November on 30A Starts in Seaside, Moves East, and Ends on the Road Itself

November's big events on 30A move along the road week by week. The first weekend centers on Seaside and WaterColor. The second shifts to Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach. In Thanksgiving week, two of the biggest events take place on Scenic Highway 30A itself. Wherever you live along the road, your busy weekend comes on a different date than your neighbors' a few miles away.

Thursday through Sunday, the center of the road fills up

Seeing Red Wine Festival opens Thursday evening, Nov. 5, with the Vintners Dinner at Bud & Alley's, 6 to 9 p.m. The festival keeps going through Sunday, and most of its ticketed events had moved to waitlists by early November. On the festival's BigTickets page, these events show a waitlist option:

• Al Fresco Reserve Tasting, Friday, Nov. 6, 6 to 8:30 p.m., listed at $450
• Battle of the Somms, Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., listed at $275
• Grand Tasting VIP, Saturday, Nov. 7, listed at $450
• Celebration of Bubbles, Sunday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Lyceum Lawn with Chef Jim Shirley, listed at $125

As of early November, general admission to the Grand Tasting was still available at $300 before fees. It runs Saturday from 12:30 to 4 p.m. in Seaside's Central Square, with wines poured by winemakers and vintners and food from local restaurants. Seaside's festival page also mentions complimentary shuttles from a parking lot on Highway 331 N.

Friday night is the busiest evening of the month, with three events overlapping across a short stretch of South Walton:

1. 5:30 p.m. The 30A BBQ Festival opens on the North Lawn at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, and VIP guests get in at 5. Eighteen local and regional eateries compete for "Best BBQ," and the music comes from Brent Shaw and River Dan. General admission is $70 and covers unlimited barbecue plus beer from Grayton Beer Company. The festival is The Sonder Project's largest annual fundraiser.
2. 5:45 p.m. Gates open for Mountainfilm on Tour at WaterColor Marina Park Amphitheater, 238 WaterColor Blvd. W.
3. 6 p.m. Seeing Red's Al Fresco Reserve Tasting begins in Seaside.
4. 7 p.m. The Mountainfilm screenings start.

Mountainfilm runs Friday and Saturday nights and has been coming to WaterColor for 26 years. The films are documentary shorts chosen from the Telluride festival, and a Mountainfilm presenter introduces each evening. The screenings go on rain or shine. Bring a blanket or a low-back chair. Outside food, drinks and coolers aren't allowed, but food, wine, beer and liquor are sold on-site. Children 8 and under get in free.

Seaside's Saturday routine takes a week off

The Seeing Red weekend also changes Seaside's regular schedule. On Seaside's November calendar, the first farmers market date is Saturday, Nov. 14, and Saturday, Nov. 7 has two Seeing Red events, Battle of the Somms and the Grand Tasting.

On Sunday morning, Nov. 8, Colombia & Company is celebrating its first year in Seaside from 10 a.m. to noon with Colombian coffee, traditional treats and live music. It's the same morning as Celebration of Bubbles on the Lyceum Lawn.

The second weekend moves to the east end

The week after Seeing Red, the activity shifts east. Alys Beach Crafted runs Wednesday, Nov. 11, through Sunday, Nov. 15. It starts with a 30A Songwriters Session at the Red Loggia at Caliza. On Thursday, Nov. 12, there are three Experiential Dinners, each starting at 5 p.m.:

• Red Loggia at Caliza: Birmingham chef Rob McDaniel of Helen and Bayonet cooks a family-style, live-fire menu with Foursquare Rum Distillery cocktails.
• George's at Alys Beach: Chef Camille Withall serves Gulf ingredients with global influences, with cocktails by Nicole Greenwell of Pearl & Horn.
• The Summerhouse at The Silva: Chef Drew Dzejak and the Alys Beach Culinary team pair dinner with Menagerie wines, surrounded by David Yarrow's photography.

On Friday, Nov. 13, Cocktails & Clay starts at 2:30 p.m. at The Summerhouse. In this Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County workshop, ceramicist Sarah Bumanglag helps each guest make two vessels. At 6:30 p.m., the 6th Annual Firkin Fête opens in Central Park with live music by Scott T. Smith. Proceeds from the week go to the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County.

Saturday, Nov. 14 has the most overlap on the east end. Two wine and spirits tastings run at the same time a short drive apart:

1 to 4 p.m., Alys Beach: Spirited Soirée, a progressive tasting of craft cocktails and spirits along the North Sea Garden Walk.

1 to 4 p.m., Rosemary Beach: Rosemary Beach Uncorked, in its 15th year.

When this was written, Uncorked tickets were on sale at $225 for general admission and $350 for VIP. Ten restaurants are taking part: Amavida Coffee, Blue By Night, Edward's, Cowgirl Kitchen, La Crema Tapas & Chocolate, Restaurant Paradis, CK's Feed & Supply, Havana Beach Bar & Grill, Pescado, and Tahona Tacos & Tequileria. Proceeds go to Caring and Sharing of South Walton and Children's Volunteer Health Network.

The free event on the east end that weekend is the Holiday Makers Market at the Alys Beach Amphitheatre. It's open Friday, Nov. 13, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 14 and 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with regional artisans, handcrafted goods and live music. Santa is there for photos from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. That same Saturday morning, Seaside's farmers market is back in the Amphitheater from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Between them, you can shop a market at both ends of the road before the afternoon tastings start.

The quiet week in between

Seaside's calendar shows only its regular events for the week of Nov. 16. Sounds of Seaside has Roman Street on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Seaside Amphitheater, and the farmers market is on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. No major festival is scheduled on 30A that week.

Thanksgiving week, 30A itself is the venue

In the last week of November, the busy schedule returns, and this time some of it happens on the road. The week shows up first on the market calendar. Seaside lists an extra Tuesday market on Nov. 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., two days before Thanksgiving. On Wednesday, Nov. 25, BOUKOU GROOVE plays the month's last Sounds of Seaside.

On Thanksgiving morning, part of 30A closes. The 15th Annual 30A 10K Thanksgiving Day Races start and finish in Rosemary Beach. The 10K starts at 7:30 a.m., the 1-Mile Fun Run at 7:35 and the 5K at 9:30. According to the race's posted event schedule, Highway 30A is closed to all traffic on Thursday, Nov. 26, from 7 to 10:30 a.m. The closure runs from East Water Street at the start/finish line in Rosemary Beach to the 10K turnaround at Bridge Lane, just east of The Big Chill. Plan any Thanksgiving morning drive that crosses that stretch around those hours. Parking near the race is limited. The race FAQ asks drivers who park north of Highway 98 at 30Avenue to walk into Rosemary Beach through the underground pedestrian path. After the races, the awards and post-race party are in North Barrett Square. This year's registrations support Children's Volunteer Health Network, Children in Crisis, Habitat for Humanity of Walton County and Bailey Brigade.

Friday night, Nov. 27, Seaside shows How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Jim Carrey version, outdoors in the Amphitheater at 7 p.m.

The month's last event also uses the road. The Seaside Christmas Parade starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, at Seagrove Plaza, 3723 E County Hwy 30A, and travels west along 30A to Seaside. In Seaside, Turn on the Town continues with an Emerald Coast Theatre Company performance at Krier Plaza and the Christmas tree lighting in the Seaside Amphitheater. Afterward, Santa is in the Christmas Village for photos until 8 p.m. Parade registration fees go to Point Washington Medical Clinic. The farmers market also runs that morning, so Seaside has events from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. that day.

If you'd like help working out how a spot on 30A fits into a calendar like this one, from the quiet weeks to the parade route, Sherry Smith knows this coastline week by week and is happy to talk it through. Let's Connect.