With the new year just days away, it's time to plan for new adventures! The local activities and events along the Emerald Coast make planning all the more fun. January has some festive happenings that are fun for the whole family. We hope you get to take some time to enjoy new experiences, in new places, with new people this coming year. Check out some of the happenings along the Emerald Coast and plan a visit. If you're lucky enough to be local – enjoy them all!
FESTIVALS & HAPPENINGS:
Pajamas All Day
When: January 1st
Where: Stinky's Fish Camp
Description: Stinky's Fish Camp invites you to ease into 2023 at their Pajamas All Day event. Show up to Stinky's on New Years Day in your PJ'S and receive a free mimosa. Be sure to stink around for their famous Sunday Brunch featuring delicious food, great drinks, and live music. New Years Day hours: 10 AM to 9 PM!
Stinky's brunch is served all day and with live music in the house from 11:30am til 2:30pm! Try a house made bloody mary with fresh pickled okra, green beans and even a shrimp! Brunch is offered from 10:00 a.m. til 3:00 p.m. every Sunday in addition to the regular lunch menu.
When: January 1st
Where: Henderson Beach State Park
Description: Join Henderson Beach State Park for the 6th Annual Turtle Plunge. Challenge your friends to take the plunge in their most creative, fun and unique costumes on Sunday, January 1st. Registration begins at 8AM. Plunge in to the Gulf of Mexico at 11AM. Enjoy some light refreshments provided by the Friends of Emerald Coast State Parks while listening to live music. First 100 plungers that register will receive a free 16th Annual Turtle Plunge T-shirt!
Pre- Registration Fee is $25.00. Reserve your spot here! Day of registration fee is $30.00 and will open at 8:00AM and closes promptly at 10:00AM. All plungers must fill out a waiver prior to plunging. Please plan accordingly if you plan to register the day of the event as the waiver will need to be signed.
When: January 1st
Where: Ed Walline Beach Access
Description: Make a splash on New Year's Day! The South Walton Fire District in conjunction with Shunk Gulley will host the annual Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day at Ed Walline Beach Access.
Registration starts at 11am at Shunk Gulley. $20 to register. Children 12 years old and under are FREE! Every participant gets a T-shirt with their entry fee. Funds collected at the event will benefit community education and fire prevention activities such as free CPR courses and fire prevention materials.
SWFD Annual Polar Bear Plunge
11AM @ Shunk Gulley || In-person sign-up
12PM @ Shunk Gulley || Costume Contest
1PM @ Ed Walline Beach Access || Plunge
Join in Shunk Gulley for an after plunge celebration on the green space with live music and a costume contest. Food and drink specials will be offered by Shunk Gulley for all "plungers".
When: January 7th
Where: The Village of Baytowne Wharf
Description: The Village of Baytowne Wharf invites you to experience some winter magic on Saturday, January 7 from 9am-12-pm. The Event Plaza is turning into a Winter Wonderland full of real snow! Slide down an ice slide, make snow angels, and enjoy a day of frosty fun for the whole family. Bundle up and bring out the whole family for a day of frosty fun.
13th Annual Swamp Writers Festival
When: January 11-15th
Where: Stinky's Bait Shack
Description: The 13th annual Swamp Writers Festival will take place January 11th - January 15th, 2023. Join in the fun as Stinky's Bait Shack hosts live music from 3PM - midnight all weekend long. Follow Stinky's Bait Shack on Facebook for a complete list of musicians/times. No tickets and no cover!
Swamp Writers Music Festival
Jan. 11 || 5PM - 11PM
Jan. 12 - 15 || 3PM - 12PM
Featured Artists Include:
Dead Clampitt, Duke Bardwell, Dave Jordan, The Steenos, Forrest Williams Band, Sugarcane Jane, Sarah Jean Kelly, Tim Jackson's Storytellers Tour, Big Daddy O, TKO, and The Pickled Pickers.
When: January 13-16th
Where: 30AFest Headquarters
Description: The 14th annual 30A SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL is set for January 13-16 2023. The festival, held in venues along Scenic Highway 30A in Florida's South Walton County, is the perfect mix of cool beach weather and red-hot music on MLK holiday weekend each year. More than 175 artists perform in this truly wonderful weekend of music. Artists will perform multitudes of live performances in intimate venues and large amphitheaters throughout South Walton.
For more information on the 30A Songwriters Festival, including announcements of artists, venues, and ticket information, visit www.30asongwritersfestival.com.
The 30A Songwriters Festival is a unique cultural event bringing together nearly every South Walton community and many businesses to showcase Walton County as a destination not only for its beautiful beaches but also for its creative excellence. The multi-day music festival occurs annually in January over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. 100% of the Festival's net proceeds benefit the CAA and enable them to continue to be a champion for the arts in Walton County.
FOLLOW 30A Songwriters Festival #30AFest
Facebook: 30A Songwriters Festival
Twitter: @30AFest
Instagram: @30AFest
When: January 14th
Where: Biophilia Center
Description: The Biophilia Center will host a Birds & Brews event on Saturday, January 14th from 11AM - 3PM. While sipping on cold brews, attendees can enjoy food trucks, yard games, trivia and more. 21+ admission. More information and ticket purchases here!
Biophilia Members receive a 10% discount. Admission includes souvenir cup & 6 drink tickets. Sober driver tickets includes souvenir cup and one mocktail ticket.
Call the sitter and fly on over for some local craft beers served by Odd Pelican Beer Company, Props, Bayou Brewing Co, Salty Oak, Oyster City, Southern Fields, Strange Colt, and more!
The E.O.Wilson Biophilia Center is a nature preserve in Freeport, Florida. The Center's mission is to educate on the importance of biodiversity, to promote sustainability, and to encourage conservation, preservation, and restoration of ecosystems. To learn more and become a member, go to eowilsoncenter.org and visit E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center on Facebook.
Italian Kings Wine Dinner
When: January 19th
Where: The Courtyard at Pescado
Description: The Courtyard at Pescado in Rosemary Beach will host an Italian Kings 4-course wine dinner paired with Lux Wines and menu by Chef Preston Trott on January 19, 2023 at 6:30PM.
$155.00 per person plus 7% tax and 22% gratuity. Tickets available at rooftop30a.com.
The Courtyard at Pescado, located underneath the widely popular Pescado • Seafood Grill and Rooftop Bar in Rosemary Beach overlooking the Gulf of Mexico is open for guests 18 and older. Seating is first come, first serve.
When: January 21st
Where: HarborWalk Village
Description: High School Bands across Northwest Florida battle to be the Best of the West on the HarborWalk Village Main Stage! Don’t miss a day full of performances by talented, local high school jazz bands!
Current 2023 Competitors:
- Choctawhatchee High School
- Milton High School
- Tate High School
- Leon High School
- Pace High School
When: January 26th
Where: Bijoux
Description: Kick off Crescendo! 2023 in style at Bijoux, located at The Market Shops, on Thursday, January 22 at 11AM. Enjoy an incredible lunch prepared by award-winning chef/co-owner Jack McGuckin, sip elegant wines, indulge in delectable desserts, shop all of the must-have accessories of the season from The Jewel, door prizes and raffle items, plus much more. Tickets are $150 per person and include lunch, wine and gratuities.
Tickets for all Crescendo! 2023 events are now on sale. For more information or to purchase tickets for Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s Crescendo! events, visit sinfoniagulfcoast.org
Ellie Biscuit 20 & 10-Mile Trail Trot
When: January 28th
Where: Point Washington Trail Head
Description: The Ellie Biscuit 20 & 10-mile Trail Trot will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023, starting and finishing at the Point Washington State Forest Eastern Lake trailhead off of CR-395S.
Beginning at 7:00 a.m., the 10-miler will consist of a single loop of the 10-mile course, with the 20-miler consisting of two laps of the 10-mile loop. For those that prefer to run with a friend, there is also a 2-person relay option with each runner knocking out 10 miles. Awards given to the men’s and women’s winners from each distance.
10% of the gross proceeds from registration will be going to 30A Trails, a local 501(c)(3) that is on a mission to meaningfully connect people with trails to engage their physical and spiritual lives, while promoting and preserving each trails’ natural character and beauty.
When: January 28th
Where: The Village of Baytowne Wharf
Description: The annual Pink Walk benefiting Fore Her returns in 2023! Pink Walk & 5K is back and better than ever!
Save the Date - January 28, 2023 at The Village of Baytowne Wharf
Walk or run with your friends and family. Wear your PINK and have fun while raising funds for breast cancer patients in financial need.
Wear your best PINK ensemble while supporting breast cancer patients on the Emerald Coast. The 5K begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by the Survivors' Stroll, after party, awards, prizes and more!
Proceeds from this event will benefit Fore Her, which provides financial assistance to local breast cancer patients.
Baytowne On Ice @ The Village of Baytowne Wharf
Every Day | Hours Vary Daily
Melodies & Mimosas @ HarborWalk Village
Every Sunday | 2-4PM
Live Music @ North Beach Social
Every Tuesday | 5-8PM
Every Saturday | 12-3PM
Farmer's Markets
Every Thursday @ The Big Chill on 30A
Every Saturday @ Seaside, Grand Boulevard, Watersound & Baytowne
Every Sunday @ Rosemary Beach & Hammock Bay
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