On Saturday, October 23, The Market Shops will host its Sixth Annual Bloody Mary Festival benefiting Habitat for Humanity – Walton County. The annual event, powered by Step One Automotive Group, will feature unlimited tastes of South Walton’s most creative and innovative bloody marys made with Distillery 98’s Dune Laker Vodka and served by the finest restaurants and bars on the Emerald Coast.
For a $40 donation to attend, guests are invited from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to enjoy up to 25 of South Walton’s most coveted bloody marys served in specialty cups provided by Compass Builders of Florida and Frillseekers Gifts. Restaurants confirmed to compete for the 2021 Best Bloody Mary in South Walton include Bijoux Restaurant + Spirits, Emeril’s Coastal Italian, The Henderson, Jackacudas, Signature Catering of 30A, Stinky’s Fish Camp and many more. A panel of select food critics and local celebrities will judge each bloody mary to select the winners for the most delicious and most creative. There will also be a highly coveted first-, second-, and third-place People’s Choice Award that is selected by each guest in attendance whose votes will be tallied by Hill Coleman, CPA.
“We are eager to welcome everyone back to the shopping center as we host the Annual Bloody Mary Festival this October,” said Rob Duncan with The Market Shops. “After postponing last year’s festival due to COVID, I know this year’s event will be better and bigger than ever.”
Apart from the bloody marys, there will also be plenty of food from the various restaurants located directly in The Market Shops, including Ben & Jerrys, Bijoux Restaurants + Spirits, and Jon Smith Subs. For the non-bloody mary aficionado, there will be local craft brews served by Idyll Hounds Brewing Company along with champagne, provided by Hey Mama Wines, from the Bubbly Bar sponsored by Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, and the Hyatt Place by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard. Guests will be able to cool off with alcohol-infused popsicles provided by Swell Pops and a hydration station by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty. A lounge area with additional seating and cornhole games provided by Vacayzen will be set up on the main lawn, along with SEC football streaming on the big screen courtesy of Insurance Zone.
While sipping bloody marys, guests can enjoy a commemorative photo booth courtesy of Legendary Marine, music by DJ Dad, a cigar bar by Shore Thing Cigars, and exclusive shopping opportunities from The Market Shops merchants. Headlining the event will be a live performance from Dread Clampitt on the main stage brought to you by Carter & Company CPA, LLC.
Parking will be available at The Market Shops on the day of the festival but is expected to fill up fast. There will be additional parking available at The Beach House located in Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort and a complimentary shuttle, provided by Emerald Coast Luxury Transportation courtesy of Beachworx, will travel to and from the festival from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.
For guests traveling from out of town, there will be special room rates available through the festival’s official lodging sponsors including the Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, The Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, and The Hyatt Place Sandestin. Visit www.themarketshops.com for more details coming soon.
Tickets are currently on sale through 850Tix for the pre-sale price of $40 or can be purchased the day of the event at the door for $60. To learn more about The Market Shops Bloody Mary Festival and to buy tickets, visit www.themarketshops.com. If you would like to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity on the day of the event, please email volunteer@waltoncountyhabitat.org.
Over the past five years, the annual event has raised over $50,000 for local charities. Money raised during the sixth annual event will benefit Habitat for Humanity – Walton County, a local nonprofit housing organization that works toward building and improving homes in partnership with individuals and families in need of a decent and affordable place to live.
“We are so grateful to be named as the beneficiary for The Market Shops Annual Bloody Mary Festival once again” said Teresa Imdieke, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity – Walton County. “The proceeds raised from the festival each year help us operate on a day-to-day basis and build homes for those who need it most in our community. We are dedicated to achieving our mission to provide everyone in Walton County with a safe and stable place to live.”
Special thanks to additional sponsors including 30A, 30AEats, 30A Television, 850 Magazine, Amber Yonker Photography, Coast 93.3, Destin Life, Destin Log, Dog Harmony Life, Emerald Coast Magazine, Good Grit Magazine, Gulf Coast Restaurants, Hesh Studios, The Local, Maxine Orange, Mingle, Mountain High Outfitters, Northwest Florida Daily News, Proffitt PR, Scarlett Magazine, SoWal Life, SoWal.com, Tallahassee Magazine, VIP 30A Magazine, VIP Destin Magazine, VIP Pensacola Magazine, Visit South Walton, The Walton Sun, and Z96.
