ON THE FLY:THE TIDE ROAD TR IP–WORTHY EVENTS (NORTH) EVP PRO BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOUR– AT HAMMOCK BEACH PA L M C O A S T
June 1–3
Beach volleyball professionals compete to qualify for the 2018 EVP World Finals of Beach Volleyball Championship. evptour.com
BILLY BOWLEGS PIRATE FESTIVAL F O R T WA LT O N B E A C H
June 1–4
This family-friendly, piratethemed weekend offers parades, rock walls, live music and food on the waterfront. billybowlegsfestival.com
47TH ANNUAL PENSACOLA INTERNATIONAL BILLFISH TOURNAMENT P E N S A C O LA
June 27–July 1 Anglers compete for prizewinning blue marlin and a $5,000 purse. An awards brunch follows at the Pensacola Yacht Club. pbgfc.com
7TH ANNUAL DOWNTOWN APALACHICOLA INDEPENDENCE EVE CELEBRATION A PA LA C H I C O LA
July 3
The patriotic celebration features a parade, food, ice cream, a tribute to U.S. veterans and fireworks over the Apalachicola River. downtownapalachicola.com
P E N S A C O LA
July 14
Each July, this iconic event unfolds on the beach at Pensacola, home to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ elite flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels. The celebration caps off Red, White and Blues Week, which begins on July 11 with fireworks and concerts and continues over the course of a few days with meet ’n’ greets and practice rounds by the Blues. The big show includes civilian air performances as well as the iconic FA-18 Hornets. Thousands of spectators set up camp on the white sands of Santa Rosa Island and bob at anchor in the Little Sabine Bay to feel the rumble and watch the military unit perform insane maneuvers. Prepare for a long day. Traffic getting onto the island is no joke, but locals agree it’s worth it for the full experience hearing the show’s narration. Check out Dog House Deli or Casino Beach Bar & Grille for shrimp ’n’ grits or bushwackers. For true street cred, don the commemorative t-shirt and ride the mechanical shark. visitpensacola.com
JULY FOURTH IN JACKSONVILLE
7TH ANNUAL PADDLE AT THE PORCH
July 4
August 18
JACKSONVILLE
VISIT PENSACOL A
PENSACOLA BEACH AIRSHOW
Independence Day activities include live music and fireworks displays over the St. Johns River downtown and at the beach. visitjacksonville.com
DESTIN
Stand up paddle boarders of all ages and skill levels compete in one, three or six mile races around Destin’s Gulf Coast waters.
destinchamber.com
GULF COAST JAM
PA N A M A C I T Y B E A C H
August 31–September 2 Country sensations Florida Georgia Line, Eric Church and Thomas Rhett headline threeday-long beachside music festival.
gulfcoastjam.com
GULF COAST SUMMER FEST: JAZZ EDITION P E N S A C O LA
September 1 Musicians like Grammynominated saxophonist Boney James perform live on stage. gulfcoastsummerfest
S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 /// FLAMINGOMAG.COM
107