October in Destin 2023: Best Events to Welcome Fall

October is often cited as the best month in Destin by both locals and visitors thanks to the winning combination of cooler temperatures, lower crowds, amazing sunsets and lots of fall events and festivals.

Things to Do in October in Destin Pinterest Pin

In fact, I ranked it #1 in my article “The Best Times to Visit Destin, Florida” for all these reasons and more.

This post will give you plenty of ideas for things to do in October in Destin including two major art festivals, the biggest beer festival on the Emerald Coast, all the Halloween events, 8 fireworks shows, and much much more.

This article will cover all the details of the best events and things to do in Destin in October 2023 in order of which they occur throughout the month.

Destin Fishing Rodeo Weigh-Ins

  • Date: October 1st – October 31st, 2023
  • Location: On the docks behind AJ’s Seafood and Oyster House
  • Time: 10:00am – 7:00pm
  • Cost: FREE
Crowds watching the fish weigh in at the Destin Fishing Rodeo in October at AJs
Destin Fishing Rodeo

2023 will mark the 75th year for the annual Destin Fishing Rodeo. Established in 1948, The Destin Fishing Rodeo has become known as the ultimate fishing tournament for saltwater anglers of all ages.

Destin Fishing Rodeo Weigh-Ins take place from 10am-7pm every day in October at the docks in front of AJ’s Seafood and Oyster House where over 30,000 Anglers compete for cash, prizes and bragging rights. Share in the fun and excitement as they show off catch at the daily weigh ins.

Virtually every game fish is recognized with awards during the rodeo in 29 divisions including juniors, teens, ladies and seniors.

Destin Fishing Rodeo

Kayak fishing, paddle board fishing, pier fishing, bridge fishing, jetty fishing, surf fishing and shoreline fishing are all categories with a place in the rodeo.

Destin Seafood Festival

  • Date: Friday, October 6th – Sunday, October 8th, 2023
  • Location: Destin Harbor Boardwalk and HarborWalk Village
  • Time: Friday 4pm-10pm | Saturday 10am-10pm | Sunday 11am-4pm
  • Cost: FREE
Seafood and people at the Destin Seafood Festival on Destin Harbor

The Destin Seafood Festival is one of the most popular events on the Emerald Coast taking place annually in early October with around 70,000 people in attendance each year.

The highlight of this event is the incredible selection of fresh seafood including shrimp, lobster, grouper, crab cakes, crawfish, and samples of some of the Florida Panhandle’s signature dishes.

The Destin Seafood Festival event includes vendors from all over the southeast but many of Destin’s best local restaurants also participate in the festival including Harry T’s, AJ’s Seafood and Oyster House, and Brotulas.

People serving seafood at the Destin Seafood Festival on Destin Harbor
Destin Seafood Festival Vendors

The Destin Seafood festival also features live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, and children’s activities. The food and art tents run from Harborwalk Village all the way to the end of the Boardwalk at Destin Yacht Club.

Live music stages for the event are scattered across the harbor at the HarborWalk Village main events stage, several stages at AJ’s and the Boathouse, and all the way down to the Harbor Tavern on the eastern edge of the Destin Harbor Boardwalk.

Rocktober Nights with Fireworks at HarborWalk Village

  • Date: Saturday October 7th, 14th, 21st, & 28th, 2023
  • Location: HarborWalk Village
  • Time: 7:00pm | Fireworks at 9:00pm
  • Cost: FREE
Fireworks exploding over Destin Harbor from Harborwalk Village

Kick off your Saturday nights on Destin Harbor with their Rocktober Nights concert series taking place every Saturday night in October. A different band will take the stage each week followed by a fireworks display over Destin Harbor.

This is the perfect way to complete your day after watching the weigh-ins at AJ’s just a short walk away along the marina.

For all the Best Places to Watch the Destin Harbor Fireworks, check out this post: Where to Watch the Destin Harbor Fireworks and 2023 Schedule of Shows

Wednesday Night Concert Series at Baytowne Wharf

  • When: Wednesday October 4th, 11th, 18th, & 25th, 2023
  • Location: Baytowne Wharf Events Stage
  • Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
  • Cost: FREE
people enjoying a concert on the lawn at Baytowne Wharf

Bring blankets, lawn chairs, drinks and snacks to enjoy the perfect fall temperatures with live music from a different band each week.

Wednesday night concert series is a popular event that takes place March through October featuring both local and regional talent from a variety of genres.

Baytowne Wharf is located inside the gates of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort but it is always open to the public.

Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival

  • When: Friday October 6th and Saturday October 7th, 2023
  • Location: Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
  • Time: Friday 6pm-8pm | Saturday 2pm-6pm
  • Cost: $40-$80 depending on package option
  • Website for Tickets: http://www.baytownebeerfestival.com
People dressed in costume and drinking beer at Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival

The Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival is the largest beer festival on the Emerald Coast and it attracts a fun crowd of locals and visitors who appreciate a good craft beer. Many people even dress up for this event in a variety of German and Oktoberfest themed costumes.

Saturday’s main event features more than 50 breweries offering close to 200 domestic and international craft beers for sampling. A keepsake Baytowne Wharf Beer Fest tasting glass is provided to ticket holders for sampling.

Brewery representatives and volunteers will be available to discuss the different types of lagers and ales available for tasting.

On Friday evening there is a more intimate beer sampling event called “Beers from Around Here” featuring local Gulf Coast beers and appetizer samples from featured Baytowne Wharf restaurants. Get your tickets in advance because it usually sells out!

Bubbly Baytowne at Baytowne Wharf

  • When: Thursday, October 19th, 2023
  • Location: Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
  • Time: 5:00pm-7:00pm
  • Cost: FREE
Bubbly Baytowne Sandestin

Enjoy an evening of shopping and sipping on free sparkling wine as you stroll the picturesque streets of the Village of Baytowne Wharf.

Bubbly Baytowne takes place on select Thursday nights in the spring and fall and it’s a great event to attend in October in Destin to enjoy those perfect fall temperatures.

Check in at the front entrance of the Village to get your free engraved tasting glass and stop in the merchants around the Village to have it filled with different wine selection offerings at each stop.

Bubbly Baytowne is such a fun way to enjoy an evening that it’s hard to believe it’s free. I wrote a more detailed post about it below if you want to see more photos and information about the various stops: Bubbly Baytowne: A Sip and Shop through the Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin

Market Shops Bloody Mary Festival

  • When: Saturday, October 14th, 2023
  • Location: Market Shops at Sandestin
  • Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm
  • Cost: $40+ depending on package
  • Website for Tickets: https://themarketshops.com
Bloody Mary at the market shops in October in destin

The annual October festival features creative and innovative Bloody Mary’s made and served by the finest restaurants and bars on the Emerald Coast competing for the title of the best Bloody Mary.

A panel of judges will select winners for the most delicious and most creative. There will also be a people’s choice winner selected by the votes of guests in attendance. Tickets include unlimited tasting of up to 25 Bloody Mary’s served in specialty cups.

There will also be local craft brews, champagne from the Bubbly Bar as well as live music, entertainment and complimentary food provided by the Market Shop merchants. Popcorn is provided and you are also welcome to bring outside food and drinks.

Halloween Haunt at Destin Commons

  • Location: Destin Commons Mall
  • When: Friday, October 27th, 2023
  • Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
  • Cost: FREE
Kids dressed in Halloween costumes at Destin Commons

The Halloween Haunt event at Destin Commons is a night of family fun to include crafts, face painting, a costume contest with prizes, and safe trick-or-treating throughout the shops in the Commons.

Spooktacular Nights at Harborwalk Village

  • When: Friday, October 27th – Saturday October 28th, 2023
  • Time: Various events each day
  • Location: Harborwalk Village
  • Cost: FREE
A girl in costume walks her dog across the stage at Harborwalk Village during Halloween

The Spooktacular Nights event at Harborwalk Village features 2 days of Halloween fun including an orchestra performance on the main stage, a Bingo Pub Crawl, Trick-or-Treating around the Village, and a costume contest.

The costume contest will have winners in several categories of different children’s age groups, families and even a pet category. There will be fireworks over Destin Harbor on Saturday night.

The daily schedule is not yet announced but Saturday is the main day with the costume contests and Trick or Treating around the Village followed by Fireworks at 9:00pm.

For all the Best Places to Watch the Destin Harbor Fireworks, check out this post: Where to Watch the Destin Harbor Fireworks and 2023 Schedule of Shows

Mattie Kelly Festival of the Arts

  • When: Saturday, October 28th & Sunday October 29th, 2023
  • Location: Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village on Commons Drive in Destin
  • Time: Saturday 9am-5pm | Sunday 10am-4pm
  • Cost: FREE
artists at Mattie Kelly festival in October in destin

The Mattie Kelly Festival of the Arts is another amazing arts festival taking place in October in Destin. This is one of the Southeast’s premiere art festivals taking place over two days and featuring exhibits from over 100 fine artists.

The festival showcases a diverse variety of artistic styles in many different art mediums ranging from acrylics, oil, watercolor, clay, ceramic, glass, jewelry, metal, pottery, wood, ink, pastel and more.

Artists in the festival compete for cash prizes in 27 award categories, including the “Best in Show” and “People’s Choice Award” which are selected by festival fans.

People shopping for art at the Mattie Kelly arts festival in Destin
Mattie Kelly Festival of the Arts

The Mattie Kelly Arts Festival also features a live music lineup, hands-on arts and craft activities for children, souvenir posters and t-shirts, and a collaborative art exhibit showcasing select artwork of more than 60 community adult and student artists.

A diverse food menu is served up by local restaurants and there are food trucks and drinks available in the wine and beer garden.

Trick-or-Treat Street at the Village of Baytowne Wharf

  • When: Monday, October 31st, 2023
  • Location: Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
  • Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
  • Cost: FREE
  • Website: https://www.baytownewharf.com/
Kids dressed up in costumes on Halloween at Baytowne Wharf
Halloween at the Village of Baytowne Wharf

Baytowne Wharf’s annual Halloween event features live music and a dance party at the main stage, crafts, balloon animals, and a costume contest with a grand prize. Kids can also enjoy safely trick-or-treating throughout the Village shops.

Halloween night at Baytowne will end with a special holiday fireworks display at 8pm. The Halloween fireworks are one of my favorite shows of the year. they have Halloween music and theming, extra special fireworks bursts and even an additional launch spot.

Tricks and Treasures with Fireworks at the Boardwalk

  • When: Monday October 31st, 2023
  • Location: The Boardwalk and Fishing Pier on Okaloosa Island
  • Time: 5pm-8pm | Fireworks at 8pm
  • Cost: FREE
  • Website: https://theboardwalkoi.com
Fireworks on Okaloosa Island

Tricks and Treasures is the Halloween event at the Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island featuring a costume contest, live entertainment, carnival games and over 25 trick or treat stations.

Keep an eye out for the Parjai Squad Star Wars Characters as they traipse the Parking Lot Walkabout Parade! Captain Davy will also entertain everyone with pirate shenanigans, music and magic tricks!

McGuire’s Halloween 5k/10k Run

Runners and Walkers dressed in costumes for the McGuire's Halloween Run in Destin

The McGuire’s annual Halloween 5k and 10k events are the most entertaining races in Destin. Every event McGuire’s puts on is a party and this is no exception.

Runners complete the course and then enjoy a huge post-race party with live entertainment, Irish food, Irish ale, and Irish Wakes–their signature orange juice and rum drink. A light pre-race breakfast of coffee, donuts, and bananas is also included.

The 10k option is for people who are more serious about the running and racing aspect since the 5k will be more people participating just for fun. Over half of the crowd is usually decked out in Halloween costumes.

Baytowne on Ice

  • Location: Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
  • When: Late October 2023 – Late January 2024
  • Time: Days and times vary each week and month
  • Cost: $14 for a 90-minute skating session
  • Website: https://baytownewharf.com
Skaters at the Baytowne Ice Rink

The Baytowne Ice Rink is open from late October to Late January. The exact dates are still TBA but Baytowne has confirmed the rink will open this year as usual. The Baytowne outdoor ice rink is set up under a large tent directly in the events plaza.

The operating times vary each day depending on holidays and school schedules. Baytowne will release a calendar for the season on their website with the dates and times. The rink is also available for private events such as birthday parties and class trips starting at $300.

Skate rentals are available for a small fee or you are welcome to bring your own. Support bars are available for beginner children to hold while they skate around the ice.


I hope this post helps you find some great things to do in October in Destin.

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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