SEAFOOD? EAT IT! Festival gets ready to rock tonight with Survivor (PHOTOS and EVENT GUIDE)

This weekend, Destin will do what it does best at the 31st Annual Destin Seafood Festival — back on the harbor and bringing on the best seafood and entertainment on the Emerald Coast.

The festival, opening its gates at 4 p.m. on Friday, is also a perfect way to usher in the 61st annual Destin Fishing Rodeo that begins on Thursday.

“We are looking to have great weather, it’s supposed to cool off,” said Elizabeth Spies, vice president of communications at the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce.

Tuesday morning finally served up a break in the heat with a morning commute in the mid-60s. This weekend promises milder temperatures. The Weather Channel’s Web site calls for highs in the low 80s all weekend and lows in the upper 60s at night. There’s a 30 to 40 percent chance of thunderstorms through the weekend.
Of course, getting there is half the work.

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For photos from the 2008 festival, click here.

For photos of the prep work for the 2009 festival, click here.

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Free parking for the festival can be found onsite in the Emerald Grande parking garage, and at the west lot of The Track and at Morgan Sports Center behind Destin City Hall. Two shuttles will run between these locations and the festival from 30 minutes prior to opening time to 30 minutes after the festival closes each day.

Paying for parking within walking distance of the Seafood Festival is an option with those proceeds going to local causes. Parking will be available around the Destin History and Fishing Museum, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church and at the Destin Fishing Fleet Marina for $5 per vehicle at each place.

A couple things to keep in mind are that no outside food, drinks or coolers will be allowed in the festival. No animals of any kind, except for guide dogs for the visually impaired, will be allowed.

The Chamber expects a turnout this year of more than 36,000 visitors, the same as last year, for the three-day seafood event.

Festival admission can be purchased for $15 for the entire three-day weekend, or for $5 each on Friday and Sunday and $10 on Saturday. Tickets are available ahead of time at the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce, located at 4484 Legendary Drive, Suite A, in Destin, or at the festival gates. For additional ticket information, call the Chamber at 837-6241.

Entertainment headliners will be Survivor on Friday night at 8 p.m. and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts on Saturday at 8 p.m. Other local favorites, such as Black Eyed Blonde, Chuck Lawson, The Forrest Williams Band, Ocean Street, The Sal Salaz Project and Stephanie Pettis RIO Band, and Jones and Company will play throughout the weekend.

“We’re hearing a good buzz about Joan Jett, a lot of people are excited about her,” Spies told The Log.

The festival vendors include the familiar lineup of clothing, art, jewelry, homemade soap, purses, personalized crafts and other home goods. A children’s play area will feature a rock climbing wall, space jump and other bounce houses, face painting and airbrush tattoos.

There will be 18 local restaurants and caterers on hand with their best seafood, Cajun cuisine, ice cream, snacks and coffee treats for festival-goers. The festival is also an opportunity to help the Chamber contribute to local charities and non-profits.

More than $43,500 has gone to numerous organizations over the past three years, as the Chamber provides a way to earn $500 each in direct exchange for working short shifts at the festival.

31st Annual Destin Seafood Festival information from the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce

Location
The 31st Annual Destin Seafood Festival will take place on the Destin harbor inside HarborWalk Village.

Admission, Event Hours, and Festival Site Rules
Admission for the entire 3-day weekend is $15, or you may purchase daily tickets for $5 each on Friday and Sunday and $10 on Saturday. Tickets do include the entertainment. Food and beverages must be purchased separately once inside. Tickets may be purchased now at the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce, located at 4484 Legendary Drive, Suite A, in Destin. Tickets may also be purchased on the days of the festival from any festival admission gate. Please call (850) 837-6241 for additional ticket information.

Event Hours
Event hours are as follows:
Friday, Oct. 2
4 - 10 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 3
10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 4
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Festival Site Rules
- Please note that no animals of any kind, except for guide dogs for the visually impaired, will be allowed.
- No coolers will be allowed.
- No outside food or drinks may be taken into the festival.
- Limited seating is available. You are welcome to bring in your own chairs, if you like.

Entertainment
Friday, Oct. 2
4 p.m. - Festival Gates Open / Destin Cheerleading Exhibition
4:30 p.m. - Opening Ceremony - Miss Destin / Mayor Barker
4:45 p.m. - NWF State College Soundsations Show Choir
The Northwest Florida State College Soundsations Show Choir is a musical performance group much like a Vegas floor show. You will enjoy a collection of music ranging from classic rock-n-roll to contemporary pop.
6 p.m. - Black Eyed Blonde
After almost 10 years of live shows, Black Eyed Blonde has been rocking out to songs from bands, such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead, and Earth Wind & Fire.
8 p.m. - Survivor
With 10 albums during its 32-year career, Survivor's hits include “I Can’t Hold Back,” “Eye Of The Tiger,” and “High On You.”
10 p.m. - Festival Gates Close

Saturday, Oct. 3
10 a.m. - Festival Gates Open
2 p.m. - Chuck Lawson, Tropical Island Music
Exciting, energetic, and fun describe the tropical island music of Chuck Lawson. His entertaining performances create a contagious energy for audiences of all ages.
4 p.m. - The Forrest Williams Band
The Forrest Williams Band is known for incorporating the acoustic guitar and the harmonica, while performing a variety of music, from soul and country to rock n’ roll.
6 p.m. - Ocean Street
With hits such as “Till I’m Gone,” and “One Horse Town,” Ocean Street has received radio success at the college radio level, and its music is licensed for use on six MTV shows.
8 p.m. - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts will headline Saturday's line up. Jett is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist with eight platinum and gold albums. She also has nine Top 40 singles, including “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll,” “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” and “Crimson and Clover.” In addition to touring, Jett currently hosts a weekly radio program on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Faction.
10 p.m. - Festival Gates Close

Sunday, Oct. 4
11 a.m. - Festival Gates Open
12 p.m. - The Sal Salaz Project and Stephanie Pettis RIO Band
The Sal Salaz Project and Stephanie Pettis RIO Band are a group of talented musicians best known for their mix of Smooth Jazz, Pop and Hot Latin sounds that will keep you moving and dancing on your feet throughout their performance.
2 p.m. - Jones and Company
Jones and Company is known for performing a variety of genres with an eclectic collection of music, which they perform with heart and conviction.
4 p.m. - Festival Ends

Parking
Regular and handicap parking will be available free of charge on the Destin Seafood Festival site in the Emerald Grande parking garage. Please follow the instructions of parking attendants and security guards.
Parking is also available free of charge at the Morgan Sports Center's parking lot behind Destin City Hall, located at 4200 Indian Bayou Trail, and the Track Recreation Center's west lot, located at 1125 Hwy. 98 E. Two shuttles will run from these locations to the festival site. Shuttle service will begin 30 minutes prior to the festival’s opening and end 30 minutes after its closing each day.

Other parking near the festival site includes the following:
• The Destin History and Fishing Museum will provide parking for Destin Seafood Festival visitors for a donation of $5 per car. Parking will be at the two parking lots adjacent to the museum’s 108 Stahlman Ave. location. Parking spaces will be available Friday, Oct. 2, from 2 - 8 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 3, from 8:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Each car parked will receive a coupon for one free admission to the museum and a $2.50 coupon redeemable at AJ’s. For more information, please call (850) 837-6611.
• St. Andrews Episcopal Church is opening its parking lot for paid parking during the hours of the Seafood Festival. The Church is located at 307 Harbor Blvd., and it has approximately 150 parking spaces divided between its front lot on Harbor Boulevard and its back lot on Mountain Drive. The fee will be $5 to park per day. For more information, please call (850) 687-9078.
• The Destin Fishing Fleet Marina will offer paid parking for $5 per day per car. Parking will be available in the back lot and in the front lot, except for the area directly in front of the Fisherman's Wharf restaurant. The location is 210 Harbor Blvd. Approximately 265 spaces are available. Please pay attention to the "No Parking" signs, and park only in designated spots.

Vendors
A selection of 50 diverse vendors from all over the U.S will be selling their arts, crafts, and other products, including adult and children's clothing; handcrafted paintings; silver, gold, glass, wood, hemp, beaded, and magnetic jewelry; homemade soap; golf ball markers; pro/college wind chimes; leather, straw, canvas, and personalized hats; bottled balsamic vinegar and oil; canopy chairs and Hawaiian sun chairs; flip flops; home décor; antique/vintage metal signs and posters; wood, glass, fiber, and metal art; cookbooks; purses and wallets; photography; personalized chalk boards; face painting and airbrush tattoos; and 2009 Seafood Festival t-shirts.

Food
Some of the area's favorite restaurants and caterers are bringing their best fresh seafood dishes and other specialties, including favorite dishes from the Back Porch, Café Grazie, Fisherman's Wharf, Louisiana Lagniappe, and Pompano Joe's; fresh homemade ice cream from Bruster's Ice Cream; coconut shrimp and island shrimp creole from the Caribbean Café; fried catfish and sweet potato fries from CP Concessions; espressos and lattes from Cuppy's Coffee; kettle corn and cotton candy from Kettle Corn; alligator and crawfish etoufee from New Orleans Cajun Cuisine; more than 20 syrup flavors from Mark's Hawaiian Shaved Ice; homemade root beer floats from McGuire's Irish Pub; scallops and snapper from MDM Concessions; Italian ice from Repicci's Italian Ice; shark and oysters from Ruben's Concession's; all natural real fruit smoothies from Tropical Smoothie Café; and Hawaiian shaved ice and frozen mocha from Tropical Sno.