Sign up for beach news and local updates—plus a chance to win a $500 30A gift basket. One winner each month!
Seven fall events worth planning your 30A getaway around.
There is something particularly good about fall on 30A. The pace begins to ease after summer, the humidity starts to drop, and the days are still warm enough to spend time by the Gulf. October often brings some of the year’s most memorable sunsets, while November settles into milder weather that makes outdoor festivals, dinners, films, and long afternoons outside even more inviting.
It is also one of the busiest stretches of the year for events. From rare cars and craft cocktails to barbecue, outdoor films, art and a Thanksgiving morning run, the fall calendar brings together some of South Walton’s most anticipated traditions.
Here are seven events worth putting on your calendar this season.
When: October 2–4, 2026
Where: WaterSound communities, WaterSound Town Center and WaterSound Beach Club
Tickets/Registration: Advance registration is required; the First Friday Concert Series is free; the Minto Matchpoint Pickleball Tournament requires separate advance registration
Discover WaterSound Weekend offers three days of events designed to give visitors a closer look at life throughout the WaterSound community. The weekend begins Friday with a welcome reception at the WaterSound Real Estate office at WaterSound Town Center, followed by the free, family-friendly First Friday Concert Series at The Pavilion. On Saturday and Sunday, visitors can tour participating communities including WaterSound Origins, WaterSound Camp Creek, Latitude Margaritaville WaterSound and WaterSound Fountains. Saturday also brings the Minto Matchpoint Pickleball Tournament and an evening beachfront bonfire at the private WaterSound Beach Club. The weekend wraps up Sunday with the WaterSound Block Party, featuring live music, local food trucks, lawn games, giveaways, face painting and balloon art. Special lodging rates are also available for attendees at WaterColor Inn and The Lodge 30A.
When: October 2–3, 2026
Where: Alys Beach
Tickets/Registration: Tickets are available for purchase; Friday’s Torque to Table and Saturday’s VIP Tent Experience are for guests ages 21 and older. Click here for tickets.
Cars of 30A returns to Alys Beach for two days celebrating automotive culture, design and performance against the community’s white-masonry architecture and cobblestone streets. Friday evening’s Torque to Table, held from 5 to 8 p.m. along South Charles Street, pairs a curated display of standout automobiles with a sunset cocktail hour, fine wines and handcrafted cocktails, followed by an open-air, long-table dinner. On Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m., The Grand Tour expands throughout the north side of Alys Beach and around Lake Marilyn, showcasing the full Cars of 30A collection alongside live music, art and artisan activations, luxury retail, food and beverages. Also available Saturday is a 21-and-up VIP Tent Experience at Central Park, with a shaded lounge, food and beverage service, premium cocktails and seating near the main event.
When: Saturday, October 10, 2026, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Where: The Market Shops, Miramar Beach
Tickets/Registration: $65 in advance; $75 at the door, if tickets remain available. Click here to buy tickets.
The Market Shops’ annual Bloody Mary Festival returns October 10 with area restaurants, bars and mixologists putting their own spin on the classic brunch cocktail. Guests can taste their way through the competition and vote for the People’s Choice winners, while a panel of local judges will also select Judge’s Choice and Best Bloody Accoutrement honors. Beyond the Bloody Marys, restaurants throughout The Market Shops will serve bites and treats, along with craft beer, spiked seltzers, rosé, sparkling wine, and a mocktail among other drink options. Catalyst will perform on the main stage, DJ Dad will take over the courtyard, and SEC football will play on the big screen. The afternoon also includes an interactive photo booth, cigars and custom trucker hats. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity of Walton County, and over the past decade the festival has raised more than $227,000 for local charities. Parking is available at The Market Shops, with additional parking at The Beach House at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort and a complimentary shuttle running from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
When: Friday, November 6, 2026, 5:30–8 p.m.; VIP entry begins at 5 p.m.
Where: North Lawn at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin
Tickets/Registration: General admission $70; children ages 12 and under $20; VIP $150. Click here to buy tickets.
Come hungry for the 30A BBQ Festival, which returns to Grand Boulevard with 18 local and regional eateries competing for the title of “Best BBQ.” Guests can sample unlimited barbecue and vote for first, second, and third place, while a panel of judges also awards Judge’s Choice and Most Creative honors. The evening includes complimentary beer from Grayton Beer Company and 30A wine, along with live music from Brent Shaw and returning headliner River Dan. Local vendors, a commemorative photo booth and live artwork by Bradley Copeland, whose finished piece will be included in the silent auction, round out the festivities. General admission includes festival entry, unlimited barbecue, beer and wine, while VIP guests receive early entry, a private lounge with a full bar, additional seating and other perks. The festival is The Sonder Project’s largest annual fundraiser, supporting the nonprofit’s work in clean water, education, food security and economic opportunity in Africa.
When: Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7, 2026; gates open at 5:45 p.m. and films begin at 7 p.m.
Where: WaterColor Marina Park Amphitheater, 238 WaterColor Blvd. W., Santa Rosa Beach
Tickets/Registration: $40 for one night or $70 for the weekend through September 30; prices increase beginning October 1. Children ages 8 and under attend free; ages 9 and older require a regular ticket. Taxes and processing fees are additional. Click here to buy tickets,
For 26 years, Mountainfilm on Tour has turned a November weekend at WaterColor into an outdoor cinema beneath the pines. The two-night program features documentary shorts selected from the annual Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, with stories exploring adventure, environmental preservation and global cultures. A Mountainfilm presenter guides audiences through each evening, providing additional context about the films, filmmakers and subjects. Guests can bring a blanket or low-back chair and settle onto the lawn as the films begin after dark, with food, wine, beer and liquor available for purchase before and during the screenings. The festival takes place rain or shine, and outside food, beverages and coolers are not permitted. Lodging packages combining event tickets with stays at nearby St. Joe properties are also available.
When: November 11–15, 2026
Where: Various locations throughout Alys Beach
Tickets/Registration: Individual events are ticketed, with several offering limited capacity; the Holiday Makers Market is free and open to the public. Click here for tickets!
Alys Beach Crafted brings five days of food, drink, music, art and craftsmanship to locations throughout Alys Beach. The week begins Wednesday with a 30A Songwriters Session at the Red Loggia at Caliza, followed Thursday by three Experiential Dinners pairing visiting chefs with cocktails, spirits or wine. Friday brings the Holiday Makers Market, the hands-on Cocktails & Clay workshop, and the 6th Annual Firkin Fête, where specialty firkin beers are paired with food from chefs across the Southeast and live music. On Saturday, Spirited Soirée takes over the North Sea Garden Walk with a progressive tasting of craft cocktails and spirits. The free Holiday Makers Market continues through Sunday at the Alys Beach Amphitheatre, with regional artisans, handcrafted goods, live music and photos with Santa. Proceeds from Alys Beach Crafted benefit the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County and its work supporting arts education, advocacy, funding and community programming.
When: Thursday, November 26, 2026; 10K at 7:30 a.m., 1-Mile Fun Run at 7:35 a.m. and 5K at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Rosemary Beach, with races beginning and ending along Scenic Highway 30A
Registration: 10K $95; 5K $95; 1-Mile Fun Run $45. No race-day registration. Click here to register now!
Thanksgiving morning on 30A begins early in Rosemary Beach, where the 15th Annual 30A 10K Thanksgiving Day Races bring runners, walkers, families and spectators together before the holiday celebrations begin. The event includes a 10K, 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run, with scenic courses along 30A and start and finish lines in Rosemary Beach. Registered participants receive a commemorative race shirt and custom finisher medal, and the celebration continues after the races with an awards ceremony, DJ, local vendors, breakfast and a complimentary Mimosa and Bloody Mary bar for adults. The race series has donated more than $1 million to nonprofit organizations over its history. In 2026, registration supports four local charity partners: Children’s Volunteer Health Network, Children in Crisis, Habitat for Humanity of Walton County and Bailey Brigade.
Whether your idea of a fall weekend involves cocktails and barbecue, rare cars, a film beneath the stars or a Thanksgiving morning run, the season gives plenty of reasons to spend a little more time along 30A. The Gulf is still inviting well into October, the evenings become more comfortable as the season moves along, and fall sunsets can be some of the best of the year.
Many of these events have limited capacity or tiered ticket pricing, so it pays to make plans early. Pick an event, leave some room on the schedule for the beach, and enjoy 30A at one of its best times of year.
Hey30A AI
