It’s official – the month of May is festival month. GatorFest, LakeFest, Fine Arts Fest…so many fests! Plus Mother’s Day, and more. Check out our favorite activity picks in the Destin 30A May events roundup below!
Huck & Lilly Kids Music Performance – Seaside
Tuesdays and Thursdays all month
From their website: “Join Huck & Lilly for a fun-filled evening of characters and music for kids and the grown-ups who love them! Tuesdays & Thursdays at 6:00 PM in the Seaside Amphitheater, weather permitting.”
Central Square Cinema Movie Nights – Seaside
Every Friday May 3 through May 31
From their website: “Grab your blankets & chairs and head to the Seaside Amphitheater for a family movie under the stars. The movie begins at 8:00 PM, weather permitting.
Amphitheater Movie Schedule:
May 3: Up
May 10: Elemental
May 17: Migration
May 24: The Lego Movie
May 31: Moana”
Free.
GatorFest – Destin
May 4
From their website: “Join us for an unforgettable day of Gator-filled fun at Fudpucker’s Beachside Bar & Grill GatorFest 2024! Mark your calendars for May 4th, 2024, because this is one event you won’t want to miss. Celebrating Gator Beach, this fun filled GatorFest events includes: Gator Food Cooking Contest, Gator Shows, Vendor Booths, Alcohol Tasting, Kid’s Activities… and more!”
Wristbands are required for participation, and cost $15 for guests under 21 or younger, and $40 for adults 21+, covering access to food, drinks, and various activities. GATORFEST 2024 not only promises a day of enjoyment and learning about gators but also supports the Alaqua Animal Refuge’s Wildlife Center, making it a fun charity event for the whole family.
Here’s a family-friendly art show for the Destin 30A May events roundup list! From their website: “Attendees can look forward to art demonstrations, a CAA member gallery featuring many artists from The Foster Gallery, a Walton County student exhibit, a special exhibit from the CAA’s Prison Art program, an interactive public art installation, Silent Auction, continuous live music and entertainment, and “ImagiNation: where kids rule.” Continuing this year is the popular Art on Demand Live series featuring educational sessions throughout the weekend. Interested participants may register for these sessions on the Cultural Arts Alliance website in advance of the event.”
$5 “donation” can be made at the entry gate.
Mother’s Day Celebration at AJ’s – Grayton Beach
May 5
From their website: “Treat Mom to the Ultimate Mother’s Day celebration at AJ’s Grayton Beach! Join us for a fabulous Sunday Brunch experience complete with bottomless mimosas, live music, and our famous crawfish boil. Show your gratitude and love through day of delicious food, great tunes, and wonderful company. Enjoy live music by Will & Linda starting at 12pm, followed by Sunday Crawfish Boil at 12pm! Brunch will be served from 11am to 3pm, with the awesome tunes of The Pickled Pickers band kicking off at 5pm!“
Music included with your meal.
From their website: “LakeFest is an annual festival in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, celebrating safe, recreational activities for the entire family on the water and banks of beautiful Lake DeFuniak, one of the world’s rare, naturally round spring-fed lakes. The 2024 event is comprised of a fish fry, kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, toy duck hunts, hilarious Cardboard Boat Races, and the thrill of watching hydro-flight athletes performing for the crowds. There will be live entertainment, waterslides, a dunking booth, and many other activities in the Kids Zone, a variety of food and merchandise vendors, educational vendors, and exhibits, and the 2024 LakeFest Car Show “Under the Oaks” sponsored by Krewe de Yak. The 2024 program will include overnight primitive camping for those who sign up in advance for an event or who are vendors, sponsors, and educational booth hosts. Personal paddle crafts welcomed! Paddle crafts will need to be unloaded and the vehicle removed from the Lakeyard by 8:30 a.m.“
Free. Canoe and kayaks will be available to rent. The fee is $10.00 per 1/2 hour. A hold harmless form must be signed by the renter. All Lucky Ducks on the water must be turned in at the canoe and kayak rental booth. Only one duck per person. All winners must be present to win and winners will be announced at the amphitheater at 2:15 p.m after the car show winning results.
Junior Ranger Jamboree – Niceville
May 18
From the Florida State Parks website: “Participants will be able to sign up to be a Junior Ranger. Junior Rangers will be able to complete CORE packet to receive a patch
Stations or event will be set up for Junior Rangers to earn passport stamps
Participants will know what events are coming up in their local parks.”
Park entry fee is $5 per vehicle. Event takes place at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park.
From their website: “30A’s 9th annual Locals Last Stand party will be held Sunday, May 19, 2024, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the The Pavilion at Watersound Town Center, located at 85 Origins Main Street, Inlet beach, Florida. The event is your one last chance to enjoy some community fun before the mad dash of the summer season kicks off.“
The concert is FREE and open to the public, and locals and visitors are invited to grab a lawn chair or blanket and come celebrate this rain-or-shine event. Local food trucks, Taco30A, and Soo Trucking Delicious, and vendors will be on-site to provide refreshments.
Movie Monday at Baytowne Wharf – Destin
May 20
From their website: “Grab a lawn chair or blanket and cozy up on the Events Plaza Lawn for a featured film on the big screen!” The May 20th movie is SCOOB!
Free.
Burning Up The Beaches Car Show – Destin Commons
May 22-23
Burning Up The Beaches is a fun-filled weekend with gearheads from all over the United States. Participating attendees will enjoy two days of events and showing off their cars on the sugar-white beaches of Destin and Fort Walton Beach. In past years, there were car cruises, live entertainment, raffle baskets and 50/50 tickets.
Free for spectators. All funds raised during Burning Up The Beaches weekend will support The Arc of the Emerald Coast’s mission to provide a path from disability to capability.
Memorial Day Celebration at Baytowne Wharf – Destin
May 25+26
From their website: “Kick off your summer during our Memorial Day Celebration at The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Enjoy LIVE music all weekend! Plus on Sunday enjoy activities for the kids and a fireworks show at 9:00pm!”
Free.
