ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT April 12
To list your event, email pgrif-fin@thedestinlog.com or news@thedestinlog.com.
Wednesday Night Concert Series
Bring your chairs and blankets and enjoy a free concert under the stars with Departure, A Journey Tribute, from 7-9 p.m. April 12 in the Events Plaza in Baytowne Wharf.
• April 19: Satisfaction, A Rolling Stones Tribute
•April 26: Shadow of the King, Elvis Tribute
• May 3: Forrest Williams
• May 10: Selwyn Birchwood
• May 17: Big Al & the Heavyweights
• May 24: Chris Alvarado
• May 31: Moon Lagoons
One Night of Queen
“One Night of Queen with Gary Mullen and The Works” appears April 13 in the Mainstage Theater of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at NWFSC in Niceville. The concert rec-reates and celebrates the music of Queen. Tickets are $35 or $30 for groups of 10 or more purchased together and are available at 729-6000 or www.MattieKellyArtsCenter.org.
‘80s Rewind Dance Party
Emerald Coast Theatre Company (ECTC) is throwing a big-haired dance party, ‘80s style, at 7:30 p.m. April 14 in ECTC’s performing space, Upstairs at 560 Grand Boulevard in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin in Miramar Beach. Scrunchies and bolo ties are optional, but best dressed will win for the “Most Choice” outfit. Shenanigans Show Band will perform. Tickets are $25/advance and $30/door. Proceeds from ticket sales, cash bar and silent auction will benefit Emerald Coast Theatre Company’s educational and professional programs. Purchase tickets at www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org.
Blackwater Review
Student poets and writers published in this year's Blackwater Review at NWFSC will read and perform their pieces at a casual event at 6 p.m. April 14 in the McIlroy Gallery. Event is free and open to the public. Call 729-6032 or email holmesb@nwfsc.edu.
Teen Night 2017
Fudpucker's Beachside Bar & Grill in Destin holds Teen Night for ages 14-17 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. every Thursday and Friday through April 14. Teens can dance the night away in a fully supervised environment. Parents are welcome to view the fun from the lounge overlooking the deck. Cost is $15/general admission and $10 additional for VIP Package which includes special VIP area, non-alcoholic champagne, free 32 oz. Fud Bucket, Unlimited Coca Cola prod-ucts, glow jewelry and more. Call 654-4200.
HH Arts anniversary
HH Arts, 100 Beal Parkway in Fort Walton Beach, will celebrate its second anniversary from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 15. Meet many of the artists and watch them at work. Enjoy refreshments and music.
Easter Explosion
Bounce on over to the Village of Baytowne Wharf for an Easter Explosion from 12-3 p.m. April 15. Enjoy a day filled with free family friendly entertain-ment, lawn games, face-painting, and an inflatable obstacle course. Get your picture taken with the Easter Bunny.
Spring Concerts at Market Shops
Donnie Sundal will perform from 1-3 p.m. April 16 at The Market Shops at the entrance to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Bring a chair and blanket. In the event of rainy weather, the concert will be relocated to the covered patio outside of Bijoux.
• April 23: Chris Alvarado
• April 30: The Wildlife Specials
Easter Bunny Brunch/Visit
Enjoy an Easter Brunch overlooking the Destin harbor from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 16 in the HarborView Room. Call 424-0622 for reservations. Then hop on down to HarborWalk Village and visit with the Easter Bunny from 2-4 p.m. on the main stage.
Reading/unveiling
Andre Dubus III is the 2017 guest author appear-ing as part of the NWF READS program at Northwest Florida State College. He will present a Guest Author Reading of his work from 7-8 p.m. April 17 in the Sprint Thea-ter of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center on the Niceville campus. The event is free of charge with no ticket required. Immediately preceding the reading by Dubus, the college’s liter-ary journal Blackwater Review will be unveiled with a reception and selected student readings in the adjoining McIlroy Gallery from 6-6:45 p.m. Event is free.
ADSO window display
During April, The Arts and Design Society presents the works of students of clay artists Pat Basque and Sherry Cooler. The window art is available for viewing 24/7 at The Art Center Gallery, 17 First Street SE in Fort Walton Beach.
HH Arts Artist of the Month
During April, HH Arts will highlight the works of Benita Tucker, seascape artist, at 100 Beal Parkway SW in Fort Walton Beach.
Pinocchio
The REP presents a free updated, fast paced version of the classic tale that follows the little puppet Pinocchio on his adventures to becoming a real boy. Shows are at 6 p.m. Mondays through April 17 at the Seaside Amphitheater.
Independent Film Series
The Friends Guild of the Destin Library will sponsor a movie, the drama "I Am Sam," at 3 p.m. April 18 at the Destin Library. The program is free and open to the pub-lic; directed toward a mature audience.
Pop & Shop Concert Series
Sip, shop and shimmy to the tunes of Continuum during the new concert series from 5-7 p.m. April 18 throughout the center at The Market Shops at the entrance to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
May 2: Casey Kearney
May 9: Hugh Mitchell & The High Tide
May 16: Boukou Groove
May 23: Continuum
May 30: Kyle LaMonica
June 6: Casey Kearney
June 13: Kyle LaMonica
June 20: Hugh Mitchell & The High Tide
June 27: Luke Langford
July 4: The Graytones
July 11: Hugh Mitchell & The High Tide
July 18: Boukou Groove
July 25: Casey Kearney
Aug. 15: Boukou Groove
Sandestin Wine Festival
The 31st Annual Sandestin Wine Festival will be held April 20-23 at The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Four days of unique events open up a wide range of experiences from attending wine dinners with celebrity chefs, participating in preview events throughout the year, and taking part in wine tastings that showcase hundreds of wine. Visit www.sandestinwinefestival.com for events, times and tickets.
Fine Arts Recitals
The Fine and Performing Arts Division of Northwest Florida State College presents a series of free vocal and instru-mental recitals featuring NWFSC students who are selected to perform by college faculty. Spring Recitals are scheduled at 3 p.m. April 21, with an Honors Recital April 28, in the Tyler Recital Hall of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center in Niceville. Free seating is on a first come basis with no ticket required. For information, call 729-5362.
Musical Echoes
Musical Echoes Flute Festival returns from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. April 21-23 at The Landing, 139 Brooks St. in Fort Walton Beach. Celebrate Native American culture, art, and music. Admission is free. This is a non-alcoholic event for the entire family.
German Masters Concert
The Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra's 30th Season continues at 7:30 p.m. April 22 with a German Masters concert in the Mainstage Theater of the Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center in Niceville. German violin virtuoso Tobias Steymans is featured and will perform Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. He is the concertmaster of the world-renown Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in Munich, Germany, and last appeared with the NFSO in 2012. The NFSO will also raise the roof with Beethoven's iconic Symphony No. 5. Tickets are $25/adult, $18/active duty military and $18/youth 18 and younger. Purchase at 729-6000 and 90 minutes prior to Mainstage Theater events.
Spring Concert
The Madrigal Singers and Belle Voci vocal ensembles of Northwest Florida State College will present their Spring Con-cert at 2 p.m. April 23 in the Tyler Recital Hall of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center on the college's Niceville Campus. The event is free.
Crawfish Boil
Young Professionals at The Beach will host the Third Annual Crawfish Boil benefiting the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance from 12-5 p.m. April 23 on the lawn at the Market Shops. BYO coolers, chairs, tents and blankets, and enjoy music from Chris Alvarado and all you can eat crawfish and fixings for $30. Tickets go up to $35 on April 16. Visit http://www.ypatthebeach.com/event-2494909.
Bubbly Baytowne
An evening of champagne, live music from Kyle Lamonica, and shopping begins at 5 p.m. April 27 at the Baytowne Wharf Events Plaza. The event is free and for 21 and up only. The Village will be open to the public during this event. Other evening May 18 with music of Scott Rockwood.
Winemakers and Shakers
Several world-renowned winemakers, distillers, and other spirits industry celebrities will mix with locals and visitors at "Winemakers and Shakers" beginning at 4 p.m. April 28 at The Craft Bar in Destin. This intimate tasting party will kick-off the annual South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival. Guests will sample ex-ceptional libations alongside artisan cheeses and other hors d'oeuvres. Tickets are being sold at xorbia.com.
Dance Facets
The NWFSC Dance program, students and faculty, join forces with Fred Astaire Dance Studio to present Dance Facets at 7:30 p.m. April 28 and 29 in the Mainstage Theater of the Mattie Kelly Fine and Performing Arts Center in Niceville. Tickets are avail-able at 729-6000 or www.MattieKellyArtsCenter.org for $15/adult and $10/youth age 18 and younger. Proceeds benefit the college's Frances Smith Herron Dance Studio Endowment and student Scholarships.
Duo Piano Recital
The Choctaw Bay Music Club will host its 26th Annual Duo Piano Recital program from 3-4 p.m. April 30 at Northwest Florida State College, Performing Arts Building, Tyler Recital Hall in Niceville. This year's theme is "The Carnival of the Animals." The event is free and open to the general public. Donations will be welcome, but not required.
Call to artists: On the Menu
The Arts and Design Society is calling all artists to participate in their upcoming “On the Menu” Show, in which artwork is inspired by what’s on the menu or restaurant happenings in general. Turn in work from 1-4 p.m. April 29 and 9 a.m. to noon May 1 at the Art Center, 17 First Street, SE in Fort Walton Beach. Entry fee is $25/members, 2 pieces; $35/non-members, 2 pieces. A copy of the entry form with details is available at http://artsdesignsociety.org/.
Auditions for Sister Act
The Fine & Performing Arts Division of NWFSC will hold open auditions May 1 for the summer musical comedy Sister Act. Auditions will be held in the Sprint Theater at the Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center in Niceville. Sign in time is 6 p.m. with auditions starting at 6:30 p.m. The show will be performed July 19 to 22 in the Arts Center’s Mainstage Thea-ter. The show will cast 18 women's roles and 10 men's roles. Those who audition must be age 16 or older. Each person should come prepared with a 90-second package of 16 bars of music and monologue. Those who audition should come dressed appropriately for a movement portion to the audition. For information email taylorj@nwfsc.edu or call 729-6036.
Cooking with the Chef
Enjoy an afternoon of interactive cooking and lunch with Chef Jimmy McManus at noon May 2 in the HarborView Room at Emerald Grande. Learn the secret behind making Grilled Chicken Pesto and Creamy Mushroom Ri-sotto . Cost is $25/person with a complimentary glass of wine. For reserva-tions, call 424-0622.
Concerts in the Village
Enjoy the music of Emerald Gold at the 22nd annual Concerts in the Village at 7 p.m. May 4 at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village, 4323 Commons Drive West in Destin. Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is $15/adults; children (12 and under) and MKAF members are free. Age 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• May 11: Flow Tribe
• May 18: Fountain city Players
• May 25: Alter Eagles
• June 1: The Embers featuring Craig Woolard
• June 8: The Maxx
• June 15: Tyler Kinchen and the Right Pieces
• June 22: Triggerproof
• June 29: The Joe Band — Joe Cocker Tribute
• Sept. 3: Make Me Smile — Chicago Tribute Band
• Sept. 14: Heritage
• Sept. 21: Luke Langford & 331 South
• Sept. 28: Déjà vu
• Oct. 5: Swingtown, a Steve Miller Tribute Band
Cajun Crawfish Bash
The Rotary Club of Destin will host its 5th Annual Cajun Crawfish Bash with a twist of Cinco de Crawdaddy from 5:30-9 p.m. May 5 at Warren Averett CPA & Advisors, 36474C Emerald Coast Parkway, # 3301 in Destin. Event proceeds benefit young families in need through Food For Thought, Harvest House, Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast and education support for Mattie Kelly Arts Founda-tion’s outreach and The Rotary Club of Destin Scholarship Funds. Tickets are on sale for $30/person and $10/chil-dren under 12 or free to kids age three and under. Day of event, tickets are $35/person. Tickets can be purchased at Newman-Dailey Resort Properties or call 837-1071 or from a Destin Rotarian.
Luncheon
“Run for the Roses” with The Friends Guild of the Destin Library when they host their annual May luncheon at 11 a.m. May 5 at Tuscany Italian Bistro Restaurant, 36178 Emerald Coast Parkway. Advance tickets are $20/person which includes a choice of entree, beverage, tax, and tip. Tickets may be purchased until May 2 by check at the Destin Library or at 654-5476.
Wine Dinner
The E.O.Wilson Biophilia Center will host its first Birds of Prey Wine Dinner at 6 p.m. May 6 at Roux 30A, 114 Logan Lane in Santa Rosa Beach. Discover the beauty of some of the most impressive birds of prey from our area during a live show and enjoy a 5-course dinner prepared by Chef Nikhil. Evening ends with silent auction. Cost is $200/person and proceeds go to the Biophilia Center. Make reservations at https:/birdsofpreywinedinner.eventbrite.com.
Crawfish and Blues Cruise
SunQuest Cruises Annual Crawfish and Blues Cruise with Cadillac Willy will be held from 1:30-4:30 p.m. May 7 on the Solaris, docked at Sandestin’s Baytowne Marina, Indulge in freshly boiled, perfectly seasoned crawfish, shrimp or Jambalaya while cruising the waters and listening and dancing to blues music by Cadillac Willy. Cost is $48/person; $25/kids 10 and under and includes chicken tenders and chips. Reservations required at www.SunQuestCruises.com or call 650-2519.
Digital Graffiti Festival 2017
Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach, a projection art festival on Scenic Highway 30A, will be held from May 19-21. Twenty finalists along with three artist-in-residence participants from four countries will gather to showcase their digital artwork and vie for cash prizes totaling $10,000. Purchase tickets at http://www.digitalgraffiti.com/tickets/
Art presentation
“The Art of George Rodrigue” presentation by Mrs. George (Wendy) Rodrigue will be at 6 p.m. May 25 in the Rosemary Beach Town Hall. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Wendy Rodrigue will also sign copies of her book, The Other Side of the Painting. Books will be available for purchase at the free event. A cash bar will be provided by Edward’s Fine Food And Wine until 6:15 p.m.
Sculpture Exhibition
Opening, Wine Reception and Unveiling takes place at 4 p.m. May 26 in the Rosemary Beach Town Hall Courtyard. Re-ception provided by Restaurant Paradis. Meet some of the artists and enjoy a self-guided tour of the exhibition.
Memorial Day Weekend Celebration
Kick off your summer during a free Memorial Day Celebration May 27-29 at The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Enjoy live music on Saturday and Sunday from 7-9 p.m. Enjoy kids’ activi-ties, live music, and a patriotic fireworks show on Sunday evening. Monday the Sandestin Veterans present a Memorial Day program in honor of our veterans.
Sinfonia Goes Pops
The orchestral sounds of Sinfonia Gulf Coast can be heard under the palm trees in the Alys Beach Amphitheatre at 7:30 p.m. May 28. Food and beverage available for purchase. Free and open to the public.
The Stoked Show
Hypnotic comedy, hilarious impersonations and toe-tapping sing-along hits with audience participation can be seen at 2 and 8 p.m. through May 28, Wednesdays through Saturdays, at the Bart Rockett Theater at HarborWalk Village. Show is free.
Paddle at the Porch
The 6th Annual Paddle at the Porch, a stand up paddle board race, will take place at 9 a.m. Aug. 19, in the Gulf waters behind The Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House in Destin. It offers races for all skill and age levels, with its Kids’ Fun Paddle, 1-Mile Beginner Ride, 3-Mile Recreational Race, and 6-Mile Elite Race. Packet Pick Up Party at The Back Porch Aug. 18. Register at pad-dleguru.com/races/6thAnnualPaddleatthePorch.
Locals Night Out
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse Destin presents Locals Night Out with the music of Jones & Company from 6-9 p.m. every Wednesday in the Courtyard Bar.