📅 When
October 24, 2026 – October 25, 2026
17:00
📍 Where
Destin Harbor Boardwalk, Destin, FL 32541
About this event
There's nothing quite like hearing a hit song told from the songwriter's own lips. The Destin Songwriter Festival brings the people who wrote the music — behind-the-scenes artists, co-writers, and storytellers — out from the wings and onto the stages of Destin Harbor for a weekend of intimate performances unlike any other music event on the Emerald Coast.
Multiple stages unfold across the harbor waterfront, from free acoustic sessions at Boathouse Oyster Bar to the fully produced main stage on the upper boardwalk where gates open at 5pm. VIP songwriter rounds offer the closest experience — small-room settings where writers trade songs in the round and share the stories and lucky accidents that turned into chart-toppers. Live music spills between venues, and the backdrop is the glittering harbor at dusk.
Whether you spring for VIP access or wander from free stage to free stage with a drink in hand, the festival is an ideal fall weekend. The Fishing Rodeo weigh-ins are still running on the same weekend, so the harbor buzzes with energy from morning through the last encore of the night. A Destin October highlight for music lovers.
Best for: Music lovers, couples, and anyone who appreciates the craft of songwriting in an intimate waterfront setting
What to expect: Multiple waterfront stages including free and ticketed options, main stage performances, VIP songwriter rounds, acoustic sessions — gates open at 5pm daily
Planning tip: Boathouse Oyster Bar stage is free; buy GA or VIP tickets in advance for the main upper boardwalk stage — they sell out before the weekend
Cost: Mix of free stages and paid GA/VIP tickets for the main stage and songwriter rounds
