From when I lived in south Alabama in the early ’90s, I remember Destin, FL for its pearly white beaches, crystal clear water, and tons of new construction. Much of the area had fairly recently been devastated by a hurricane, and insurance settlements and rebuilding were leading to a revival of the tourist town.
It’s located on a tiny peninsula near the Florida/Alabama border, giving it something of the feel of an island resort. And starting this summer, they will have what every seaside attraction needs most, their own bluegrass festival.
Bluegrass At The Beach is scheduled for September 12, 2015, to be held on the grounds of the The Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village in central Destin. The festival is being managed by the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization created to honor the memory of the matriarch of one of the town’s founding families.
Their hope is to make this an annual event, and possibly expanding to more than a single day. Being an easy drive from both Mobile and Pensacola, bluegrass fans should find this to be an attractive getaway as the beach season starts drawing to a close.
Invited to perform for this inaugural episode are Blue Highway, The Hillbenders, The Moore Brothers and several others.
Full details are available online.
