The 48th annual Destin Seafood Festival runs September 25 to 27, 2026, on the Destin Harbor Boardwalk. Admission is free. Timber Creek Distillery will have a booth on the harbor all weekend. So come by for cocktails, wine and liquor made a short drive up the road in Crestview.
Destin Seafood Festival 2026 quick facts
- Dates: September 25 to 27, 2026 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
- Hours: Friday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Location: Destin Harbor Boardwalk, from HarborWalk Village to Heron Harbor
- Admission: Free, with VIP passes sold separately
- Expected attendance: More than 30,000 people
- Vendors: 75+ food, art and retail booths, plus harbor restaurants
- Music: Five stages of live bands all weekend
- Organizer: Destin Charter Boat Association, which uses the festival as its main fundraiser
- Timber Creek Distillery: Booth with cocktails, wine and liquor for sale all three days
What is the Destin Seafood Festival?
The Destin Seafood Festival is a free, three-day festival held every fall on the Destin Harbor Boardwalk. It celebrates the town’s fishing heritage with fresh Gulf seafood, live music and local vendors. The event began in 1978 as a one-day gathering on Kelly’s Hill. Back then, the Destin Charter Boat Association Women’s Auxiliary organized it to honor local fishermen.
Today, the festival fills more than a mile of waterfront. However, its purpose has not changed. Proceeds still support the Destin Charter Boat Association, Miss Destin scholarships, the Destin Fisherman’s Fund and other local causes.
The festival also kicks off the Destin Fishing Rodeo. That tournament has run every October since 1948, and it gave Destin its “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” nickname. Because rodeo weigh-ins happen right on the harbor, festival weekend is the busiest stretch of the year on the docks.
When is the Destin Seafood Festival in 2026?
The 2026 festival runs September 25, 26 and 27. Friday opens at 4 p.m. and closes at 10 p.m. Saturday is the long day, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Finally, Sunday runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some third-party event calendars still list an early October date. However, the festival organizers and local press have confirmed the September 25 to 27 weekend.
Where is the festival, and where do you park?
The festival covers the full length of the Destin Harbor Boardwalk. It starts at HarborWalk Village on the west end and ends at Heron Harbor on the east. Vendors line the boardwalk and docks in between. Since the whole route is for pedestrians only, plan on walking and wear comfortable shoes.
Parking is available at Heron Harbor, HarborWalk Village, the Marler public lots, the Destin Community Center and the Destin Fishing Museum. Those lots fill quickly on Saturday, though. For that reason, the easier option is the free shuttle from Morgan Sports Complex on Indian Bayou Trail. It runs to the harbor throughout the weekend.
What is there to eat, see and do?
More than 75 vendors and the harbor’s own restaurants serve Gulf shrimp, oysters, grouper, crab and fish tacos. In addition, local artists sell handmade jewelry, glass, paintings and more. Five stages host local and regional bands from open to close. Expect rock, reggae, country and tropical music, and harbor bars run their
