Ninth Annual Bloody Mary Festival Sponsored by Step One Automotive Group

Disclaimer: We are promoting this event on behalf of a local chamber member. This event is not managed or sponsored by the Destin Chamber.

The Market Shops will host its Ninth Annual Bloody Mary Festival, benefiting Habitat for Humanity - Walton County, on Saturday, October 12. The annual event, powered by Step One Automotive Group, will feature unlimited tastes of South Walton’s most creative and innovative bloody marys, made with Distillery 98’s Half Shell Vodka, served by the area’s best restaurants, bars, and catering companies. 

Guests are invited to the coastal shopping center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to sip and sample up to 15 of the area’s most coveted bloody marys, each served in specialty cups provided by Compass Builders of Florida. Participants confirmed to compete for the 2024 title of “Best Bloody Mary” include The Beach House, Big Bad Breakfast, Bitterroot, Chanticleer Eatery, Down Island Gulf Seafood Restaurant, Emeril’s Coastal Italian, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, The Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa, Jackacudas, Louis Louis, Mozey’s Mobile Catering, Ovide, The Red Bar, Ruby Slipper Café, Soleil, Sunset Bay Café, and more. There will be a highly coveted first-, second-, and third-place People’s Choice Award chosen by each guest in attendance, with votes tallied by Hill Coleman, CPA. A panel of food critics and local celebrities will judge each bloody mary to select the winners for the most delicious “Judge’s Choice” award and most creative “Best Bloody Accoutrement” award. Awards will be handmade by local artist, Maxine Orange.

In addition to countless bloody marys, there will be plenty of food from a variety of restaurants located directly in The Market Shops, including Tuscany Italian Bistro, Pizza by the Sea, Jon Smith Subs, Maple Street Biscuit Company, Parlor Doughnuts, and Ben and Jerry’s, along with vendors including Fit2Run, Naples Soap Company, Escapology, Foil + Pin Parlor, Edward Jones, and Krewe Eyewear.

For the non-bloody mary aficionado, Idyll Hounds Brewing Company will be pouring a variety of craft brews, along with spiked seltzer by Palm Folly, and waters provided by the BankPlus Hydration Station. Good Clean Wine rosé and sparkling wine will also be served from the Bubbly Bar courtesy of Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, and the Hyatt Place by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard. 

Attendees can sit back and relax in the main lawn lounge area featuring additional seating and cornhole games provided by Vacayzen, as well as various SEC football games live streaming throughout the afternoon on the big screen. Guests can commemorate the afternoon in the interactive photobooth, courtesy of Legendary Marine, before picking up a cigar from Shore Thing Cigars. DJ Dad will be playing in the courtyard throughout the afternoon, sponsored by DR Horton, while local 80’s rock band, Catalyst, will be headlining on the main stage. 

Parking will be available at The Market Shops on the day of the festival but is expected to fill up fast. Additional parking will be available at The Beach House, located on the south side of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, and a complimentary shuttle provided by Emerald Coast Luxury Transportation, will travel to and from the festival from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. 
 
For guests traveling from out of town, there will be special room rates available by the festival’s official lodging sponsor, the Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard. Visit www.themarketshops.com for more details.

Tickets are currently on sale through Eventbrite for the pre-sale price of $60 or can be purchased the day of the event at the door for $75. To learn more about The Market Shops Bloody Mary Festival and to buy tickets, visit www.themarketshops.com. If you would like to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity – Walton County on the day of the event, please email volunteer@waltoncountyhabitat.org. 

Over the past eight years, the annual event has raised over $161,000 for local charities. Money raised during the ninth annual event will benefit Habitat for Humanity – Walton County, a local nonprofit housing organization that works toward building and improving homes in partnership with individuals and families in need of a decent and affordable place to live. 

"This event is one of our favorites each year and we are grateful for The Market Shops continued support,” said Teresa Jones, executive director of Habitat for Humanity – Walton County. “One hundred percent of the proceeds from this event go towards providing affordable housing for the well-deserving families in Walton County. We are proud to be building 7 houses this year and it wouldn't be possible without the generosity of The Market Shops!"

Special thanks to additional sponsors including 30A, 30AEats, 30A Girls Who Eat, 30A Television, The 850 Foodie, 850 Magazine, Buffalo Rock, Coast 93.3, Destin The Beautiful, Emerald Coast Magazine, Good Grit Agency, Good Grit Magazine, Gulf Coast Food and Wine, Gulf Coast Restaurants, Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, Herring Design Co., Life Media Group, Mingle, Proffitt PR, Resort Resale, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Scarlett Magazine, The Scout Guide, SoWal.com, Tallahassee Magazine, VIP 30A Magazine, VIP Destin Magazine, Visit South Walton, and Z96.