The Market Shops 5th Annual Bloody Mary Festival

On Saturday, November 2, The Market Shops will host its 5^th Annual Bloody Mary Festival benefiting Habitat for Humanity - Walton County. The annual event will feature unlimited tastes of South Walton’s most creative and innovative bloody marys made with Cathead 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 unlimited tastes of up to 20 of South Walton’s most coveted bloody marys served in specialty cups provided by Compass Builders of Florida. Restaurants confirmed to compete for the 2019 Best Bloody Mary in South Walton include Another Broken Egg Cafe, Bijoux Restaurant + Spirits, Blue Mabel, Camille's at Crystal Beach, Emeril’s Coastal Italian, Grits & Grind, Half Shell Oyster House, The Henderson Beach Resort & Spa, Jackacuda’s Seafood & Sushi, Jim N’ Nicks Bar-B-Q, Lulu’s Destin, Mama Clemenza’s, Rockin’ Tacos, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Shades Bar and Grill, Signature Catering of 30A, Slick Lips Seafood & Oyster House, Sunset Bay Cafe, and The Surf Hut.

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 People’s Choice Award that is selected by each guest in attendance who’s votes will be tallied by Hill Coleman, CPA.

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, Hebert’s Specialty Meats, Maple Street Biscuit Company, and Pizza by the Sea, as well as juice shots by Clean Juice. There will be local craft brews served by Grayton Beer Company along with champagne from the Bubbly Bar provided by Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard and Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard for guests to sip on. Guests will be able to cool off with newly added “boozy” popsicles provided by Swell Pops. A lounge area with additional seating and cornhole games provided by Rent Gear Here will be set up on the main lawn, along with SEC football streaming on the big screen provided by Tail Grayton courtesy of Insurance Zone.
 
While sipping bloody marys, guests can enjoy a hydration station by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, a commemorative photo booth by Epic Photo Company 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 Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast.
 
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 are 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. Too book your room, visit http://bit.ly/BloodyMaryFest2019.
 
Bijoux Restaurant + Spirts will also be hosting a New-Orleans style brunch from 10:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. as part of the festival, with 10 percent of proceeds benefitting Habitat for Humanity – Walton County. Brunch will also include bottomless mimosas and a full-service bar. To make reservations, call 850-622-0760.
 
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 $50. 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.
 
Money raised during the 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.