26th Annual Destin Seafood Festival Opens October 1
For Immediate Release
September 23, 2004
Contact: Shane Moody or Carolyn Folley, 850 837-2711

26th Annual Destin Seafood Festival Opens October 1

The 26th Annual Destin Seafood Festival, an event sponsored by the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce, will take place from Friday, October 1, through Sunday, October 3. The festival, which traditionally kicks-off the Destin Fishing Rodeo, will be held at the Morgan Sports Center in Destin. Admission is free.

This year’s entertainment is the strongest line-up of headliners in the history of the festival. Friday night at 8 p.m., legendary sixties pop-artist Peter Noone will take the stage with Herman’s Hermits. He will perform his classic hits, including “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter”, “There’s a Kind of Hush”, and “Henry the VIII”. Flash Flood and Angelus (formerly the Lucky 4 Band) will open the entertainment, beginning at 4 p.m. when the festival gates open.

Saturday night will rock with a classic rock performance from Eddie Money. He will take the stage at 8 p.m. on October 2. This straight-up rock and roll icon will perform his Top 40 hits, including “Two Tickets to Paradise”, “Shakin’”, and “Take Me Home Tonight”. Also performing Saturday will be Trilogy, Eric Stone, Blues Crabs, and Nashville-based Mustang Sally. Gates open at 10 a.m., with entertainment beginning at 12:30.

Sunday, the festival will close with the classic beach music sounds of Bennie Anderson’s Drifters. Festival-goers will be taken “Under the Boardwalk”, “Up on the Roof”, and “On Broadway”. Other entertainment on October 3 includes local favorites Jones & Company at noon, and Ted Shumate and the Sal Salaz Project at 2 p.m. The Drifters will perform at 4 p.m. Gates open on Sunday at 10 a.m.

Parking for the festival will be at three locations: Emerald Coast Centre (Office Max), Henderson Beach Business Park (behind Office Max), and Shores Shopping Center (Bruno’s). Free shuttle service to and from Morgan Sports Center will be provided.

Due to Hurricane Ivan, the Chamber is not charging admission as previously planned. However, the commemorative festival buttons that were being used as admission buttons will still be on sale. The cost of the buttons is $5. Proceeds from the sale of the buttons help pay for the cost of the entertainment. Buttons may be purchased at the festival, at the Chamber, or at various places throughout Destin.

“We felt the community will need a release from the hurricane recovery by the time the festival rolls around”, said Karen McCarthy, chair of the seafood festival committee. “We felt waiving the admission fee was the right thing to do for the community. We want everyone to come out and enjoy great food, fun, and music. They can still purchase the collectible, limited edition buttons,” she added.

The festival will also feature 100 arts and crafts vendors selling their wares. There are also over twenty food vendors to enjoy in the “A Taste of Destin”.

For more information on the Destin Seafood Festival, contact the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce at 850-837-6241, www.destinchamber.com, or www.destinseafoodfestival.org.