Events
January
Annual Mardi Gras on the Island Festival and
Parade
Usually held near the end of January
850-244-8191
The Magical Mardi Gras Ball kicks off a fun-filled weekend on Okaloosa Island.
The festival includes live music and entertainment, food and craft vendors and
kid’s activities. The parade usually has over 70 floats.
Martin Luther King
Memorial Celebration
Fort Walton Beach Civic
Auditorium
Usually held mid-January
850-243-2786
This three day event features a memorial program, a parade and a rally.
Potters Invitational
ADSO Gallery
Usually held late January through late February
850-244-1271
Local potters are invited to participate in an exhibit.
March
25th Annual Fine Arts
Show
Creative Senior Community Center
Usually held mid-March
850-833-9586
12th Annual Archaeology
Day
Indian Temple Mound Museum
Usually held mid-March
850-833-9595
An open house is held at
the museum.
April
Scout-O-Rama
NW Florida Fairgrounds
Usually held early April
850-683-0330
Sponsored by the Boy Scouts, the event features kid’s activities, displays and
demonstrations throughout the day.
Musical Echoes
Ft. Walton Beach
Usually held in late April
850-243-4405
Annual event features music and dance performances by Native American artists,
seminars on flute making and playing, and an outdoor market with Native American
art, beadwork, clothing and more.
Emerald Coast Boat Show
Ft. Walton Beach
Usually held in mid-May
800-940-7642
The annual event at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island
offers excitement for boaters and anglers of all ages. The show features over
400 types of boats, a vast selection of marine accessories, fishing clinics and
kid’s activities.
June
Sprint Billy Bowlegs
Pirate Festival and Torchlight Parade
Fort Walton Beach Landing
Usually held early June
850-244-8191
Festival features food vendors, arts and crafts fair, music and entertainment
and fireworks display. Parade rolls north on Eglin Parkway from 2nd Street in
Fort Walton Beach.
September
Annual Photography/Digital Arts Exhibition
Usually held early September – mid-October
Location: Ft. Walton Beach
850-244-1271
Arts and Design Society of Fort Walton Beach presents a judged competition of
photography and digital art.
October
NW Florida Fair and Fine
Arts Show
NW Florida Fairgrounds
Usually held late October
850-862-0211
Family event featuring carnival rides, games, food and fun.
Sandollar Motorcycle
Club Pumpkin Run
Liza Jackson Park
Usually held late October
850-244-0376
Join the fun ride across NW Florida and a chance to win lots of prizes in this
charity poker run.
November
St Simon's 2004 Arts and
Crafts Fair
Usually held early November
850-862-5685
The event features over 100 local and regional vendors.
42nd Annual Camellia
Show
Usually held mid-November
850-651-0385
Exhibitors from several states in the southeast compete for prizes in various
categories. Plants are available for sale.
World's Greatest Baby
Shower
NW Florida Fairgrounds
Usually held mid-November
850-833-9284
Pregnant women and new parents of children up to 3 months old are invited to
visit display booths on prenatal health, well baby care, parenting,
immunizations and more.
December
Jingle Bell Run 5K/10K
Fort Walton Beach
Usually held early December
850-863-4238
Christmas on Main Street
Usually held early December
Downtown Fort Walton Beach
850-664-6246
Enjoy breakfast with Santa, a merchant open house, Christmas tree lighting,
lighted boat parade and more.
Community Chorus
Christmas Production
Fort Walton Beach Civic
Auditorium
Usually held mid-December
850-651-3563
The Fort Walton Beach Community Chorus presents their annual Christmas
production.
Eggnog Jog
Fort Walton Beach
850-863-4238
Usually held mid-December
5K race.
Arts and Entertainment
First Arts
United Methodist Church
103 First Street
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32578
850-243-9292
First Arts is a program of concerts, performing
arts, and visual art events sponsored by the First United Methodist Church, Fort
Walton Beach. The concert series is aimed at bringing quality, affordable
entertainment for the entire family to the Fort Walton Beach area and the
surrounding communities. Programs have varied from chamber music to mime.
Northwest Florida Ballet
310 Perry Avenue Southeast
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549
800-664-7787
Founded in 1969 by Bernadette Clements, the
Northwest Florida Ballet is one of the longest running arts organizations in
Northwest Florida. The Northwest Florida Ballet is a semi-professional company
that provides cultural enrichment for communities throughout Northwest Florida.
The company presents many outstanding dance productions each season including
the family favorite, The Nutcracker, classics such as Giselle and Cinderella and
mixed repertory programs with live music. During the spring, the ballet packs up
its stage and presents free outdoor performances in area parks which are very
popular with the public.
Stage Crafters Community Theatre
Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium on Highway 98
850-243-1101
Stage Crafters is one of the area's oldest
community theaters. It was formed in 1972 and has grown steadily in quality and
audience appeal. A season consists of four shows, which usually include a
musical, a drama, a farce, and a romance or mystery.
