The 3rd Annual Wentz Brothers’ Festival of Fears Continues to Become Bigger & Better
The Wentz Brothers invite one and all to their third annual Festival of Fears haunted attraction in Fort Walton Beach. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than the last, opening in a new facility at the Santa Rosa Mall. The new location boasts over 80,000 square feet, leaving the Wentz Brothers, Alex and Andrew, with plenty of room to continue growing the Festival of Fears into “the Gulf Coast’s premier haunted attraction.”
The 2023 haunt season will introduce guests to a number of new characters, offerings and attractions you won’t want to miss. The Festival of Fears will host three all-new, original haunted houses alongside new and improved horror-themed midway games, two haunted,
15-minute escape rooms, a spooky gift shop, food trucks and an expanded bar serving a variety of drinks from alcohol to event-exclusive Fear Potions. The Wentz Brothers also plan to host a number of new events held throughout the season such as the inaugural Drop Dead Disco costume party, two Family Day events, and a special surprise for Friday the 13th.
Keeping with the Festival of Fears’ tradition of changing haunted house themes each season, 2023 will boast three unique, haunted house concepts and styles. The first, Beasts of the Bayou, will transport guests into a backwoods marsh never explored by man, but home to a bevy of hideous and hungry monsters. Next, Nightmare Menagerie will have guests venture into an abandoned, roadside zoo that has now become home to a new breed of evil. And finally, guests will step under the big top to see the newest additions to the Collector’s horrifying horde in Into The Festival Of Fears: The Secret Show. Additionally, guests can test their nerves and their wits in two new, haunted, 15-minute escape rooms — Lazarus Toys: No Escape and Experiments In Evil: Razorback’s Revenge.
The Festival of Fears is located in the old JC Penney’s building at Santa Rosa Mall and is open select nights from September 15th to November 4th. Haunting hours start at 6 p.m. sharp with a special pre-show to kick things off — so don’t be late. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.wbfestivaloffears.com.
Seagar’s: An Evening with Laura Benanti
Tony Award-winning Broadway, film and TV star Laura Benanti will headline Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s Cabaret at Seagar’s Prime Steakhouse at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort and Spa on Wednesday, Sept. 27. This one-night-only benefit begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by a four-course dinner curated by executive chef Fleetwood Covington and a live performance starring Laura Benanti.
Hailed by The New York Times for her “effortless” vocals, and by the New York Post for her ability to “whip up laughs out of thin air,” Benanti first took Broadway by storm at the age of 18 as Maria in The Sound of Music. (You may recognize her for her role of Baroness Elsa in the live 2013 televised version with Carrie Underwood on NBC.) Subsequently, she starred in 10 more Broadway shows (musicals, straight plays, comedies, and dramas) including Into the Woods, Nine (opposite Antonio Banderas), Gypsy (for which she won a Tony Award), She Loves Me, My Fair Lady, and Steve Martin’s Meteor Shower opposite Amy Schumer and Keegan Michael Key.
Ticket prices for Cabaret at Seagar’s: An Evening with Laura Benanti are $295 per person and include valet, a four-course dinner, wine, gratuity, and live performance.
Proceeds benefit Sinfonia Gulf Coast and its music education and community engagement initiatives throughout Northwest Florida. Full table reservations are available, and a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remain. Purchase tickets online at SinfoniaGulfCoast.org or by calling the box office at (850) 460-8800.
MKAF Kicks Off 2023 Fall Season With Salt Water Music Fest
Presented by Salt Water Vacations and MKAF, The first-ever Salt Water Music Fest brings music lovers a sensational three-day music showcase celebration to raise funds and awareness for MKAF — Destin’s champion of the cultural arts for all. The two-day music festival is Thursday, Oct. 12, and Friday, Oct. 13 at MKAF’s Cultural Arts Village in Destin with a singer/songwriter brunch to follow on Sunday, Oct. 14 at Soleil in Destin.
Grammy-winning pop songstress Macy Gray, best known for her international hit single I Try, headlines the Festival on Thursday, Oct. 12. Joining this captivating, eclectic R&B talent on stage is her band, The California Jet Club, performing hot tracks from her newest album, The Reset.
The event will also feature an evening of five of Nashville’s hottest singer/songwriters including Ben Burgess, Jared Mullins, Jordan Minton, Jordan Reynolds, the Josh Mirenda Band along with headliner country music duo LOCASH. Music lovers can meet and greet many of the singer/songwriters during Brunch at Soleil on Saturday, Oct. 14. The event will include multiple food trucks, beverage bars, merchandise retail sales as well as artist meet & greets (for some ticket levels).
Advance tickets are priced from $50 per person. General admission lawn seating and table seating will be available for individuals. Full tables (seating eight) are available starting from $750. VIP Tables are from $1,500 and include prime seating, VIP tent access, drink coupons, a cash bar, onsite VIP parking passes, and more. Purchase tickets online at mkaf.org.
LJ Schooners 30th Annual Single Hand Race
The biggest race on the Bay is fast approaching. The 30th Annual Single Hand Race sponsored by Budweiser, Bluewater Bay Marina Complex and LJ Schooners Dockside Restaurant & Oyster Bar will be held October 21. Upwards of 30 boats will participate in this race for everyone. “We encourage participation from as many sailors as possible to mark the 30th Anniversary of this fun and exciting race,” said Jimmie Boisjolie of LJ Schooners. This is a single handers race with only one person per boat. A short race for fun, challenge and perhaps bragging rights is planned. Skippers meeting and registration will be held Friday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m. at LJ Schooners Dockside Oyster Bar. Exact start times for the Bermuda Start Race will be assigned at skippers meeting on Friday night. For more information, call Bluewater Bay Marina at (850) 897-2821 or visit our website bluewaterbaymarina.com.
NWFSC to Host the First Annual Emerald Coast PCA Rodeo
There’s a new rodeo in town and it’s taking the bull by the horns! Buckle up your boots and grab your cowboy hats, because the Emerald Coast PCA Rodeo is about to stampede into Niceville, Friday, Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m. Mutton Busting, 7:30 p.m. Rodeo and Saturday, Nov. 11, at 6:30 p.m. Mutton Busting, 7:30 p.m. Rodeo. All events will be held at Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC). This heart-pounding, thrill-seeking event promises to deliver an ultimate rodeo experience for rodeo enthusiasts and newcomers alike. With heart-stopping bull riding, daredevil barrel racing, breathtaking roping, and specialty acts, attendees can expect a showcase of top-notch rodeo talent.
Proceeds will support Raider Athletics at NWFSC. Critical resources are necessary for Raider student-athletes to compete for championships on the field and on the court. Your support will go a long way in ensuring Raider Athletics has the essential tools to maintain the high standards of athletics and academics established at NWFSC.
Saddle up and get ready for a wild ride!
Honorary Judges and Angel’s Envy Partnership Announced for Eggs on the Beach
This popular foodie returns to Seascape Resort on Oct. 14, and in addition to rallying for taster votes, cook teams will also compete for recognition by a distinguished panel of honorary judges. This year’s culinary experts range from Tony Chachere’s Corporate Chef to a Michelin restaurant-trained chef to a local restauranteur and a contributing food writer for national magazines. New this year—Best Angel’s Envy Bite, celebrating the event’s new partnership with Angel’s Envy Bourbon.
With diverse backgrounds, judges will evaluate bites based on taste, creativity and presentation to award the coveted Judge’s Trophies: Chef Jude Tauzin, corporate chef for Tony Chachere’s, Lafayette, LA; Chef Dan Tederous, corporate chef Hilton Sandestin; Nikki Nickerson, founder Cowgirl Hospitality Group; Carrie Honaker, Florida Food & Travel Writer—Bon Appetit, Food & Wine and Wine Enthusiast, among others; and Michelin restaurant-trained Chef Chad Donelson, executive chef Bitterroot. These culinary experts will mix and mingle with the crowd tasting each team’s culinary creations and collaborating to award this year’s trophy winners.
The team with the most votes will win a Large Big Green Egg, valued at $1,449. The runner up with the second most votes will receive a medium Big Green Egg and the third-place team will receive a mini-max Big Green Egg. Cook teams representing a non-profit organization have the opportunity to earn up to $3,500 toward their cause.
New to this year’s event is a Junior Chefs Competition. Open to five youth cook teams, the junior cook team category will allow young chefs, ages 8-14, an opportunity to showcase their talents and compete for bragging rights, medals and cash prizes.
Proceeds benefit two local non-profits—the Fisher House of the Emerald Coast and Food for Thought. The cooking competition will be enhanced with live music by Dan Collins and Becca of Black Eyed Blonde, as well a chance to win a Mini-Max Big Green Egg. Beer, wine, cocktails, water and sodas will also be available for purchase at the Tiki Bar.
Taster tickets are on-sale now for $45 in advance and include unlimited bites, live music, Angel’s Envy samples, chance to win a mini-max Big Green Egg and more. Tickets are $18 for children (ages 11-17); Kids ages 10 and under are free. To learn more, purchase tickets or register a cook team, visit www.EggsontheBeach.com or call 850-269-4666.
