Two weeks after Hurricane Isaias, the Amphitheater lawn in Seaside turned into a racetrack. On Saturday, Oct. 24, dachshunds ran the 16th Halloweener Derby while the crowd watched from the grass, and a dog named Reggie took the title. The National Hurricane Center put Isaias ashore near Destin at about 8:30 p.m. CDT on Friday, Oct. 9, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Fifteen days later, a costumed dog race on Central Square went ahead on its usual Saturday.
The derby was a preview of how the rest of the season looks. One weekend in November is ticketed and mostly spoken for. Everything else on Seaside's calendar between now and Thanksgiving weekend costs nothing, repeats week to week, and is still on the schedule after the storm.
The town reopened before the cleanup ended
Seaside began a limited reopening on Monday, Oct. 12. Bud & Alley's, Bud & Alley's Taco Bar and Pickles opened their doors that day, with Bud & Alley's on a limited menu at first. Drome, Shrimp Shack, The Meltdown and The Seaside Style followed on Oct. 13, and The Chapel of 30A went back to normal operations on Oct. 12. Next door at WaterColor, the Beach Club, Camp WaterColor, Marina Pool and Tennis Center reopened Oct. 14 with some restrictions. The nature trails and some pools stayed closed. By Oct. 13, 30A.com reported that most restaurants, cafés and stores along the corridor were open again, though some still had limited menus or services.
The shoreline is taking longer. Walton County beaches have reopened, but some beach accesses are still closed because of storm damage. WJHG reported erosion along 30A. In Grayton Beach, the surge topped the dunes and filled Western Lake, and the lake's normal flow toward the Gulf reversed. Before you head to a particular walkover, check the county's Hurricane Isaias updates page, which has a section on beach access.
Seeing Red is the weekend that filled up
The SEASIDE® Seeing Red Wine Festival runs Nov. 5 through 8 from 121 Central Square, and this is its 34th year. As of Oct. 24, the festival's Big Tickets page showed nearly every ticketed event as waitlist only.
| Event | When | Price before fees | Status on Oct. 24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Fresco Wine Tasting, Lyceum Lawn | Fri., Nov. 6, evening | $450 | Waitlist |
| Battle of the Somms | Sat., Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to noon | $275 | Waitlist |
| VIP Grand Tasting | Sat., Nov. 7, entry 12:30 p.m. | $450 | Waitlist |
| General Admission Grand Tasting | Sat., Nov. 7, 1 p.m. | $300 | On sale |
| Celebration of Bubbles, Lyceum Lawn tent | Sun., Nov. 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | $125 | Waitlist |
| Friday and Saturday passes | Nov. 6 and 7 | $650 GA, $900 VIP | Waitlist |
With fees, a general admission Grand Tasting ticket comes to $318.39. That ticket gets you into Central Square and Ruskin Place, with wine and food chosen by Seaside restaurants and local chefs, live music, and bottles for sale on site. The wineries listed for 2026 include Lemelson Vineyards, Copain Wines, Biale, Covert Estate, WillaKenzie, Chris Hamilton Cellars, Julien Fayard, Daniele Conterno and Jackson Family Wines. The weekend opens Thursday, Nov. 5, with the Vintners Dinner at Bud & Alley's, listed for 6 to 9 p.m. On Sunday, the Celebration of Bubbles pairs Champagne, Cava and Prosecco with brunch from Chef Jim Shirley.
If none of that is on your list, the same weekend has an option a few minutes east. Mountainfilm on Tour plays the Marina Park Amphitheater at WaterColor on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 7. Gates open at 5:45 p.m., films start at 7 p.m., and the event runs rain or shine, according to 30A.com.
The free calendar, from Halloween to the parade
Seeing Red takes up four days. The free events fill the four weeks from Halloween to the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and most of them come around every week.
Saturday, Oct. 31
- Halloween in Seaside, 4 to 7 p.m., Central Square. This year's theme is the "Golden Ticket." Families in costume trick-or-treat at participating merchants and find themed installations around town. Check the event page before you go.
- Central Square Cinema, 7 to 8:30 p.m., right after trick-or-treating ends.
Every Wednesday in November
- Sounds of Seaside in the Amphitheater, 4 to 6 p.m. Bring blankets and chairs.
- Nov. 4: Max McCann
- Nov. 11: Flow Tribe
- Nov. 18: Roman Street
- Nov. 25: BOUKOU GROOVE
Every Saturday in November
- Seaside Farmers Market in the Amphitheater, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. In November the market runs on Saturdays only. It goes ahead rain or shine unless conditions are unsafe.
The concert hour is the change most likely to catch you off guard. In October, Sounds of Seaside ran 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. Every November date on the official calendar starts at 4 p.m. and ends at 6. The switch lines up with the end of daylight saving time on Sunday, Nov. 1. The first show at the new time is Max McCann on Nov. 4, three days after the clocks change.
Thanksgiving weekend fills the square twice
The free calendar ends its run on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving.
On Friday, Nov. 27, Central Square Cinema hosts a Holiday Movie Night from 7 to 8:30 p.m., showing The Grinch with Jim Carrey, weather permitting.
On Saturday, Nov. 28, the morning farmers market keeps its usual 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. hours. Two hours after the market closes, the SEASIDE® Holiday Parade starts at 3 p.m. in Seagrove Plaza and comes down 30A to Central Square. The parade kicks off Turn on the Town. Emerald Coast Theatre Company performs at Krier Plaza, and Santa lights the Christmas tree in the Seaside Amphitheater. After that, he takes photos at the Christmas Village until 8 p.m. Anyone can sign up for a spot in the parade through the registration page, and all registration proceeds go to Point Washington Medical Clinic.
Before you head into town
These dates come from Seaside's own calendar, which is the best place to check close to each event. The official listings haven't said whether the storm changed anything, and outdoor events like the cinema nights depend on the weather. The Seaside events page and the county's recovery updates are the two to bookmark. One covers what's happening in Central Square, and the other covers which beach accesses are open on your way there.
If the extra hour after the clocks change has you rethinking your weekly routine around 30A, and maybe where in South Walton you'd want it to start, Vicki and Tori are happy to talk it through. Beach Escapes Coastal Living has followed this stretch of the coast since 2004, storms and festival weekends included. Schedule a consultation whenever it suits you.
