Recognized as one of Northwest Florida's premier fine art shows, the 18th Annual Destin Festival of the Arts will be held October 26th-27th at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village. The event combines more than 100 juried artists (both local and national) for two days of art, live music, and inspiration.

Saturday, October 26th (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM)

Sunday, October 27th (11:00 AM – 5:00 PM)

Admission donation $3 for adults

Free for members and children under 12

*Pets are not permitted

Andy first participated in this festival in 2010, when our fifth child (Josiah) was only five days old. That year, Andy won the People’s Choice Award. We liked the beach view when the festival was held at Henderson Beach State Park, but it was too windy. Unfortunately, a few artists' tents were damaged due to high winds blowing off the Gulf of Mexico.

This October, the festival will find a new home at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village. Artists and attendees will appreciate the layout on the Village Green and live musical performances on the new Dugas Pavilion. As you arrive, you will notice the stunning 20-foot entrance way sculpture created out of stainless steel by sculpture artist Frank Ledbetter. Explore a diverse palette of artistic styles, including acrylic, clay, collage, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, mosaic, oil, pen and ink, photography, digital art, pastel, pottery, sculpture, fiber, textile, wood, and watercolor. Spend time meeting the artists, discovering their inspiration, and adding to your own collection. Other highlights include a bistro-style food court, Kid’s ArtStop, and a board-painting workshop by Meyer Boarding Company.

Andy's design was selected to represent the 18th Annual Festival of the Arts. T-shirts and merchandise, including a commemorative festival poster, will be available for purchase at the event. We also invite you to stop by Andy's booth to bid on the original piece. The winner of the silent auction will be determined at 5:00 PM on Sunday. All proceeds from the sale of this piece will benefit the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation.