SummerFest dawns on Destin harbor
Where can you celebrate the red, white and blue on Thursday, Rock the Docks on Saturday and savor fine art on Sunday?
Why the Destin harbor, of course.
The Harbor Association, with an assist from private businesses and the city, announced plans for SummerFest on the harbor. The festival will begin June 1 and run for 12 weeks through Aug. 23.
Barker said the event is a perfect example of protecting and preserving our history and heritage on the harbor.
"If we are going to be successful in doing something, we have to be passionate about it," Mayor Craig Barker told a crowd gathered for the announcement Thursday at Zampieri's. "And here today, we have come to a point in our history where we can say we began to invest our passion back in the harbor."
Thursday nights will be the "Red, White and Blue Celebration on the Harbor," which will honor a local military hero with a key to the city. The night will culminate with fireworks sponsored by Pepsi. Participating harbor businesses will offer military personnel a discount, and there will be a variety of events taking place and an opportunity to register to win tickets to the Talladega NASCAR Race in October.
"There are never enough ways and never enough days for us to honor our military," Barker said.
On Saturday nights, festival-goers will "Rock the Docks" with live music at harbor businesses and a chance to win a trip for two to the Budweiser Brewery in St. Louis. Visit www.destinharbor.org for a schedule of entertainment.
Sundays will be more of a family affair starting at 11 a.m. Residents and visitors can participate in "Art on the Harbor" featuring local artists' displays of watercolors, oil paintings, whimsical signs, abstract art, pottery, fused/wired glass, wood carvings, photography, jewelry and more.
"We got some of the finest artists in the world right here in Destin and we can't wait to introduce them to the world," participating Destin artist Don Sawyer said.
The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation will present an ArtStop tent featuring art projects for kids.
Guests are encouraged to park and ride the harbor water taxi to various locations along the harbor. Visit www.destinharbor.org for the water taxi schedule and stops as well as more information about the 2008 Destin harbor SummerFest.
With over $200,000 in different sponsorship efforts, the festival will celebrate what is unique about Destin.
"Quite honestly, without the harbor we are just another beach and golf community," said Shane Cannon, the new president of the Harbor Association.
THE FACES BEHIND SUMMERFEST
Principal sponsors of the festival are:
- Pepsi
- Budweiser
- Fox 10 News
- 99 Rock
- Country 105.5
- The Emerald Coast Tourist Development Council
- City of Destin
- Destin Area Chamber of Commerce
Participating locations are:
- AJ's Seafood & Oyster Bar
- Captain Kidd's Seafood Buffet
- Fisherman's Wharf Seafood House
- Commander's Palace
- Woody's L.S.S.B
- Dockside
- Harry T's Lighthouse
- Inn on the Destin Harbor
- Pat O' Brien's
- Zampieri's Harbor Grille
- Boathouse Oyster Bar
- Water Grill
- Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village
- Another Broken Egg
- Hogs Breath Saloon
Organizers welcome other interested businesses and sponsors.