E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center Night Hike March 7 | 5–8 p.m.
Discover the magic of Florida after dark during the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center’s Night Hike on Saturday, March 7. This family-friendly evening adventure features a guided walk along scenic trails to the Center’s bat house, where guests can watch native bats emerge at dusk, plus interactive educational stations highlighting nocturnal wildlife and conservation.
Food vendors will be on site, and guests are encouraged to bring flashlights and dress for an outdoor evening. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 4–12, with VIP access available for members. Enhance the experience with the Fireside Owl Experience add-on ($5), featuring a native ambassador owl encounter, marshmallow roasting, hot cocoa and a kid-friendly craft. For more information, contact the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center.
ECCAC Gala & Golf Weekend | March 7-8
The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center will host its 28th annual signature Gala & Golf Weekend on March 7–8, bringing the community together to support children in need. The Gala takes place Saturday, March 7, at 5:30 p.m. at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa and includes dinner, music, a wine pull and live auction led by DawnMarie Kotsonis, “The Gavel Girl,” with former ECCAC client Isabella Rose as the featured speaker. The weekend continues Sunday, March 8, with a noon shotgun-start Golf Tournament at Kelly Plantation Golf Club. Proceeds benefit ECCAC’s mission to provide free services to child victims of abuse. Gala and golf reservations are available at eccac.org. For details, contact Kate McDougall at 530-341-0802 or kate@eccac.org.
Northwest Florida Ballet’s Alice in Wonderland | March 7 at 7:30 p.m. | March 8 at 2:30 p.m. | Mattie Kelly Arts Center
Northwest Florida Ballet closes its 2025–2026 season with the premiere of Alice in Wonderland, an imaginative full-length ballet choreographed by Jill Eathorne Bahr. This original adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic features NFB company dancers alongside international guest artists, brought to life through immersive projections, elaborate costumes and a dynamic musical score by renowned French composers. Audiences will follow Alice’s whimsical journey through vivid garden landscapes, surreal scenes and larger-than-life characters in a visually stunning production perfect for families and ballet lovers alike. Tickets are $48 for adults and $22 for children 12 and under. Learn more at NFBallet.org/alice-in-wonderland or call the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box Office at (850) 729-6000.
CVHN Soirée on the Bay | March 13
Enjoy a lavish gathering with fine wine, food and spirits at Soiree On The Bay: Act V, an elevated weekend benefiting Children’s Volunteer Health Network honoring 20 incredible years of care, compassion and community impact. Presented by the Dugas family, the weekend will take place on their stunning family estate overlooking the Choctawhatchee Bay in Santa Rosa Beach. Details and tickets at givebutter.com/c/SoireeontheBayACTV.
Caring and Sharing Spring Fashion Show | March 29
Join Caring and Sharing for their Spring Fashion Show presented by Emerald Coast Hospice at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. During the event, guests will enjoy a fashion show, lunch, a complimentary welcome drink, a silent auction, music, a photo booth and more! Volunteers and supporters of the organization will walk the runway modeling items donated to the Caring & Sharing Thrift Store. These items will be for sale after the Fashion Show at our popular pop-up boutique curated specifically for this event!
Tickets: caringandsharingsowal.org.
South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival | April 23–26
Tickets are on sale now for the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival, returning April 23–26 to Grand Boulevard with more than 600 wines, beers and spirits to sample across four days of tastings, live entertainment and culinary experiences.
The weekend kicks off Thursday with Winemakers and Shakers at Wine World in Destin, followed by Friday’s VIP Wine Tasting (4–6 p.m.) featuring rare selections and expert pours, plus Bitters, Brews & Bartenders (5:30–8 p.m.) showcasing craft cocktails, lite bites and a lively mixology competition. The Grand Tasting takes place Saturday (3–6 p.m.) and Sunday (1–4 p.m.), highlighting world-class wineries — including the Willamette Valley Vintners Association — alongside chef-driven pairings in Wine World’s Culinary Village.
Guests can purchase featured wines on site, with proceeds benefiting Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation and children in need across Northwest Florida. Pre-sale tickets are available now at sowalwine.com; prices increase April 1.
Destin Charity Wine Auction Turns 21 and Goes Wild for Kids | April 24–25
The 21st Annual Destin Charity Wine Auction presented by the Jumonville Family benefits children in need across Northwest Florida through Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation’s (DCWAF) 16 partner children’s charities. In 2025, the foundation donated $3.1 million following one of its most successful auctions to date.
The 2026 auction will feature an impressive lineup of celebrity chefs and internationally renowned vintners. Held in conjunction with the South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival, the auction also takes place at Grand Boulevard the same weekend. The festival showcases hundreds of premium wines, spirits and culinary offerings, with proceeds benefiting DCWAF. Full details are available at dcwaf.org.
Gulf Coast Jam May 28–31 | Frank Brown Park, PCB
One of the country’s most popular beach music festivals returns May 28–31 as Gulf Coast Jam brings four days of live country music to Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach. Headliners Post Malone, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban and Riley Green lead a lineup of more than 20 artists performing throughout the high-energy Country On The Coast™ weekend.
Fans can enjoy multiple stages, food vendors, bars and interactive fan experiences while soaking in the coastal festival atmosphere that has drawn sellout crowds of more than 30,000 in recent years. Pass options currently available include General Admission, Military, College and First Responder tickets, VIP experiences and lodging packages. Several premium viewing areas have already sold out.
Payment plans are available, and attendees are encouraged to follow festival updates online. For passes and full lineup details, visit GulfCoastJam.com.
