of Destin hotel rooms.