Seafood festivals in three Panhandle communities unofficially kick off Florida’s Seafood Festival Season with fresh local seafood from the Gulf served by local restaurants and non-profit organizations.
Festivities are set to take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday — September 25-27 in both Pensacola and Destin, while Panacea hosts its popular Blue Crab Festival on Saturday, preceded by a Gospel Sing on Friday evening.
Pensacola Seafood Festival
The Pensacola Seafood Festival is the big one, held in downtown Pensacola’s historic Seville Square and featuring fresh local seafood from the Gulf served tapas-style by participating local restaurants.
Featured local delicacies include shrimp, crawfish, scallops, crab, grouper, alligator, calamari, gumbo, lobster rolls, crawfish mac’n’cheese, grits a yaya, seafood skewers, kabobs, crab cakes, jambalaya, etoufee, coconut shrimp, seafood baskets, paella and conch fritters.
The Pensacola Seafood Festival also offers cooking demonstrations, a 5K run/walk, a cost-friendly children’s area, and other activities located in Bartram Park.
More than 170 arts and crafts vendors are scheduled to display their work, making the Pensacola Seafood Festival one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in Northwest Florida. The festival requires that items for sale are 100% handmade.
Admission and entertainment are free. Pets are not permitted on festival grounds.
Hours: Friday, 11 am-11 pm; Saturday, 10 am-11 pm; Sunday, 11 am-5 pm.
Parking is available throughout downtown. Handicapped parking will at Bartram Park, 211 Bayfront Parkway.
Web site: Pensacola Seafood Festival
Destin Seafood Festival
The Destin Seafood Festival kicks off the Destin Fishing Rodeo that extends the entire month of October and is the primary fundraiser for the Destin Charter Boat Association.
The festival is being held at the Destin Harbor Boardwalk. Admission is free, although there is a smaller gated VIP festival within the festival where attendees sample cuisine from local chefs and enjoy local brews.
There will be arts and crafts vendors throughout the festival grounds.
Hours: Friday, 4 pm-10 pm; Saturday, 10 am-10 pm; Sunday, 10 am-6 pm.
Public parking in Marler City Parking Lot, Harborwalk Village parking lot. Also, free shuttle from the Morgan Sports Complex, 4200 Indian Bayou Trail, Destin.
Go to this page for the entertainment lineup on the festival’s seven stages.
Web site: Destin Seafood Festival
Panacea Blue Crab Festival
The long-running Panacea Blue Crab Festival, now in its 49th year, will be held on Saturday in Woolley Park at 48 Mound Street.
The festival kicks off at 10 a.m. with Blue Crab Parade along the Coastal Highway with the festival grounds opening from 10:30 a.m. until dusk, followed by fireworks after dark.
Admission is $3. Children 12 and under are free.
Expect plenty of fresh local seafood, blue crab dishes, and food vendors with live music, local talent and dance performances throughout the day.
Visitors will also enjoy craft vendors, family-friendly games, and activities for all ages.
- 10am Parade on Coastal Highway
- 10:30 Gates Open / Opening Ceremonies
- 10:30 – 5:00 Music and Entertainment All Day
- 10:45 – 11:15 Studio 88 Dancers
- 11:15 – 11:45 Tallahassee Rhythm Collective Dance
- 12:00 – 12:45 Mountain Dew Cloggers
- 12:45 – 2:15 Mullet Toss
- 2:15 – 3:00 Mountain Dew Cloggers
- 3:00 – 4:00 Crab Race
- Festival Closes 5:00 PM
Web site: Panacea Blue Crab Festival
Go here for a complete schedule of 2026-27 Florida Seafood Festivals
Florida 2026 Oktoberfests Calendar
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