"What is going on in Destin?" It's one of the biggest questions we receive during a holiday week. To help, we've compiled a list of festive July 4 celebrations. Check out all of your options below. If you know of something we've missed, be sure to post it in the comments.
We hope you have a safe and happy July 4!
July 3
Smoke
on the Coast BBQ and Fireworks Festival
Enjoy BBQ competition, fireworks, live music from two different stages,
crafts and fun for kids, and more. Event is 1 – 10 p.m. BBQ sampling at 6 p.m. Fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
Red,
White & Blue Celebration
Celebrate a local hero with live entertainment and a WWII vintage
flyover. The evening is topped off with
a spectacular fireworks display. Fun begins
at 6 p.m. www.harborwalkdestin.com
Beach
Blast at Elephant Walk
Enjoy a fireworks show, live music by Bo Adams, face painting, balloon
sculpting, bonfire, and more, beginning at 6 p.m. www.sandestin.com/events
Americana
Under the Stars
Enjoy free admission into Topsail Hill State Preserve. Open mic starts at 6 p.m., and the Bridget
Kelly Band will perform. Bring a chair,
your favorite beverage, and enjoy music in the park. www.floridastateparks.org/topsailhill
July 4
Museum
Offers $1 Admission
The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida offers $1 admission, from 10
a.m. – 4 p.m. View historic exhibits,
including military, Native American, pioneer, and early industries. Play in the hands-on Discovery Room and
stroll in the new “Paradise Gardens” backyard exhibit. www.heritage-museum.org
Hilton’s
Independence Day Celebration
Enjoy a traditional buffet dinner with all-American and coastal
favorites, followed by a spectacular beach fireworks show. Event is 6:30 – 9 p.m. Make reservations at (850) 267-9500 x44.
Fireworks
& Dinner Cruise Celebration
Celebrate on the water, as you cruise into the sunset, indulge in
coastal cuisines, dance to live music, and watch the fireworks, aboard the 125’
Solaris yacht. Cruise is from 6 – 9:30
p.m. Visit www.SunQuestCruises.com
for pricing and reservations.
Fireworks
Aboard the Southern Star
Cruise the Destin Harbor aboard the Southern Star. The cruise is from 8:15 – 9:45 p.m. Call (850) 837-7741 for pricing and
reservations.
Red,
White and Baytowne
The Village of Baytowne Wharf will have kids’ activities from 6 – 10 p.m.,
including crafts, face painting, and balloon sculpting. Mama’s Blue Dress will perform from 7 – 9 p.m.,
and the fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m.
www.sandestin.com/exploresandestin/specialevents.aspx
HarborWalk
4th of July Celebration
Let freedom ring, rock, and roll with the Victory Belles, as they revive
the WWII classics with their vintage charm.
Concert begins at 7 p.m.
Fireworks at 9 p.m. www.harborwalkdestin.com
Beneath
the Stars & Stripes – Sinfonia Concert
Enjoy a free concert at 7:30 p.m. on July 4, at the Lighthouse
Amphitheater at Shoreline Village.
Sinfonia Gulf Coast will present Beneath the Stars & Stripes: A
Tribute to our Armed Forces and Veterans.
The concert benefits the Wounded Warrior Project. Find details at www.LighthouseAmphitheater.com.
City
of Destin’s Fireworks
The City’s Annual Independence Day Fireworks show will take place near
the Destin Harbor over the waters of the East Pass, beginning at 9 p.m. Turn your radio to Z96 to hear the musical
accompaniment.
July 5
Free
Concert at HarborWalk Village
The Village will be rocking with a free live concert by Gypsy Riot on
the HarborWalk Village main stage.
Concert starts at 7 p.m. www.harborwalkdestin.com
Local nonprofit organization Emerald Coast Community Cares Foundation hosted eight families local to the Destin and Fort Walton Beach area for a Wounded Warrior Weekend retreat May 2-4. The mission of the retreat was to give local service veterans returning from their time overseas an opportunity to not only relax, but to also reconnect with their wives, children, and the local community. All aspects of the retreat were donated by the local businesses and restaurants or funded by the foundation’s annual golf tournament, which is set for Sept. 4-5, at Burnt Pine Golf Club. For details, visit
The Volunteer Guild at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast recently presented a $63,769 donation to the hospital in support of a variety of patient-care initiatives. Each year, the Volunteer Guild invites hospital department managers to apply for one of the Volunteer Guild’s special capital sponsorships to enhance patient care, resulting in new equipment, software upgrades and customer-service projects. The Guild’s largest fundraising event is the annual Emerald Coast Duck Regatta at Baytowne Wharf each October, which features family-friendly games and the opportunity to adopt a duck before thousands of rubber ducks set sail across the pond for a chance to win $5,000. For more information about this exciting event, please visit 
Blue Marlin Realty Group has expanded once again with two new realtors, Craig Carter and Cat Stevens, and a new rental and guest services manager, Devin Marquez. Carter, originally from Kalamazoo, Mich., is a graduate from Western Michigan University. After college Carter worked for several well established companies in executive rolls. Most recently, he formed the rental company Carter Beach Properties, which he sold in 2013.
Stevens is a licensed real estate broker in Tennessee and Florida and a businesswoman in every sense of the phrase. Beginning her career in the male-dominated automotive franchise business, Stevens owned nine franchises in Indiana and Florida for 18 years. After the sale of the area franchise rights, Cat obtained her real estate license and began managing a large LLC/PUD consisting of upscale villas in a golf course community in Naples.
Blue Marlin Realty Group’s new Rental & Guest Services Manager Devin Marquez hales from Albuquerque, N.M., but is no stranger to the Destin area. Marquez has lived in the area for nine years and has managed vacation rentals for five of those years. From reservations, guest services, inspections, housekeeping coordination and property management, Marquez worked in every position in the industry during her time with a local beachside realty group.
World Impact Real Estate Broker Dr. Rodney Elkins announced that Realtor Roy Godwin has now been certified as a Resort and Second Home Specialist (RSPS) by the National Association of Realtors. This certification is designed for REALTORS who facilitate the buying, selling, or management of properties for investment, development, retirement, or second homes in a resort, recreational, and/or vacation destination. Call Godwin at (850) 585-1066.
The Gulf Pointe Academy helped the kids of Children in Crisis (CIC) get ready for their summer enhancement program by conducting an art supply drive. Thanks to the generous donations of a huge variety of art supplies from the Academy and community, all the kids at the Children’s Neighborhood received needed supplies to take them through the summer. Seen here are Ken Hair, CIC President & CEO; Jessica James, Gulf Pointe Academy; and Penny Minnamon, CIC Teen Transitional Coordinator. For more information about CIC, visit
Merrill Lynch announced that Financial Advisor Simona Ondrejkova earned the Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM (CRPC®) certification awarded by the College for Financial Planning. This specialized education credential is awarded to individuals who have successfully completed the requirements of the designation program, which includes a course of study encompassing pre- and post-retirement needs. Ondrejkova may be reached at (850) 269-7011 or by visiting
The Twin Cities Woman’s Club (TCWC) presented a donation of $500 to Children in Crisis to sponsor a Movie Night for the at-risk kids living at the CIC Children’s Neighborhood. The Movie Night complete with popcorn, will be enjoyed by over 30 kids. Seen here are Ken Hair, CIC president and CEO; Brenda Brown, TCWC co-chair children concerns; JoAnn Dunnam, TCWC chair childhood concerns; Lillian Lewis, TCWC president; and CIC development director Allie Noah. For more information about CIC, visit 
Newman-Dailey Resort Properties announces the addition of Tracy Louthain, APR, CPRC, to its team. As the Director of Marketing and Communications, Louthain will oversee Newman-Dailey Resort Properties’ marketing and communications programs for all three divisions: vacation rentals/rental management, real estate sales, and association management. An accredited public relations counselor, Louthain brings extensive knowledge and experience developing strategic communications programs, especially within the tourism industry. For more information on Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, visit 
Florida-based law firm Broad and Cassel today announced that Ginger Barry Boyd in the Destin office was named a 2014 Florida Rising Star. Super Lawyers is a research-driven rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. For more information, visit 
The American Heart Association recognized Twin Cities Hospital Tuesday, as the most recent employer in Okaloosa and Walton Counties to achieve Fit-Friendly status. Designed to be a catalyst for positive change in American business, the Fit-Friendly Companies Recognition Program identifies employers who champion the health of their employees by creating physical activity programs within the workplace. Twin Cities Hospital proudly joins CHELCO, Gulf Power, Okaloosa County, and North Okaloosa Medical Center as an American Heart Association Fit-Friendly Company. For more information, visit 
Real estate sales agent Rhonda Hildebrand recently joined the team at Newman–Dailey Resort Properties. Originally from Maine, Hildebrand brought her warm personality to the Destin area in 1989. Working first in luxury vacation rentals with many of those years focused at Hidden Dunes Beach and Tennis Resort, she became very familiar with what the area had to offer and was captivated by the active beach lifestyle. She is a member of the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. For more information, visit 
Legendary Marine announced the winners of its inaugural 2014 Legendary Marine College Scholarships. From an impressive field of 48 submissions in the combined markets, 2014 Legendary Marine Scholarship Winners included Blythe Greene and Kerri Andre, both from Fort Walton Beach High School; Avalon Dudinsky from North Bay Charter High School in Panama City; and Kaitlyn Hickman, Fairhope High School in Fairhope. Each receives a $1000 scholarship. For more information, visit 
United Way of Okaloosa-Walton Counties would like to express its sincere thanks to the entire Okaloosa and Walton communities for their response to the Annual National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Food Drive. The United Way received 157,823 pounds of food collected along mail routes in these two counties. That response was more than 9,000 more pounds from last year. For details, visit 
The Emerald Coast Exchange Club of Ft. Walton Beach continued its great support to Children in Crisis by presenting a $1,000 donation to help feed, clothe and care for the children living at the CIC Children’s Neighborhood. The focus of this year’s contribution was prevention of child abuse and giving a home to those children who are victims. Seen here, Gale Jones, Greg Givens, Shannon Swan-Sapp, Karen Helms, and Bill Allen present the donation to CIC president and CEO Ken Hair. For more information, visit 
The Exchange Club of Crestview showed its great support to Children in Crisis by donating a mountain of paper products for the CIC foster homes. This is one of the most used items in caring for the children. Pictured from left to right are Carolyn Knudson, Cheri Pittman, Liezele Wtulich, Ken Hair (CIC President & CEO), Karen Helms, Kathy Warren, and Sharlene Cox. For details, visit 
Bill Higginbotham of the Rotary Club of Niceville-Valparaiso presents a check for $600 to Gina Marini of the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida. The donation was from the sale of water and soda at the museum’s 38th Saturday in the Park, held April 26. For details, visit 
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort announced the appointment Eric Chopin to the position of executive chef. Chopin is a professional chef with more than 30 years of experience. Born in Guerande, Brittany, France, Chopin has been seasoning his way through the cooking world in Europe and America. Beginning his cooking experience at the early age of 14 in Paris as a charcutier, Chopin is classically trained in the art of making delicious, unique pastry, and savory masterpieces, while always respecting their natural flavors and textures. For details, visit 
More than 20 schools from Okaloosa County participated in the annual Change for Children Campaign during the 2013-2014 year. The schools raised more than $23,000 in change to Children In Crisis (CIC). Schools that participated used creative ways like holding a bake sale, to collect change at their school. Antioch Elementary School was the winner from the Okaloosa County School District and raised $3,683.79. Ruckel Middle School was a close second raising $3,000. Seen here, Antioch Elementary School faculty and students, including Michele Tiller, Dimitri Toran, Alice Thomas, and Hunter Hannefield, present a check to CIC President & CEO Ken Hair. For details, visit 
Nathanael Fisher, co-founder and producing artistic director of Emerald Coast Theatre Company (ECTC), recently was selected by the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs to participate in a hands-on workshop presented by the leaders of the Creative Capital Foundation. The three-day professional development workshop, held at the Patel Conservatory in Tampa, Fla., is only open to a select group of qualified professional artists. The workshop is designed to provide selected artists with valuable skills and training to ensure that their creative careers are sustainable. It will cover topics such as strategic planning, marketing and promoting your work, and fundraising. For more information, 
Destin Water Users announced the appointment of Lockwood Wernet as General Manager of Destin Water Users, following the recent retirement of Richard Griswold. Wernet has worked with Destin Water Users since 2000, when he joined the Board of Directors. Throughout the years, Wernet served as Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, and Chair of Strategic Planning Committee, before being hired as Assistant General Manager in 2010. He was previously employed with Newton Oldacre McDonald as Director of Property Management, the City of Fort Walton as a Planner and Human Resources Director, and the City of Destin as a Planner, Community Development Director, and Assistant City Manager. For details, visit 
The Niceville Assembly of God combined its Easter Presentation, “The Thorn,” with a huge food drive for Children in Crisis (CIC). Members of the church were challenged to collect and donate non-perishable food items and other household supplies. Seen here Allie Noah, CIC Development Directory, and Laura Moore, CIC Office Manager, accept the donation. To learn more about CIC, visit 
Children in Crisis (CIC) announced the addition of Allie Noah as its Development Director. Noah will be responsible for grant writing and fundraising efforts. She joined the CIC team from SETCO Services, LLC, where she was the Director of Public Relations. She obtained her degree in Public Relations and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Valdosta State University. To learn more about CIC, visit 
Dawn Hyde, a 10-year Destin resident, joined World Impact Real Estate. Before becoming a Florida Realtor, Hyde had diversified careers in public relations, director of the Miss Alabama Pageant, and teacher. Her business expertise in the public sector and her love of interior design and talent in interior decorating are added specialties that she brings to the table when meeting with clients and customers. Contact Hyde at (850) 368-2848 or email her 
ResortQuest Real Estate announced the February and March top producers for its offices from Perdido Key to Panama City Beach. The Nathan Abbott Team of the Destin office received highest honors for top closed sales and listings from more than 100 ResortQuest Realtors. The team has been recognized for highest production each month since January of this year and was recognized as the top producing team overall for the year 2013. Visit 
Nine-year-old “JJ” Michaud learned to be charitable at an early age. For his last four birthdays, he has donated all his gifts to needy children living at Children in Crisis (CIC). He asked his guests to bring food and needed items for the CIC children instead of toys. JJ is seen here with CIC President and CEO Ken Hair. For more information, visit 
Okaloosa County Telecommunicator of the Year for 911 Communications Division is Lori English. English was selected during National Public Safety Telecommunicators’ Week April 13-19. She is seen here with County Administrator Ernie Padget (left) and Public Safety Director Dino Villani. For more information, please contact the Okaloosa County Public Safety Department at (850) 651-7150 or the 311 Citizens Information Line.
Children in Crisis (CIC) was voted by the Northwest Daily News supporters and community as the Finest Charity on the Emerald Coast. Dr. Judy Manning, CIC Operations Director; Laura Moore, CIC Office Manager; Penny Minnamon, CIC Teen Transition Coordinator; Ken Hair, CIC President & CEO; Roberta Welch, CIC Programs Supervisor; and Travis Hill, CIC Volunteer & Events Coordinator, celebrated the award, during HarborWalk Village’s Finest on the Emerald Coast Celebration. For details, visit