Looking for when and where to watch the Destin Harbor Fireworks? The Harborwalk Village Fireworks show is the largest display in the Destin area which means there are a lot of great viewing spot options.
This post will give you all the information and tips you need to find your perfect fireworks spot along with the entire 2024 schedule of shows. I also published our podcast episode about the 2024 fireworks here: The Good Life Destin Podcast
The Destin Harbor Fireworks show is one of the longer summer shows now, running about 9 minutes. It changes a little each year to add larger bursts, a variety of colors and shapes, and in the last few years the finale has been extended to make it even more of a spectacular display.
The Destin Harbor Fireworks are set off from a barge in the water between HarborWalk Village and the West Jetties Beach area. The best viewing spots range from the docks of Destin Harbor to the waterfront restaurants along Harborwalk Village.
They can also be seen from nearby beach areas if you want to find a quiet spot to enjoy them while avoiding the traffic and crowds at Harborwalk Village. In fact, some of the least crowded spots are the closest to the fireworks launch spot, giving you an unforgettable view.
The 6 Best Places to Watch the Destin Harbor Fireworks
This list of the 6 Best viewing spots for the Destin Harbor fireworks will help you find the perfect spot to watch them.
Let’s start with a map of the harbor area before we go in-depth about each option. This will give you an idea of the basic layout of the Destin Harbor fireworks viewing spots.
I will keep referring to the map below as I go through this article by the color coding and numbers. The approximate location of the fireworks boat is marked with a yellow star.
1. Destin Harbor Boardwalk and Harborwalk Village
The Destin Harbor Boardwalk and Harborwalk Village viewing area is the area marked in purple on the map which runs all the way from the Emerald Grande to the the Boathouse Oyster Bar on Destin Harbor.
The Destin Harbor fireworks can be seen from pretty much anywhere along the waterfront of Harborwalk Village and the Destin Harbor Boardwalk.
Some of the best Destin Harbor fireworks views are from the restaurants along Destin Harbor. If you are eating dinner at any of the waterfront restaurants in Harborwalk Village, ask for a table with a view of them.
Margaritaville and Harry T’s at Harborwalk Village both have great views of the fireworks which makes it easy to combine dinner with the fireworks show.
If you are eating at Margaritaville, walk upstairs to Landshark Landing for an even better view. They rarely serve food or drinks up here anymore, but it’s still one of the best spots in town to watch the fireworks. Arrive early to get a bar stool right on the edge.
Even restaurants and bars further down the harbor such as AJ’s, Tailfins, Dewey Destin’s, Marina Cafe, and The Boathouse have a pretty nice firework view.
Harborwalk Village now charges $20 for parking in their lot at Emerald Grande. The City of Destin has a parking lot across the street at the community center for $15 that is good for parking all day (coming and going based on availability) at the Destin Harbor city lots.
DO NOT park at nearby restaurant lots–especially not McGuires across the street. They are watching for violators and will tow you.
2. Fireworks from the Destin Bridge
The Destin Bridge viewing area is represented in blue on the map above. The Destin Marler bridge has a pedestrian walkway with a divider wall so it’s a safe place to watch from.
The fireworks view from here is beautiful and there are rarely any people up on the bridge so it offers a peaceful, uncrowded viewing environment that is relatively easy to get to.
You can park in the main parking lot at Harborwalk Village/Emerald Grande and walk from there. It is not necessary to walk far over the bridge for a great view but you will be closer to the launch spot the further you go. It only takes about 10 minutes or so to walk to the center.
You will know where they will launch by seeing all the boats gathered on the water. The launch spot is on the other side of Norriego Point from Emerald Grande.
Harborwalk charges a $20 parking fee during any time of year when there would be fireworks so you will have to pay that for this spot and for watching from Harborwalk. See more details in the Harborwalk section above.
There used to be a free parking lot closer to the launch spot on the other side of the bridge near the “Welcome to Destin” sign but that area is now permanently closed. More information on that in the section below.
Resist the urge to park in the McGuires lot or any of the parking lots surrounding Harborwalk Village for watching fireworks or anything else other than patronizing the businesses in that lot. There are tow trucks waiting around to make an easy $150 from people parking there illegally.
3. Fireworks from West Jetties Harbor Beach Area
The West Jetties beach area is represented in red on the map. You used to be able to walk out to this beach from the parking lot near the “Welcome to Destin” sign but this area has now been closed to the public.
People still arrive by boat and anchor near the shoreline here and so far I have not heard of any enforcement on this. It is the closest spot to the barge where they launch the fireworks (other then a fireworks cruise discussed below) so I am leaving this in here for the people with their own boat who want to try this at their own risk.
I watched the fireworks from a boat anchored at this beach several times last summer and for the first show this season and did not have any issue but you never know if they will get more strict about it.
It’s a shame they closed this beach area because it was such an incredible view. You could walk out on the beach and lay down on a blanket and it really felt like they were raining on you. I can’t even describe what a loss this is to our fireworks views in Destin.
The West Jetties beach is a military owned area and they had let the public use it all these years but they closed it because it was being abused. Most of the issues cited were people littering in the area and vendors illegally operating from the beach there. There is talk that the City of Destin is trying to work out a deal to re-open this area. I will keep you posted!
4. Fireworks from Norriego Point Public Beach
The Norriego Point viewing area is represented in pink on the map. Norriego Point is a white sand peninsula stretching out in the water between Destin Harbor and the East Pass that heads out to the Gulf of Mexico. It is one of the 13 public beach areas in Destin.
Norriego Point can be found by following Gulf Shore Drive off Highway 98 until it dead ends. There is a small parking lot at the end with about 10 spots but if that is full there is street parking all along the road.
*2024 update: Norriego Point parking lot is blocked off for construction of the new marina. There is street parking available on Gulf Shore Drive but it will fill up faster now, so plan to walk a bit if you are planning to watch from Norriego Point. The walk out to the beach is also longer now because they have the front sand area blocked off and a guided path around the fence. It’s still an amazing view and worth the trouble if you are up for it. The parking fee for street parking on Gulf Shore Drive is $20 for 4 hours.
When you start walking out on the sand from the parking lot, you will see a hill of sand dunes in the middle of the “island”. To the right will usually be boats that are anchored near the shore and Harborwalk Village across the water.
To your left will be a huge area of sand along the water with lifeguard stands and swimming coves. For the best fireworks viewing, set up your spot on this left side towards the water.
Every time I’m here I see people set up on the other side looking out on the water towards Harborwalk Village but the fireworks will be behind you if you do that.
Norriego Point is one of the best views you will get of the fireworks but it requires by far the most effort to get to because it’s a lot of walking through the sand depending how far out you go.
The furthest part of Norriego Point is usually right in front of the barge where they set off the fireworks. It’s worth the walk.
The location of the fireworks barge changes a little every week based on the wind speed and direction and it can be hard to determine where it is in the sea of boats out there.
You will have a good view from anywhere but if you want to be directly in front of it, look for the Southern Star or Buccaneer Pirate Ship boat and assume it’s near there. They are large, easy-to-spot boats and they usually anchor right near to the barge.
Norriego Point is in the final phase of a restoration project that started several years ago and 5 acres of beach was added to this area as part of the restoration project. This improves the fireworks view even more if you are up for walking out almost to the end.
I wrote more detail about Norriego Point and all the other public beaches in Destin here: Find your Perfect Beach: A Guide to the Public Beaches of Destin
5. Fireworks from O’Steen Beach and East Jetties
The East Jetties viewing area is represented in orange on the map. This is a nice and uncrowded spot to see the fireworks.
As you can see from the map, it’s a more of a distant view then the other spots but it’s still a pretty and peaceful place to watch from if you want to avoid the traffic in the Harborwalk and Highway 98 area but are not up for the walking required at Norriego Point.
There is still a bit of a walk through the sand to watch from here and it’s less rewarding than Norriego Point because it’s not as close, but it’s still really pretty and you might be the only people out here.
The East Jetties are located off Gulf Shore Drive but you will reach them shortly before the Norriego Point parking lot. Look for a sign on the left of Gulf Shore Drive that says “O’Steen Public Beach”. If you put that in Google Maps it will also take you there. It is street parking only and as of May 2023, City of Destin charges $20 for 4 hours at these spaces.
Walk the path from the beach access until you reach the waters edge and choose a spot anywhere along the water. I like to walk all the way to the rocks and watch from there but any spot is good if you don’t want to go out that far. The fireworks will not look as big from here but it’s a nice quiet option if you need it.
This walking time lapse video shows the walk out to O’Steen Beach. This video goes all the way to the last set of jetties but you can stop before the first set for the best fireworks view.
6. Fireworks from a Destin Harbor Boat Cruise
Fireworks cruises are a great option if you want to be on a boat right underneath them. Since the fireworks are set off from the water, this is the closest you will get to the launch spot. Most of the Fireworks cruises will start and end at the docks of Harborwalk Village and the Destin Boardwalk.
There are many companies who offer fireworks cruises on Destin Harbor. The first one I went on was with Destin Snorkel and I had a great time. I liked the unobstructed view from the smaller boat and how they took us on an informative harbor cruise before the show.
I also went on a fireworks cruise aboard the Buccaneer Pirate Ship and that was fun too. The neat thing about the Pirate Ship was how tall it is so the view was spectacular over the harbor although there are more people on the boat.
I wrote an article about my experience on a fireworks cruise with Destin Snorkel if you want more detailed information about my experience.
2024 Schedule of Destin Harbor Fireworks Shows
The Harborwalk Village Destin Harbor Summer Fireworks Shows take place every Thursday during the summer from Memorial Day through mid-August.
- ★Friday nights from March15th-April 5th 2024 at 9pm
- ★Sunday May 26th 2024 at 9pm for Memorial Day weekend
- ★Thursday nights from May 30th-Aug 8th 2024 at 9pm
- ★Thursday July 4th Fireworks 2024 at 9pm
- ★Every Saturday in October at 9pm
- ★Halloween weekend (exact date and time TBA)
- ★Sunday December 8th, 2024 following the Destin Harbor Lighted Boat Parade (time varies)
- ★Tuesday December 31st 2024 for New Years Eve Fireworks (2 Shows at 8pm and midnight)
- ★Possibly other select nights not yet announced
If you want to check out the other shows in the Destin area, I wrote all about the Baytowne Wharf Fireworks HERE and I wrote about the Okaloosa Island Boardwalk Pier Fireworks HERE.
I hope this post helps you find the perfect place to watch the Destin Harbor Fireworks show.
Be sure to comment below if you have any questions or feedback. I love hearing from you and prefer to answer questions on here so my answers can help others as well. Don’t forget to subscribe to my email list so you don’t miss any posts!
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Can anyone tell me when they consider the “summer months” for the fireworks?? We are coming May 4-11th, and wondered if we will see any fireworks
Unfortunately, you will not see fireworks during your stay. The summer fireworks will kick off on Memorial Day weekend in late May but at least you will have lighter crowds that week. It’s a good time to be here!
Is Norriego Point still under construction? Didn’t see a date on this post.
Yes, Norriego Point will be under construction for a while but so far there are usually several areas that are still open and not blocked off. People have still been out there watching fireworks
Could you tell me if Thursday July 25th or Thursday August 1st are considered summer months? We are planning our trip for either of those weeks and we would love to make it for the fireworks.
Thanks!
Where at Baytowne Wharf is the best place to see the fireworks? Is the firework work show you see at Baytowne Wharf the same show as what’s in Destin? Do you think right outside Hammerheads and on the actual pier is a good place to see them?
Good post
Hi Gary,
I just wrote a blog post about the best viewing spots for the Baytowne Fireworks. It is on the home page featured posts or: https://thegoodlifedestin.com/baytowne-wharf-fireworks-viewing-spots/ They are not set off from the water, but from right in the Village behind the arcade. I put a map in the post with the exact launch spot. So you will see them from the spot you are talking about but the lower bursts will be blocked by the buildings. Some of the lower bursts are the best part of the Baytowne Show. Also, you will likely not hear the music from there. Please let me know how the view is if you try that spot!
The Fireworks in Destin will go at least through the first week of August so both those weeks will have them!
Thank you!
Hey, I wanted to let you know that I recently watched from that spot on the pier outside Hammerheads and it was a good view. The only downfall was not hearing the music and countdown but otherwise it was a fantastic spot. I’ve updated the Baytowne article with a photo from that spot. Where to Watch the Baytowne Wharf Fireworks
Fantastic map and description of places to watch from. Thinking we may just come by boat and find a place. Thanks for your work.
Thank you! The fireworks are awesome to watch from the boat. You will see many gathered out there. I just updated this post yesterday with a few new spots, btw. Hope you enjoy the show!
The area you call the west jetties, is this Santa Rosa Beach Island aka Eglin AFB property?
Yes, but it’s not the part where you go through a gate. You park at the parking lot under the Destin sign and walk out. They have recently said you should have a permit to go out there but no one has enforced it yet
Congratulations Sarah. Really good job. Thank you for your help..
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Will they still be going off on Thursday, August 20th?
Unfortunately the last summer show was Thursday August 13th
Great Destin info. Visiting Sept 6 thru the 10th, 2021. What are the adventures still open? Interested in Dolphin watching, boat cruises, water parks and fireworks. Appreciate any help or ideals for family of 5 adults.
Dolphin cruises and waterspouts stuff will still be open. The water park is closed during the week at that time and there will not be any fireworks that week. Even though there is not as much going on that week, you will enjoy the lower crowds and beautiful beach weather
hello I loved everything you put, I have never seen something so detailed, I only have one question on July 4, 2022 the fireworks are at 9pm
Hello! Thanks for all the detail information. I’m traveling to Destin may 28-30 for Memorial Day/birthday weekend and was wondering if there are any fireworks for this year? Also, has jetty beach opened up? Thank you! 😁
There will be fireworks on the Sunday night May 29th at Harborwalk, Baytowne and Okaloosa Island.The west Jetty beach has no plans to reopen unfortunately. It’s a permanent closure.
I’m glad you found it helpful. Yes 9pm
Hi there – we are staying at the Henderson Beach Resort for 4th July – what will be our best option for fireworks …… We would love to just walk along the beach and get close to some but dont know if thats possible 🙂
You can see them from the rooftop bar at the Henderson looking west but it’s pretty small and far away from there. Your best bet would be to go to Norriego Point if you want to watch from a beach or go watch the Baytowne Wharf Fireworks but they are about equal distances either direction and require a car. There’s not going to be a big show to see from that beach however plenty of people will be illegally shooting their own fireworks around there I would imagine. There’s a spectacular July 3rd show just a few blocks away at the Commons though. Here’s my post about the July 4th holiday with all the different options: https://thegoodlifedestin.com/4th-of-july-in-destin/
I have absolutely loved reading your blogs and looking at your pics! It has helped me plan each day of our trip while we are in Destin. I even ordered your books from Amazon. Quick question about which fireworks boat tour you recommend. We are lucky enough to be in Destin the week of July 4th so we can do a boat tour for fireworks on the 4th or on the Thursday. One day we will watch from the boat on Destin Snorkel an the other day watch from the Boardwalk. Do you have a recommendation or preference? Do you think we would miss out on music/festivities landside one night vs the other if we are out on the boat vs amongst the action in Harborwalk Village?
Definitely do the boat tour on the Thursday night. The Thursday night ones are shot from a barge on the water, so it’s great from a boat cruise. The July 4th ones are done by the City of Destin and they are shot from the West Jetties beach, so the boat cruise can’t get quite as close to them. Also, unless something changes this year, the July 4th ones are not as big as the Thursday ones. It’s a longer show but not quite the wow factor of the Thursday show. I’m not sure where you are staying but there’s also the Wednesday night fireworks at the pier on the 5th, the BBQ fest ones at the Commons on the 3rd, and also Baytowne Wharf has a BIG show on the 4th. So, depending how much driving you are willing to do, you have the option of 4 different shows from Monday-Thursday that week. It’s a heavy traffic time in town though so if you are sticking close to Harborwalk, do the boat cruise on the Thursday and the Harborwalk festivities stuff on the 4th. Have fun!
Do you have any suggestions for the very last week in August, specifically August 26 through September 2, 2023 of things to see or do? It seems like we miss most of the action during this week and there’s not much activity during this week; but, I’m hoping you may have ideas for us even if we have to travel slightly out of the Destin/Miramar Beach area. Thank you in advance!
I read your (Destin) fireworks post twice and didn’t see the starting time? Thanks!!
Thank you for letting me know. I definitely meant to put the time and I will update it. The Harborwalk summer shows are at 9pm!
There are not many events that week and the only fireworks show around that time is September 3rd. However, it’s a great time to be here with the lower crowds. The new edition of my Destin guide book is coming out soon. Make sure you are signed up for my email list to be notified. That will be a full color book with lots of ideas!
Hi! Thanks for all your tips! Will we be able to see the Destin and Ft Walton fireworks from the Surf dweller condos on Okaloosa Island? I know it will be great to see the ones of the pier but I am curious about the other spots as well.
Thanks
Hi Lori, you would only see the pier fireworks from that beach. You might see a tiny glimpse of the Destin ones but they are way off in the distance–very small. However your view of the pier fireworks from the beach there will be amazing!