Vacationing in Destin, Florida this July? Here’s where to go for the Fireworks Show!
You won’t need to worry about being away from home on the Fourth of July if you are vacationing near Destin, Florida. The residents and businesses of Destin and Fort Walton Beach love a good fireworks show. In fact, fireworks are so popular here that the cities of the Emerald Coast put on fireworks shows every week all summer long! But the Fourth of July is special, and so are the Fourth of July celebrations.
Below are just a few of the scheduled festivities taking place in and around Destin and Fort Walton Beach, Florida during the Fourth of July weekend.
Friday, July 1, 2016:
Destin—This year, the celebration kicks off on July 1 with the Annual Family Independence Day Celebration and Bike Parade. The festivities begin at 6 p.m. at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village. Children age 14 and under are welcome to decorate their scooter, wagon, or bike, and participate in the parade. The parade is followed by a live music performance. The Annual Family Independence Day Celebration includes face painting, a bounce house, games and lots of other activities too. You can find more details about this fun family event at the City of Destin Chamber of Commerce’s website.
Saturday-Sunday, July 2-3, 2016:
Destin – Destin’s Independence Day celebrations continue with live music at HarborWalk Village on Saturday and Sunday, July 2-3. Also on July 3, the area hosts Smoke on the Coast at Destin Commons. For just $1 per sample, try Destin’s best grilled cuisine and vote for your favorite. The proceeds go to charity and the evening will end with—you guessed it, fireworks!
Monday, July 4, 2016:
Destin—If Sunday’s fireworks display didn’t supply enough squeals, booms, and pop-pop-pops for you, the Destin Fourth of July Celebration fireworks show will take place over Destin Harbor on Monday night. This event will feature more live music and a fire spinning performance by Just Add Fire on the HarborWalk main stage. For an extra special Fourth of July celebration, you can view the fireworks from the harbor by taking a Fourth of July fireworks cruise.
Fort Walton Beach—You can find a musical celebration of the Fourth of July at the Fort Walton Beach Landing in downtown Fort Walton Beach. The action begins at 4 p.m. with the FWB Kids Got Talent Showcase followed by opening ceremonies and the Emerald Coast Sing-Off Finalists’ Showcase. Following the showcases will be live music performed by the Jacob Mohr Band and, finally, the fireworks at the Landing beginning at 8:45.
Admission to both the Fort Walton Beach and Destin fireworks shows is free. With live music, fireworks, food, and fun, you definitely won’t miss a thing by celebrating the Fourth of July on the Emerald Coast.
But wait, what if you aren’t going to be in Destin on Independence Day?
Remember, the folks in Destin and Fort Walton Beach love fireworks! So even if you miss the big Fourth of July celebration, you can still see fireworks on your vacation. Every Thursday during June, July and the first two weeks of August, Destin welcomes visitors and residents alike to the Red White and Blue Celebration. This two-hour program honors the United States’ military history with a presentation of colors by the Eglin Air Force Honor Guard, a vintage aircraft air show, live music and more. The evening is capped by a fireworks show over the harbor and fire dancing on the HarborWalk Village main stage.
The show is free for land-lubbers, or you can view the show from the water by booking a Destin Harbor fireworks cruise. If you need still more fireworks on your vacation, Okaloosa Island puts on a weekly fireworks show, too! Every Wednesday at 9 p.m, you can watch a fireworks show at the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier.
No matter when you decide to visit Destin or Fort Walton Beach, you’ll find plenty of activities to enjoy. Along with the fireworks, the area’s summer events calendar is packed full of other interesting events and diversions including the Fishing for a Cause charity tournament at the Okaloosa Island Pier and weekly musical performances at Rock the Docks.
Many other special happenings are scheduled throughout the year. From a winter holiday lights cruise on the harbor to the fall’s fishing rodeo, there’s never a dull moment in Destin.
