Your Weekly Guide to Fun

All area codes are 850 unless specified.

Kids Kite Festival
DESTIN – Stunt kites, show kites and kids activities during “Flying High on the Harbor” from 12 to 4 p.m. Oct. 17 and 18 at HarborWalk Village.

Best of the Emerald Coast
DESTIN – Emerald Coast Magazine presents the 2009 Best of the Emerald Coast winners from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at Destin Commons Center Plaza. See who the readers of Emerald Coast Magazine voted “The Best” along the Emerald Coast and enjoy food samplings, beer, wine and drinks from the winning restaurants, silent auction, and live music.
Admission is $25/person for advance tickets and $35/day of the event. All proceeds benefit the Junior League of the Emerald Coast. Tickets can be purchased at any Beach Community Bank or at www.jlec.org. Call 862-2665.

Baytowne Beer Festival
SANDESTIN – American specialty beers from around the nation will be displayed for participants to sample, savor, and sometimes shun, during the Baytowne Beer Festival.
Events include:
•Craft Beer Tasting: Live music and beer tasting from 2 to 7 p.m. Oct. 17.
•Retail Tent: Purchase beers from 12 to 9 p.m. outside Lumpy’s Wine Bar and Bottle Shop.

Dog Daze
FORT WALTON BEACH — The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce hosts FWB Dog Daze from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Fort Walton Landing park. A $3 registration donation per dog is requested. Call 244-8191.

Vettes at the Village
SANDESTIN – In conjunction with the Baytowne Beer Festival, area corvette clubs bring “America’s Sports Car” to the Village Events Plaza from 12 to 5 p.m. Oct. 17.

Expo Latino
FORT WALTON BEACH – Expo Latino will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at Santa Rosa Mall. Music, food, games and important information prepared for residents of the Gulf Coast in both English and Spanish.

Tailgate on The Harbor
DESTIN – Visit HarborWalk Village restaurants and watch games on the big screen from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturdays in September. Enjoy games and competitions, inflatables for kids and live entertainment.

American Legion
DESTIN – The Destin American Legion, 311 Main Street, offers the following activities. Call 650-0594.
•Karaoke Fridays with a late night menu.
•Family dinners from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturdays.
•Ballroom and guitar lessons Tuesdays.

Haunted House Walking and Trolley Tours
PENSACOLA – The Pensacola Historical Society hosts the 19th Annual Haunted House and Trolley Tours fundraiser Oct. 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31. Walking tours leave every 30 minutes from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Trolley tours leave at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. All tours will leave from the Pensacola Historical Museum, 115 E. Zaragoza St., and will last one hour.  
Walking tour tickets are $10/adults and $5/children 12 and under. Trolley tour tickets are $16/adults and $8/children 12 and under. Reservations and advanced payment are required.  Call 595-1559.  

Coconut Radio
SANDESTIN – Coconut Radio plays from 7 to 9 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the Events Plaza Stage at the Village of Baytowne Wharf.

Playwright Festival
SEASIDE – The Seaside Repertory Theatre’s 9th annual Autumn Playwright Festival will celebrate the career of Harold Pinter, and will feature the playwright’s multiple Tony Award-winning drama “The Homecoming” through Oct. 17. The production will take place in Seaside’s Meeting Hall Theatre, and the other activities will occur in various locations on Scenic Highway 30A. Visit seasiderep.org or call 231-0733.

Jazz-By-the-Bay Festival
PANAMA CITY – The Ninth Annual Jazz-By-the-Bay Festival will be held at noon Oct. 17 at Oaks-By-the-Bay-Park, St. Andrews. The free festival features noted jazz artists playing a variety of jazz styles. Visit www.gulfjazzsociety.com for information.

Mexico Beach Art & Wine Festival
MEXICO BEACH – The 11th Annual Mexico Beach Art & Wine Festival will be held from 2 to 10 p.m. Oct. 17 at Driftwood Inn, 2105 U.S. 98. Tickets are $10 per person and all proceeds go to Special Events of Mexico Beach.

UWF Department of Theatre
PENSACOLA – The University of West Florida Department of Theatre will present the Tony-Award winning musical “Pippin” at 8 p.m. Oct. 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31 and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 18, 25 and Nov. 1 at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre, Bldg. 82.
Tickets are $16/adults, $12/senior citizens, active military and $10/non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. Call 857-6285 or visit uwf.edu/cfpa.

Mullet Festival
NICEVILLE – The 33rd Annual Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival takes place beginning at 9 a.m. Oct. 17 and 10 a.m. Oct. 18 at the Mullet Festival Grounds, State Road 85 North at College Blvd.
Music headliners are Blake Shelton, Chuck Wicks and Billy Ray Cyrus. Also, enjoy arts and crafts show, a juried art show and handmade and decorated clothing in the Boutique area. Admission is $10/person and includes all entertainment. Children 11 and under are free.

Dog Day Afternoon
DESTIN – Get pets’ portraits taken and enjoy outdoor “yappy” hour with special treats for you and your dog from 3 to 6 p.m. Sundays in September at HarborWalk Village. The Alaqua Pet Rescue and Adoption Organization will benefit from all donations.

Art exhibitions
NICEVILLE – The galleries at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College will present two exhibitions through Oct. 18 — “Vitriforms: Contemporary Glass Art” in the McIlroy Gallery and  “Selections from the Permanent Collection” in the Holzhauer Gallery. The exhibitions are free and open to the public. Call 729-6044.

Comedy Night
OKALOOSA ISLAND – Howl at the Moon Comedy Night by “The Comedy Zone” is held every Sunday night featuring two touring comedians. Doors open at 7 p.m. Dueling Piano Show starts at 8. Comedy Show starts at 9.  Reservations recommended.

Ensemble Concert
PENSACOLA — The University of West Florida Department of Music will present a free fall ensemble concert with the UWF Singers and Madrigals at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 in the UWF Music Hall at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Bldg. 82. Reservations are recommended at 857-6285 or 474-2405.

Family Fun Tuesday
SANDESTIN – Family Fun Tuesdays will be held each Tuesday in October at The Market Shops at Sandestin.
The activities start at 4 p.m. at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s where kids eat free until 8 p.m. Children’s entertainment from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. includes face painting, balloon art, airbrush tattoos and magic shows.

Movie night
DESTIN — The Friends Guild of the Destin Library’s monthly movie will be “The Country Teacher,” (Czech with English subtitles), at 7 p.m. Oct. 20. The program is free and films are directed toward mature audiences. Call 837-8572.

Oil painting  
VALPARAISO – The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida will hold an oil painting class with artist Jane Graupp from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Museum, 115 Westview Ave. in Valparaiso. Each participant will create “A Day at the Beach” oil painting.
Cost is $30 or $25/HMNF members. To reserve a seat, call 678-2615. 

Funky Blues Shack Baytowne
SANDESTIN – A unique collaboration of blues-rock, funky pop and hard-rocking originals by Zach Rosicka at 8 p.m. Tuesdays.
Tunes with a distinctive touch by Jacob Mohr at 8 p.m. Wednesdays.

Blue Angels
PENSACOLA – The Blue Angels will perform practice air shows over NAS Pensacola at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings through November, weather permitting. An autograph session with the pilots inside the Museum follows on Wednesdays. Admission is free and open to the public.

Wednesday Night Concert Series
SANDESTIN – The Village of Baytowne Wharf presents Victor Wainwright and the WildRoots from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 21 in the Events Plaza. Call 267-8117.

In-house concert
SANDESTIN – Emerald Coast Coffee & Grill in Grand Boulevard presents guitarist Scott Gilmore from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday. The event is free and open to public.

David Seering at On The Rocks Bar
DESTIN – David Seering is performing at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays at Commander’s Palace, On The Rocks Bar, in HarborWalk Village. The local favorite’s music has been compared to Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick Jr., and is a must-see for visitors to the Destin area.

Fall Festival
DESTIN – Destin Elementary School will hold its first Fall Festival from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 23 on the track at the school. Classrooms will create games for the event. There will be a bake sale, raffles, inflatable rides and spider mountain. Food, from $1 to $5, furnished by Merlins Pizza and Hog's Breath. Armbands, which cover all ride and games, are preselling for $8 and will be $10 the night of the event.

Benise — Nights of Fire!
NICEVILLE – Spanish guitarist Roni Benise brings his Emmy award-winning Nights of Fire! to the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23.
Tickets are on sale for $30 each at the center’s box office in-person, by phone at 729-6000, or online at www.mattiekellyartscenter.org. A group discount of $5 off per ticket is available for groups of 10 or more.

Act4Murder
DESTIN – Performance of “Peace, Love ... And Murder” plays at 6:15 p.m. Oct. 23 and “Mayhem at the Monster Bash” at 6:15 p.m. Oct. 24 at Fudpucker’s in Destin. Cost is $39.95 per person, plus tax and tip. Call 460-2028.

Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars
FORT WALTON BEACH – The Circus of the Stars returns at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23, 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 and :30 and 4:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at Santa Rosa Mall. For ticket information, call (800) 796-5672.

Choral Society of Pensacola
PENSACOLA –  The Choral Society of Pensacola presents A Celebration of Franz Joseph Haydn’s 200th Anniversary featuring “The Seasons” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at Olive Baptist Church, 1836 Olive Road. Call 484-1806 or e-mail csop1@juno.com for ticket information.

Destin Festival of the Arts
DESTIN – The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation will present the 14th Annual Destin Festival of the Arts from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 24 and 25 at Henderson Beach State Park. Admission, donation of $3/ adults and kids under 12 free.  

Starfish Gala Charity Ball
SANDESTIN – The Second Annual Starfish Gala Charity Ball will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Sandestin Hilton Beach Resort. Funds raised will be used to support the programs of Northwest Florida Catholic Charities.
Evening will feature musicians from Sinfonia, a reception, seated dinner, and guest speaker, author Immaculee Ilibagiza. For tickets, call 244-2825 or visit www.starfishgala.com.

Holly Days Arts and Crafts Show
SANTA ROSA BEACH – Crafters and artists are wanted for the Holly Days Arts and Crafts Show to be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 24 at Good News United Methodist Church, 4747 U.S. 98. Call 622-9191.

Art exhibit: Atmospheric Perspectives
FORT WALTON BEACH – Full Circle Gallery, 29 B Eglin Parkway SW, presents “Atmospheric Perspectives,” a solo exhibition featuring the work of potter and artist Susie Bowman, through Oct. 25.