September Seafood Festival heads east on the harbor

The 32nd Annual Destin Seafood Festival has been set for Sept. 17-19 and organizers think they have found the perfect venue.

The new site is combining land from Fisherman’s Wharf Seafood House, Dewey Destin Seafood and the new Royal Melvin Heritage Park to make room for the festival, which has been known to draw more than 30,000 people.

“The chamber felt that the festival needed to stay on the harbor,” said Kelly Windes, of Fishing Fleet Marina. “And we thought we’d give it a try.”

Windes and the rest of the publically-owned Fishing Fleet Marina are happy to accommodate the Destin tradition.

“It’s going to take an organization and a strong community effort,” said Windes. “But we feel good about it.”

The September date is an apparent first for the festival, which always opened in the first week of the annual Destin Fishing Rodeo.

“I absolutely hate that it’s not the first week of October,” said Rodeo Executive Director Helen Donaldson. “We don’t have a whole lot of history and tradition, and it was one of those little pieces of history that you could always count on.”

Destin Area Chamber of Commerce president Shane Moody said the new dates let the festival be a true kick-off to the Rodeo and ensure that the fest won’t interfere with fleet operations during one of the busiest seasons for charter captains.

Last year, the event was held at HaborWalk Village and had a large turnout, many of which arrived to see the 80s throwbacks Joan Jett and Survivor. For photos from last year's fest, click here.

“We had a couple of good years at HarborWalk,” said Moody. “But we have a responsibility to evaluate each year and see how it fits with the planned direction of the festival.”

Some of the criteria that the chamber uses in determining a site are its proximity to the harbor, ability to involve local seafood and the inclusion of local artists.

The new city parking area across Harbor Boulevard, at the corner of Marler Street, will accommodate much of the parking for this year’s event. The site will also let the city showcase the early stages of what one day will be Destin’s central park.

“The new Royal Melvin park will be the entrance to the festival,” said Moody. “We want that to be the long-term focal point.”

The festival returned to the harbor in 2008 after the ever-changing landscape of the city forced the festival into multiple venues during a seven-year hiatus. During that time it was moved to places such as the Morgan Sports Complex and the K-Mart parking lot.

For more information about the 32nd Annual Destin Seafood Festival visit destinchamber.com/destin/seafoodfestival.asp.

“The new location is much more centered in the city of Destin,” said Moody. “It’s much better for the members of the chamber.”

Other sites considered by organizers were Morgan Sports Center, which hosted the event for years, and Legendary’s HarborWalk Village.

Legendary Inc., which has hosted the fest for the last two years on the harbor, wished organizers well.

“I think it’s fantastic that it’s staying on the harbor,” said Legendary president and CEO Peter Bos. “The harbor is really coming alive.”