The Sparkling Wine and Holiday Lights Festival takes place every year at the Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, on a Saturday in late November. In 2026 — the festival’s 14th year — it takes place on Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 4:00–6:00 pm.
The Sparkling Wine and Holiday Lights event at the Village of Baytowne Wharf is an evening full of holiday spirit, delicious appetizers, and of course, sparkling wine.
This is one of the festivals that I never miss. It’s such a magical way to kick off the Christmas season in Destin.
Late November is a bit early to be thinking about Christmas for some people but not for me. I start thinking about Christmas in July so I enjoy having a holiday event before Thanksgiving to get in the spirit.
The Sparkling Wine and Holiday Lights Festival takes place on the beautifully decorated streets of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin.
There’s a special magic about walking around Baytowne at night. It’s quaint, colorful and contained with plenty to see and do.
This magical atmosphere of Baytowne Wharf makes it the perfect backdrop for holiday events, and especially this one where the addition of holiday lights and Christmas decorations adds even more beautiful ambiance.
Food and Wine at the Baytowne Sparkling Wine Festival
Your Sparkling Wine and Holiday Lights event ticket includes tastings of more than 30 champagnes and delicious appetizers from featured Baytowne Wharf Village restaurants.
The food and wine is spread out around the Village with each stop having a table with either an appetizer item or several wine options to try.
Ticket holders at the event will receive a festival guide at the entrance with a map of all the stops around the Village and details about each menu item available.
They will also be given a wristband and an engraved keepsake champagne glass to have refilled at the various merchant stops around the Village.
Participating restaurants serving appetizers include Slick Lips Seafood and Oyster House, Poppy’s Seafood Restaurant, Marlin Grill, Hartell’s Diner, and many others.
Menu items in past years have included Swedish Meatballs & Crab Bites from Rum Runners, Caprese Skewers from Robertos, BBQ Gulf Shrimp and Grits from Poppy’s Crazy Lobster, the award winning Gumbo from Slick Lips, and Key Lime Pie Bites from Hammerheads, among other things.
Tickets to the Baytowne Sparkling Wine Festival can be purchased in advance on the event website for $75, or $85 on the day of the event. Your wristband allows for unlimited tastings during the 2-hour event so you can even try your favorites twice.
Sparkling Wine and Holiday Lights is one of Destin’s most popular events but Baytowne has an attendance cap on it to keep the lines from being long.
The years I have been, most of the lines were only a few people deep at the most but sometimes a little more for the most popular stops. At the most I waited only a few minutes for each.
Baytowne Holiday Lights at the Sparkling Wine Festival
There will be holiday decor all around the Village to enjoy while you stroll around the Village, and the festival ends with the Nights of Lights show — Baytowne’s choreographed light show around its new Christmas tree, which then runs nightly throughout December.
Get your tickets early for the Sparkling Wine and Holiday Lights events because it almost always sells out well ahead of the event day. I have actually never seen a year when tickets are still available on the event day.
About Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin
The Village of Baytowne Wharf is located within the gates of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort but it is always open to the public. Sandestin is a gated resort in Miramar Beach but when you tell the guard you are going to Baytowne they will give you a pass.
You must have a ticket in order to drink and sample food at this event but friends, family, and children are welcome to walk around the event with or without a ticket.
There will be plenty of other things to do at Baytowne Wharf on the event night if you are just here to enjoy the Village ambiance and the Nights of Lights show.
The zip line, climbing wall, carousel, trampolines and arcade will all be open and running on the festival night. The winter ice skating rink will also be open.
Where to Stay for the Sparkling Wine Festival
Baytowne Wharf is in Miramar Beach, an easy drive from Destin — so make a holiday weekend of it and stay in one of my vacation rentals on Holiday Isle! I manage three rentals there: two 2-bedroom condos and a 4-bedroom harbor-front townhouse. You can see them all here: Destin Vacation Rentals by Sarah.
My ground-floor Islander condo, Daylight, makes a great home base for a festival weekend — spend the day by the Gulf, then head over to Baytowne for an evening of sparkling wine and holiday lights. And if you are visiting during the season, my Christmas in Destin guide covers all the other festive events happening around town while you are here.
If you stay off Sandestin property you will need to drive to the festival.I hope you enjoy this amazing Sandestin holiday event! I have included links for anything mentioned in this post and related posts below.
- RELEVANT LINKS
- –Purchase Sparkling Wine Fest Tickets: http://www.baytownesparklingwinefest.com
- –Baytowne Wharf Events Calendar: https://www.baytownewharf.com/what_to_do.php
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Hi, I’m Sarah — the creator, writer, and photographer behind this site. I sell prints and books featuring my Emerald Coast photography, and I also manage three vacation rentals on beautiful Holiday Isle in Destin. If you’re looking for a helpful, knowledgeable local host when you visit, I’d love to welcome you 🌴😃🐬My rentals include two 2-bedroom condos and a 4-bedroom harbor-front townhouse. You can check out my Destin vacation rentals here: https://thegoodlifedestin.com/vacation-rentals-by-sarah/
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