THINGS TO DO

5th Annual Mac & Cheese Festival announced in Destin

The 5th annual Mac & Cheese Festival is set to take place on Sunday, March 5th, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., at Destin Commons.

• The family-friendly event will be a celebration of one of the South’s favorite comfort foods, macaroni and cheese.

Local restaurants from far and wide will be participating in the event and bringing their best mac and cheese creations to compete for the title of the Best Mac and Cheese in Town.

The festival will feature three categories for the local restaurants to compete in: Judge’s Choice Award, People’s Choice Award, and Kid’s Choice Award. Attendees will be able to taste each delicious sample from the vendors and cast their vote.

The festival is not only a celebration of mac and cheese but also an opportunity to support a charitable cause. All proceeds from the event will benefit Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, a local non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and influence through its programs focused on academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles.

Details on tickets:

• VIC (Very Important Cheese) Tickets are available for $45, which includes an armband for unlimited food samples, 1 beverage ticket, and a t-shirt.
• Adult General Admission Tickets are available for $25 and include an armband for unlimited food samples.
• Children General Admission Tickets are available for $15 and include an armband for unlimited food samples for kids ages 5-16 years old.

To purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite.

If your restaurant, food truck, or catering company is interested in competing for a cause, you can contact hello@francesroy.com to compete, volunteer, or sponsor the event.

TRAFFIC

Okaloosa and Walton County Traffic Advisory

Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Okaloosa and Walton counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.

Okaloosa County:                                  

• State Road (S.R.) 20 (John Sims Parkway) Resurfacing Project – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts the week of Sunday, Jan. 22:

• Intermittent east and westbound nighttime lane closures on S.R. 20, from Edge Avenue to west of the Rocky Bayou Bridge, Sunday, Jan. 22 through Thursday, Jan. 26, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. These closures are required for median milling, median widening, and sidewalk construction.

• Intermittent temporary east and westbound outside daytime lane closures on S.R. 20, from Edge Avenue to west of the Rocky Bayou Bridge, Monday, Jan. 23 through Friday, Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  These closures are required to deliver concrete for sidewalk, curb, and gutter construction.

• Temporary sidewalk closure is expected on the north side of John Sims Parkway, from Palm Boulevard to Cedar Avenue, beginning Monday, January 23 at 9 a.m., and will reopen by 5 p.m., Friday, January 27. Detour signage will be in place to direct pedestrians.

• S.R. 85 Resurfacing from U.S. 90 to Commerce Drive – Drivers may experience intermittent north and southbound single-lane closures on S.R. 85, from U.S. 90 to Commerce Drive, Sunday, Jan. 22 through Thursday, Jan. 26, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. These closures are required as crews place thermoplastic striping and complete concrete work.

• S.R. 85 Resurfacing from John Sims Parkway to College Boulevard – Drivers may experience the following traffic impacts the week of Sunday, Jan. 22:
  • Intermittent northbound outside lane closures on S.R. 85 between S.R. 20 (John Sims Parkway) and County Road 190 (College Boulevard), Monday, Jan. 23 through Thursday, Jan. 26, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. These closures are required for sidewalk repair and construction.

• Temporary daytime closure of Lewis Street at the S.R. 85 intersection will be in place on Saturday, Jan. 28 and Sunday, Jan. 29, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.  The closure is required to install drainage pipe beneath the roadway at this location.  Detour signage will be in place to direct drivers.

• Brooks Bridge Replacement Project – Drivers may experience the following traffic impacts Sunday, Jan. 22 through Thursday, Jan. 26, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform utility work.
  • U.S. 98 east and westbound alternating and intermittent lane closures between Perry Avenue and Pier Road.
  • Santa Rosa Boulevard east and westbound alternating lane closures from east of Amberjack Drive to Ross Marler Park.
  • Intermittent shoulder closures on Brooks Street, between Perry Avenue and Florida Blanca Place, and on Business Access Road.

• U.S. 98 Bridge Rehabilitation over East Pass Bridge (Destin) – Drivers may encounter intermittent single-lane closures on the U.S. 98 over East Pass (Marler) Bridge, eastbound structure (Fort Walton Beach to Destin), Sunday, Jan. 22 through Thursday, Jan. 26, between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. The existing 35 mph speed limit will be maintained during construction.

• Interstate 10 (I-10) Routine Bridge Maintenance over County Road 189 Overpass – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures east of the Okaloosa County line Monday, Jan. 23 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. for routine bridge maintenance.

• I-10 Routine Bridge Maintenance over S.R. 85 Overpass – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures south of Crestview Monday, Jan. 23 from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. for routine bridge maintenance.

• Eglin Parkway (S.R. 85) Routine Bridge Maintenance over Garniers Bayou Bridge – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures north of U.S. 98 Tuesday, Jan. 24 from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m. for routine bridge maintenance.

• Eglin Parkway (S.R. 85) Routine Bridge Maintenance over Cinco Bayou Bridge – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures north of U.S. 98 Tuesday, Jan. 24 from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. for routine bridge maintenance.

Walton County:

• U.S. 98 Widening from Mack Bayou Road to County Road (C.R.) 30A – Drivers may encounter intermittent east and westbound outside lane closures Sunday, Jan. 22 through Thursday, Jan. 26, between 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. The closures are required to install traffic signal mast arm assemblies.

• U.S. 98 Resurfacing Project from Village Road to East of U.S. 331 – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts Monday, Jan. 23 through Thursday, Jan. 26:
  • Intermittent U.S. 98 east and westbound single-lane closures, from Mack Bayou Road to Village Road, between 7:30 p.m. and 6 a.m., for milling and resurfacing activities.
  • Intermittent closures the U.S. 98 east and westbound outside shoulders and turn lanes may be required as crews construct new sidewalks, widen existing turn lanes between Village Road and U.S. 331, and construct a new westbound right turn lane to access Don Bishop Road.

• S.R. 20 Turn Lane Construction at J. W. Hollington Road – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures the week of Sunday, Jan. 22 for paving operations.

• U.S. 98 Pedestrian Underpass at Inlet Beach- Nighttime sheet pile removal will continue occur the week of Sunday, January 22, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., which will create noise and vibration for nearby residents and commercial property owners.

• U.S. 90 Routine Utility Maintenance Between Norwood Road North and Norwood Road South – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Thursday, Jan. 26 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for power pole replacement operations.

All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.

SPORTS

Choctawhatchee High School students named All Sports Association Winners

Two students from Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach have been named All Sports Association Award Winners.

• The All Sports Association is a local organization that raises money to provide scholarships for youth, and each year they present high school student-athletes from Okaloosa, Walton, and Santa Rosa counties with awards and celebrate them at their annual All Sports Awards Banquet in February.

Chi Medina, a track and cross country athlete, has been named the first recipient of the Taylor Haugen Trophy at Choctawhatchee High School.

The trophy recognizes the student who best represents a combination of faith, leadership, academics, community service, and athletics as a lasting tribute to Taylor’s motto, “Don’t Quit, Never Give Up.”

• According to the All Sports Association website, this award is given to the student who embodies these values the most.

Blake Garland, a football, baseball, and track athlete at Choctawhatchee High School, earned the Male Scholastic Award. This award is given to one male and one female student-athlete who excel in the classroom and on the field.

According to the Okaloosa County School District, each school can nominate one student for each award.

Chi will be recognized at the 2023 All Sports Association Buck Smith FCA Worship Word and Pray Breakfast on February 24th at the Northwest Florida State College Raider Arena, while all award winners will be recognized at the 2023 All Sports Award Banquet on February 24th at the Fort Walton Beach- Destin Convention Center.

THINGS TO DO

“The Golden Age of Hollywood” on Valentine’s Day

The Emerald Coast Theatre Company has announced a new show called “The Golden Age of Hollywood” that will take place on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14, 2023.

Audiences will be transported to Tinseltown with classic jazz tunes like “Fly Me to the Moon” and “Puttin on the Ritz” performed by some of Hollywood’s most iconic artists such as Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Doris Day, and Ella Fitzgerald.

The cabaret-style performance will take place at ECTC’s cabaret stage located on the second floor of 560 Grand Boulevard in Grand Boulevard Town Center in Miramar Beach.

The show will take place at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m, and tickets are $95 per couple, which includes two tickets to the show, a bottle of wine, and a charcuterie board to share, making it a perfect date night idea.

• You can purchase tickets online at the ECTC website (www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org)

BEACHES

Celebration planned for new Tarpon Beach expansion in Destin

A new 340-ft beachfront park is set to become a reality in Destin thanks to a partnership between the City of Destin, the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council, and Trust for Public Land. 

• The new park, which will be called Tarpon Beach Park upon completion, will feature new views of the Gulf of Mexico along Scenic Highway 98.

In August 2022, the Destin City Council and Board of County Commissioners voted to move forward with an interlocal agreement between the two agencies to purchase nearly 340-feet of beachfront property at Tarpon Beach.

• In our story from August, Get The Coast reported that the purchase price of the Tarpon Beach parcels was $14,050,000.

To celebrate the project, the City of Destin will be hosting a ceremony on Friday, February 3, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the site, where the current structures on the three parcels adjacent to the Tarpon Beach Trail will be cleared to make way for the new park. The public is invited to attend. 

“Making our beautiful beaches more accessible to our residents and out-of-town guests is a top priority for the County,” said Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Trey Goodwin. “This is a major step toward that goal, and we are grateful to have a team of partners that understand that commitment.”

Destin Mayor Bobby Wagner also praised the project, saying, “These kinds of partnerships are an effective way to move Destin forward in a positive direction for both locals and visitors.” He also acknowledged the work of former Mayor Gary Jarvis in making the project a reality.

The Tarpon Beach project is Phase II of a larger endeavor between Okaloosa and the city to expand public beach access in Destin. Okaloosa County and the City of Destin have pledged a combined $26.5 million to fund the project, with the cost share split 50/50 between the City and County. 

• Phase I of the project, which expanded the Crystal Beach Access, took place in April 2021, and Phase II is expected to be completed in May 2024.

The County’s portion, as well as much of the City’s, will be funded with Tourism Development District revenue.

Trust for Public Land was the lead agency that helped negotiate the purchase of the properties for both Phase I and II. 

“Increasing access to the pristine Tarpon Beach is not only a tourism draw for the city a but gives residents walkability to the waterfront and all its amenities that have previously been closed off,” said Kate Brown, Senior Project Manager for Trust for Public Land.

The new park at Tarpon Beach will include free parking, restrooms, and views of the Gulf of Mexico. Construction is expected to start after this tourism season, with both the Crystal Beach and Tarpon Beach parks open to the public in May 2024.