Upcoming Entertainment (beginning Oct. 5)

Area codes are 850 unless noted.

Seafood Festival

DESTIN – The 35th annual Destin Seafood Festival will take place along the Destin Harbor Boardwalk featuring fresh local seafood, live music, artists, and more will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct 6. No admission charge — donations accepted at the door. Al Alvarado and street performers perform along the Village Promenade. On the West Village Stage, Pirate Pete and the Missing Fisherman have daily shows and the Emerald Coast Theater Company has an interactive children’s performance. Music includes Village Brass Band with Fly, at noon; Blenders, 2 p.m.; Village Brass Band, 3 p.m.; and Louis Prima Jr. and The Witnesses, 5 p.m.

Chronic Jester

MIRAMAR BEACH - Enjoy the reggae, rock, funk and blues of Chronic Jester Tuesdays at Hammerhead’s Bar and Grille, 137 Fisherman’s Cove.

Wednesday Night Concert Series

SANDESTIN – The Village of Baytowne Wharf presents free concerts from 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays in the Events Plaza. Call 267-8186.

Michael J Thomas

DESTIN - Michael J Thomas performs a blend of smooth jazz saxophone music and R&B vocals Tuesday through Saturday "upon availability" at Ruth's Chris Steak House, 15000 Emerald Coast Parkway. Call 337-5108.

Americana Under The Stars

SANTA ROSA BEACH – Lucky Mud performs in a family/pet friendly concert series, Americana Under the Stars, from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 10 in the amphitheater at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Open mic begins at 6 p.m. Bring a chair and beverage. Free admission into park and a suggested donation of $5 goes to the Friends of Topsail Hill.

• Oct. 17: Scott and Michele Daliez

• Oct. 24:  Charlie Groth

• Oct. 31:  -Lauren Heitz

Haunted House

DESTIN - The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge presents their Eighth Annual Haunted House at the Destin Harbor Boardwalk at 7 p.m. Oct. 11-12, 18-19, 25-26, 31 and Nov. 1-2. Small children are not recommended. Admission is $9. Parking is free with the exception of October 4-5 due to the Seafood Festival.

Sesame Street Live

PANAMA CITY – Join Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Murray and all the Sesame Street friends as they bring the magic of music to life at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at Marina Civic Center, 8 Harrison Ave. Kids’ matinee at 10:30 a.m. with $10 tickets. Tickets are $15 and $22 at 763-4696 and www.ticketmaster.com. For information, visit www.sesamestreetlive.com.

Buy the Bayou Auction & Wine Tasting

NICEVILLE - The Niceville Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce presents the 14th Annual Buy the Bayou Auction & Wine Tasting at 6 p.m. Oct. 11 at Northwest Florida State College, Student Services Center. Event includes a silent and live auction, dessert auction, wine tasting, food and networking. Tickets, $25, are available at the Chamber office. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Friends of the Niceville Library, Sharing & Caring of Niceville and the Taylor Haugen Foundation. Call 678-2323.

Star Gazing by the Shore

DESTIN - Volunteers from the Northwest Florida Astronomy Association will set up telescopes for public viewing of the night sky from 4-10 p.m. Oct. 12 at Henderson Beach State Park. Also, prior to sunset, the telescopes will be equipped for safe viewing of the sun. The park will close at sunset.  All those attending the star gaze should arrive prior to sunset. Call park for sunset time. Program included in park admission fee. Call 837-7550.

Duck Regatta

SANDESTIN - The third annual Emerald Coast Duck Regatta begins at 10 a.m. Oct. 12 in the Events Plaza at Baytowne Wharf with children’s activities including a scavenger hunt and Abrakadoodle Face Painting. The Duck Regatta begins at 1 p.m. with up to 5,000 rubber ducks racing across the Lagoon. Make a donation of $10 or more to Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast Guild to adopt a duck. Proceeds will help fund new and/or improved hospital services. Adopt ducks at http://www.emeraldcoastduckregatta.com/ or in the Sacred Heart Hospital Gift Shop.

This Is The 60s

Travel back in time when the national touring concert experience “This Is The 60s” hits the stage at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville. The event is part of the college’s year-long 50th Anniversary celebration. A $50 ticket includes a 50th Anniversary Gala Reception from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Art Galleries prior to the show plus VIP reserved seating for the show. Show-only tickets are $35 each.  Purchaseby phone or web from the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box Office. Call 729-6000 or visit www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.

Art exhibit

NICEVILLE - In honor of NWFSC’s 50th Anniversary, the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Galleries presents “From the Vault: 50 years of Collecting from OWJC to NWF State College” through Oct. 12 in the Holzhauer and McIlroy Galleries. Selections from the college’s extensive Permanent Collection showcase the history of art collecting at the college, from the days of Okaloosa-Walton Junior College to Northwest Florida State College. Call 729-6000.

Margaritaville

DESTIN - The new Margaritaville at HarborWalk Village will open in late 2013. The talent and entertainment team will hold auditions for bands, duos, and solo acoustic performers Oct. 13-15. Send submissions to destinlivemusic@margaritaville.com with your contact information, sample music and play list to be considered. All talent/acts must be able to perform live on HarborWalk Village main stage and interact with audience during auditions to be considered.

Call to Artists:  Inspired by Miró

FORT WALTON BEACH - The Arts and Design Society is inviting all artists to participate in the upcoming competition, “Inspired by Miró,” in which all entries, which may be in any medium, are to reflect the influence of Joan Miró. Work should be turned in from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 12 or 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 14 at the Art Center, 17 First Street, SE.  A copy of the entry form is available at http://artsdesignsociety.org/ or call 244-1271.

Independent Film Series

DESTIN - The Friends Guild of the Destin Library will sponsor a movie night at 4 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Library.  The program is free and open to the public. Films are unrated and directed toward mature audiences. Seating will be limited to 30 on a first-come, first-served basis.

Independent Film Series

DESTIN - The Friends Guild of the Destin Library will sponsor a movie night showing “Veronica Guerin” at 4 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Library. It is based on a true story of Irish journalist Veronica Guerin who exposed some of Dublin’s most powerful drug lords and crime bosses, published their stories in the Dublin Sunday Independent and was eventually assassinated. The program is free and open to the public. Films are unrated and directed toward mature audiences. Seating will be limited to 30 on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mamma Mia!

NICEVILLE - The national tour of the global smash hit “Mamma Mia!” appears at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 on the mainstage theater at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center of Northwest Florida State College. The Broadway Series musical is based on the songs of the pop group ABBA. Tickets are $49 and available at 729-6000 or www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.

Best of the Emerald Coast

MIRAMAR BEACH - The 2013 winners for the 13th annual 2013 Best of the Emerald Coast will be on display from 6-9:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin along the main street of the center. The best restaurants, retailers, service businesses, doctors, lawyers, photographer, art galleries, musicians, and many more will be out in full force showing their goods and services.

The public is invited to an evening of food, fun, fashion and entertainment, including food samplings, beer, wine and drinks from the winning restaurants, a silent auction, and live music. The event will benefit the Junior League of the Emerald Coast, an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, improving our community, and developing the potential of women as civic leaders. Admission is $30 per person for advance tickets and $40 the day of the event. Visit www.jlec.org, call 862-2665 or visit www.facebook.com/BestoftheEmeraldCoast.

Artwalk on the Harbor

DESTIN- DestinBoardwalk.com, AJ’s Seafood Restaurant and Olin Marler Charters has announced the inaugural Destin Boardwalk’s Artwalk on the Harbor from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 20. The free art event is a mini arts district the third Sunday of every month and features the work of local and regional artists, along with individuals who create or produce various forms of art, crafts, photography, clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, or perform/sell music. The event takes place in the area starting right below the zipline all the way to AJ’s.

Jake’s Women

NICEVILLE - America's premier comic playwright makes another hilarious foray into the world of modern relationships as Northwest Florida State College presents its production of the Neil Simon comedy “Jake’s Women” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23-26 in the Sprint Theater of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center. Tickets are $15/adults and $10 for youth 18 or younger. Tickets can be purchased at 850-729-6000 or online at http://mattiekellyartscenter.org. Student Nights are at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 and 22 exclusively for NWFSC students or area high school students who are admitted free of charge by showing a current student ID.

Sinfonia Gulf Coast

EMERALD COAST – The eighth year of programming for Sinfonia Gulf Coast presents the orchestra and world-renowned guest artists. Season tickets which feature premier seating, including gala table seating, for all five concerts are on sale for $265 each. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit www.SinfoniaGulfCoast.org or call 850-269-7129.

• Oct. 24: Musical Identities features guzheng player Su Chang in an orchestral concerto and also the orchestral showpiece, “Scheherazade,” by Rimsky-Korsakov.

• Dec. 20: The Orchestral Holiday concert at Destiny Worship Center features holiday favorites and dancers from the Northwest Florida Ballet.

• Jan. 24: The Bernstein Beat concerts are hosted by Jamie Bernstein, daughter of conductor/composer Leonard Bernstein, and include a morning youth performance and an evening concert which includes Bernstein’s “Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.”

• Feb. 14, 15: Classical Connections at Rosemary Beach Town Hall features string quintet SYBARITE5.

• March 29: Sinfonia Gala features Patti LuPone in her Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda concert at the Emerald Coast Convention Center on Okaloosa Island. Cash bar available.

Marla Armstrong exhibit

FORT WALTON BEACH- An exhibit of more than 80 paintings, ceramics and sculpture by local artist Marla Armstrong will be on display until Oct. 18 in the UWF Emerald Coast Library, 1170 Martin Luther King Blvd. in Building 8. 

Pastel Society

FORT WALTON BEACH - The Pastel Society of North Florida will host a free painting demonstration, “One Image-Two Results,” by Elaine Augustine, Pastel Society of America master pastelist, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Church of Christ's Fellowship Hall, 232 Hollywood Blvd. SE. For information, email  pastel@centurytel.net.

Beyond Glory

NICEVILLE - The Mattie Kelly Arts Center will feature the national tour of a tribute to military heroes who have earned the Medal of Honor, “Beyond Glory,” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 in the mainstage theater of the performing arts complex at NWFSC.  Tickets are $35 each with a $5 discount for groups of 10 or more and are on sale by phone or web from the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box Office.  Call 729-6000 or visit www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.

Savor the Season

ALYS BEACH - The Fourth Annual Savor the Season benefit for the Taylor Haugen Foundation will be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at Caliza Pool and Restaurant. Enjoy a wine tasting, silent and live auctions, and gourmet cuisine made by local chefs from Panama City to Destin. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at www.SavorTheSeason2013.org.

Blues, Brews & BBQ

DESTIN - Local restaurants will fire up the grills Nov. 9 for a good time and a good cause at HarborWalk Village when the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Northwest Florida chapter hosts a craft beer tasting and creative BBQ competition. All proceeds benefit FRLA Educational Foundation, supporting the next generation of hospitality professionals. Entertainment includes Season Ammons Band and Blenders.

Glenn Miller Orchestra

NICEVILLE - The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Mattie Kellie Arts Center, 100 College Blvd. Tickets are $20. Advance tickets are available at the Mattie Kelly Arts Box office, www.mattiekellyartscenter.org or call 729-6000 or 888-838-2737.

This event is sponsored by the Niceville High School Band Program, and the NHS Big Band Jazz ensemble perform a song with the orchestra.