This weekend in Fort Walton Beach, FL

Experience a lively open-air marketplace where local charm meets coastal flair at the Downtown Fort Walton Beach Saturday Market. Stroll among booths filled with handcrafted treasures, fresh produce, and culinary favorites while enjoying a welcoming community atmosphere. The event is held rain or shine at Fort Walton Beach Landing Park, a picturesque waterfront setting in the heart of downtown.

1LIFE Run Club hosts a community 3-mile outing in Destin where everyone sets their own pace, whether running, jogging, or walking. It is open to newcomers, with no registration required. The focus is simple... show up, get moving, meet friendly faces, and kick off the weekend on an active note. This meetup goes on in any weather, so bring a positive attitude and the rest is taken care of.

DeFrance Boutique is rolling out its semiannual tent sale with straightforward price points, where everything under the tent is marked at 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 dollars. This twice-yearly clearance helps make room for new arrivals and includes pieces that were previously removed from the sales floor and set aside especially for this event, along with additional items being added. These specials are available only on Saturday and Sunday.

This advanced blacksmithing class at Traditions Workshop focuses on forging a bearded hatchet from a railroad spike, framed with the idea that you never know when a zombie apocalypse might happen. Expect extensive hammer work to draw out the blade, then punch and drift the eye so a handle can be attached. If time allows, participants can also make the handle on a shaving horse. Wear natural fiber clothing. Long trousers and solid shoes or boots are required, and a long sleeve cotton shirt is recommended. Steel, coal, tools, working materials, gloves, eye and hearing protection, and dust masks as needed are provided. A leather apron is optional and can be brought or purchased. For questions about whether this level is a good fit, call.

Early Learning Coalition of the Emerald Coast partners with United Fidelity Bank to present the annual Storybook Village Emerald Coast, held alongside United Fidelity Bank’s Community Day. Families can connect with over 30 local nonprofits that serve Okaloosa and Walton Counties and learn about community resources, programs, and services. Within the village, children can take home free books to build their home libraries, enjoy hands on games and activities inspired by featured storybooks, and participate in playful early learning experiences led by local childcare providers. This year’s theme, “Moo-ving Minds,” brings a farm focus to the day, including a petting zoo where visitors can meet friendly animals while exploring literacy activities that spark imagination and growth. Free treats include hot dogs, snow cones, and popcorn, and face painting adds to the fun. This free community event offers a welcoming space to learn, play, connect, and celebrate early literacy.

Experience a fall market at Spanish Trail Amphitheater featuring live music from Eric & Steven Demara. Bring chairs to relax while listening, then explore offerings from food trucks and vendors. Families can enjoy the seasonal atmosphere together.

At Spires Gallery in Niceville, FL, Elite One Stroke Instructor Sheila Kay Beck Mahony leads a step by step ceramic Jack-o'-lantern painting workshop. Participants paint their own festive piece and take it home completed. No prior experience is required, making it welcoming for beginners. The workshop fee is $52.50 and includes all supplies. Finished Jack-o'-lanterns are for decorative use only and are not food safe. Pre-registration is required.

AJ's Oyster Shanty serves a weekend brunch with a menu full of choices and bottomless mimosas, offering a laid back way to savor the day. It works for special occasions or for unwinding with friends and family. Settle in and spend unhurried time over good food and bubbly sips.

Discovery Dive World offers a focused weekend course designed to prepare divers for the SS United States, with training that builds confidence for exploring both its shallower areas and deeper sections. Over two days, the program combines classroom learning and Enriched Air Nitrox academics with pool or confined water practice, then transitions to open water for training and adventure dives at the advanced level to complete certification requirements. Participants who finish the course earn Advanced Open Water Diver and Enriched Air (Nitrox) certifications. These credentials support deeper dives, extend bottom time with nitrox, help shorten surface intervals, and improve nitrogen management, which is especially helpful for large wreck exploration. The course is well suited for Open Water certified divers, those planning to dive the SS United States, and anyone seeking stronger gas planning and longer, safer dives. Class sizes are intentionally kept small to prioritize safety and quality instruction.

Connect with author Amanda Linnemeyer at a meet and greet highlighting her work across YA fantasy, speculative fiction, and thriller genres. She grew up in Oregon and holds a B.A. in English. Her titles include Symbioted, Hollow Daggers, and All That Glitters in Shadows.

Enjoy seasonal family portraits with a quick mini session at Twin Hills Park in Crestview, FL. Each booking is 15 minutes at $35, and all photos from the session are included. Advance registration is required.

Now in its third year, Witches & Warlocks Ride 2026 is a spirited golf cart and bicycle outing hosted at Hidden Creek Golf Course in Navarre, Florida, traveling through Hidden Creek and Holley by the Sea. Participants stop at multiple points for snacks and festive drinks, with lively entertainment and engaging activities featured along the route. The event is for ages 21 and older. It benefits a local nonprofit, with 100 percent of proceeds donated, and a total of $2,005 given over the first two years. Further information will be announced soon.

Game night at Hurlburt Field Chapel welcomes active-duty service members, veterans, and families from the NWF area. Enjoy an evening of games with pizza donated by Task Force Pizza, prizes from GameMasters Guild and TBS Comics, and free childcare provided in partnership with Operation Childcare Project. Registering will double your chances to win a giveaway.

Celebrate on the water with a philanthropic twist. Fleets & Eats brings a distinctive catamaran experience where coastal attire sets the tone, with chef inspired bites and refreshing cocktails, stops at Harbor Docks and Tailfins, and a finale afterparty at The Edge Seafood featuring live music, exclusive raffles, and more. Each ticket includes boat transportation, heavy appetizers, a signature cocktail at each stop, and entry to the afterparty. Every ticket supports the Emerald Coast Autism Center Scholarship Fund, helping students and families access vital education and services. Seating is limited.

The Glitter for Zuri Sneaker Ball Gala at La Sala Event Center blends formalwear with favorite sneakers for a purpose-driven celebration of connection and community. Partnering with Advanced Sacred Hope Academy, the evening raises support for therapy, inclusion, and play for children in the area. Guests can enjoy dinner with dessert, auctions held live as well as silent, sneaker-themed contests with prizes, hands-on activities and surprises, and uplifting moments that share Zuri’s journey. Special VIP experiences add extra touches, and there are clear ways to directly contribute to Glitter’s training and care. The event welcomes parents, educators, advocates, business owners, dog lovers, and anyone who believes every child should have the chance to thrive.

Jeeps gather at John Beasley Park on the south side of Highway 98, just east of the Okaloosa Island Boardwalk. After staging, the group convoys to the Destin Harbor area for a Jeepalooza celebration with live music, sports on a jumbo screen, and a fireworks finale.

Take part in a free weekly store tournament featuring Constructed Standard play. Sign up through Bandai TCG+. Matches use Swiss pairings with three rounds, or four rounds if there are nine or more players, and each round runs 30 minutes. The top finisher or finishers receive a winner promo pack, a promo pack, and two OP16 packs, and the top 18 players receive a promo pack. Every participant is included in a free raffle. Outside food is welcome, and everyone is asked to clean up after themselves.

This free, family-friendly fall festival features trick-or-treating at decorated vehicle trunks, along with inflatables, games, a dunking booth, hot dogs, and refreshments. Activities take place in the parking lot on the Highway 98, Miracle Strip Parkway, side of Sunrise City Church.

A three course dinner pairs with a comedic whodunit as MURDER AT THE MONSTER BASH, written by Paula Hilton, takes the stage. Ivana Crump hosts a Halloween-themed costume fundraiser for HOWSA, but an eerie discovery beneath the restaurant sets a spooky tone when the coffin in the corner may not be just a prop. Cost is $52 and includes dinner, the show, tax and tip. The meal offers a choice of entrée, including Chili Con Carne with cornbread, Chicken Masala with rice pilaf and mashed potatoes, or Pumpkin Gnocchi. Every dinner comes with a Vine House Salad dressed with a signature Champagne vinaigrette and finishes with Apple Cake topped with caramel sauce. Costumes are encouraged, with prizes for the best. VIP packages are available.

A dinner show at Redd's Pub spotlights the Singing Bartender Show, bringing made-from-scratch dishes together with live performances for a distinctive experience. Reviewers often note the mix of flavorful food, personal service, and a lively, insider vibe that feels more like a local secret along 30A. For reservations, call 850-325-0252.

Birdie takes over Festival of Fears for a spooky night at Oak Tree Natural Park that blends Halloween chills with opportunities to meet new people. Expect a creepy trail to test your nerve, a house of horrors, a fright-filled zone, and a museum devoted to monsters. It suits singles, newcomers, and anyone seeking a different kind of fall evening, and there is no need to arrive with a date or a big group. Be ready to walk, explore, laugh, and scream, with plenty of chances to connect with others along the way. See if you can conquer the trail and show how brave you are.

Made-to-order plates are available for $12, with weekly specials to keep things fresh. Friendly company and a lighthearted atmosphere pair with the fun of watching volunteers show off their balancing skills with plates and coffee cups. Bloody Marys and mimosas are offered. Those who wish to volunteer can check in with the cashier.

The 3rd Annual OKI Fest brings the community together to celebrate Okinawan culture and spirit. Admission is free, and entertainment is provided at no cost.

Explore the Sunday Outdoor Market at DeFrance Antiques on Beal in Fort Walton Beach. Local vendors, artists, and makers showcase unique works, repurposed goods, jewelry, clothing, shabby chic furniture, art, food, and more. The market takes place only twice a year at this location, presented along with the Semi-Annual Tent Sale at DeFrance Boutique. Visitors can also browse additional finds inside the store.

An annual Fall Festival at Covenant Community Church offers a friendly mix of free activities and treats. Enjoy music, a hayride, and a bounce house, along with complimentary hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, soda, and plenty of candy. All offerings are provided at no cost, creating a relaxed community gathering for families and neighbors.

Families can take advantage of a Sunday perk where children 12 and under receive one complimentary kids entrée, up to a $15 value, with the purchase of an adult entrée. The offer is limited to one free kids meal for each adult meal purchased. It cannot be combined with other promotions or specials, is not valid with dip certificates, and does not apply on holidays.

Gulf Coast Media’s free weekly bookstore invites readers to explore a wide selection of books at American Self Storage in Crestview. Guests can bring gently used titles to swap or simply browse and leave with new favorites. It is an easy way to clear space on your shelves, discover fresh stories, and connect with fellow book lovers in the community. In addition to books, there are budget friendly finds such as $1 DVDs and CDs, with video games starting at $3. Please limit book selections to ten or fewer per household per visit.

A casual meetup where the Playground Amateur Radio Club and interested operators come together to test and tune equipment, build skills, and explore amateur radio. The session features hands-on projects, teaching, and RF experimentation. Participants also work on making long-distance contacts around the world and receive coaching in operating techniques across multiple modes, ranging from analog and digital to computer-assisted contesting. Attendees can focus on the RF topics that match their interests.

LuLu’s Destin hosts Martin Lane for a Nashville-style night on the Choctawhatchee Bay. Expect rich harmonies and a broad playlist that blends rock classics with 90s country hits. One moment might echo the polished vocals of Fleetwood Mac, the next the sing-along favorites made famous by Shania Twain, all keeping the energy up. Enjoy the music alongside scenic waterfront views and tasty dishes for an evening that brings a Music City vibe to the bay.

Sunday evenings at The Country Gym in Gulf Breeze feature bingo in a bar setting led by Breaux & Co. There is no charge to participate, and prizes are up for grabs. Players can settle in for a few rounds and have dinner while they play.