Festival of the Arts

The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) presents its annual Festival of the Arts for an entire weekend of art, music, food and fun for everyone. The area's premiere fine arts festival takes place October 28 and 29 at the MKAF Cultural Arts Village in Destin, Florida. Celebrating 22 years, the two-day signature event features art exhibits of nearly 200 total artists from 13 states showcasing a diverse palette of artistic styles in 22 different art mediums. Beyond the visual arts, the Festival will feature two days of continual live music and a sampling of the local culinary arts scene. Entertaining street performers, lively art drawings and the sale of colorful keepsake souvenirs — all create a family-friendly festival feel.

The Festival takes place on Saturday from 9:00am til 5:00pm and Sunday from 10:00am til 4:00pm. Admission is $5/adult. MKAF members & children (under 12) are free.

Six local and regional musicians and bands will perform live throughout the weekend on stage at The Dugas Pavilion.
Saturday
9:30am - 11:30am: Singer/songwriter Drew Tillman serves up bluesy rock and roll 
12:00pm - 2:00pm: Jeff Glickman and The Panhandle All Stars deliver bluesy-rock 
2:30pm - 4:30 pm:  Caravan with traditional jazz and modern soulful blues 

Sunday
10:00am -11:00am Then & Now with acoustic country and folk tunes
11:30am - 1:00pm: Roman Street, an instrumental band known for improvisational fusion
2:00pm - 3:30pm: Singer/songwriter Melissa Joiner brings a unique twist on the Delta blues

The Festival is open to the public and runs Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Daily admission is $5. Proceeds from MKAF cultural events help fund arts education community outreach programs serving K-12 students, adults and children with special needs and military and veteran populations suffering with PTSD and TBI. The event is free to children 12 and under and MKAF members. Sorry, no refunds are given for inclement weather.

For more information, visit mattiekellyartsfoundation.org call (850) 650-2226 and follow Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation on Facebook.             

Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF), a 501-c-3 not-for-profit charitable arts organization, was founded on the cultural, educational and spiritual beliefs of the late Destin matriarch, Mattie Kelly. MKAF’s mission is Northwest Florida’s champion of cultural arts and arts education for all. Since it formed in 1995, its art programs have reached and inspired more than 300,000 children in over 61 schools, and United Way agencies, children and adults with special needs, and wounded warriors. 

The 2017 Festival of the Arts brings an arts-packed weekend filled with new and old traditions during the most beautiful time of year on the Emerald Coast of Florida.