Nothing satisfies a winter craving like a delicious, steaming bowl of gumbo, and visitors to the 31st Annual Sandestin Gumbo Festival at The Village of Baytowne Wharf will get their fill of the famous Cajun and Creole dish this February 14-15. One of the largest and most popular winter food events along Florida’s Emerald Coast, this year’s Sandestin Gumbo Festival will feature the best of the Florida panhandle culinary scene in addition to music, activities, and more.
The event kicks off on Friday, February 14, with an extensive seafood boil hosted at Hammerhead’s Bar & Grille from 5 – 7 p.m. On Saturday, February 15, the main event will bring gumbo fans and enthusiasts from all across the region together to taste and judge their favorite iterations of gumbo—light roux versus dark, seafood versus chicken and sausage, and gumbos with unique twists and influences. Live music from Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe will keep festival goers dancing while children’s activities keep the little ones entertained and engaged. Attendees will vote on their favorite gumbos, resulting in one “People’s Choice” winner, while celebrity judges will name the “Area’s Best.”
“This year’s event is promising to serve up fun for everyone,” says Leighann Elliott, Event Manager. “We’re excited to bring back The Best Bloody Mary at The Beach competition, which was an enormous hit last year. Sponsored by Bombora Vodka the competition allows attendees an opportunity to taste some of the finest coastal bars’ and restaurants’ Bloody Marys and vote for their favorite, giving them the title of ‘Best Bloody Mary at the Beach,’” she says.
The Village of Baytowne Wharf provides the perfect backdrop for the lively event, giving travelers from all over the Southeast a chance to get to know the local community’s restaurants and businesses. An accommodations packages is available and includes a ticket to Saturday’s main event and accommodations at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. To reserve your place, visit SandestinGumboFestival.com or call 800-926-2936.
“With so much yummy gumbo, eye-opening bloody marys, fun children’s activities, and lively Zydeco music, this festival is not just ‘medi-okra’,” says Elliott.
31st Annual Sandestin Gumbo Festival
February 14 and 15, 2020
