MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. (October 31, 2018) – The Market Shops, located at the entrance to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, hosted the 4^th Annual Bloody Mary Festival on Oct. 6, 2018, raising $8,500 for Habitat for Humanity of Walton County. The fourth annual event featured unlimited tastes of the Emerald Coast’s most creative and innovative Bloody Marys made with Cathead Vodka and served in in specialty cups provided by Compass Builders by the finest restaurants and bars on the Panhandle.

Guests were greeted upon arrival with festive décor courtesy of Mingle before entering the bustling courtyard full of restaurants and merchants from The Market Shops. The grand lawn featured the bloody marys along with live music performed by the Luke Langford Band on the main stage, sponsored by Hyatt Place Sandestin at Grand Boulevard. Event goers made their way around the tents, sampling each Bloody Mary served by the Emerald Coast’s finest locally owned restaurants. Upon check-in, guests received a token in order to vote for the coveted People’s Choice Award for the Best Bloody Mary in South Walton.

A panel of select food critics and local celebrities judged each Bloody Mary and selected the following winners for the most delicious and most creative:

1st Place Judge’s Award – Bijoux Restaurant + Spirits

2nd Place Judge’s Award – Camille’s at Crystal Beach

3rd Place Judge’s Award – Emeril’s Coastal Italian

People’s Choice Award – The Surf Hut

All awards were custom made by local artist, Maxine Orange.

There was plenty of food to go around during the festival byvarious restaurants located directly in The Market Shops, including Bijoux Restaurant + Spirits, Maple Street Biscuit Company, and Pizza by the Sea along with barbecue from Back Beach Barbecue, fresh shucked oysters from Slick Lips Seafood and Oyster House. Apart from the Bloody Marys, guests sipped on fresh pressed juice from Clean Juice, local craft brews served by Grayton Beer Company, and champagne from the Bubbly Bar, served by the Courtyard by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard.

While sipping their bloody marys, guests had full access to the hydration and relaxation station presented by the Salamander Spa, a commemorative photo booth with Epic Photo Company sponsored by My Vacation Haven, a cigar bar by Shore Thing Cigars, and exclusive shopping options from the merchants of The Market Shops. Rent Gear Here also set up flat screen TVs and seating for event goers to watch various college football games.

The Market Shops would like to thank the participating restaurants, including Another Broken Egg Cafe, Bijoux Restaurant + Spirits, Bud & Alley’s Restaurant, Camille’s at Crystal Beach, Clean Juice, Cuvée Kitchen + Wine Bar, Emeril’s Coastal Italian, Grayton Beer Brewpub, The Henderson Beach Resort & Spa, LuLu’s Destin, Maple Street Biscuit Company, Market 27, Pizza by the Sea, Signature Catering of 30A, Sunset Bay Cafe, The Surf Hut, and Vue on 30A.

A special thanks to additional sponsors including 30A, 30AEats, 30A Television, 850Tix, 8Fifty Productions, 98 Realty, The Beachcomber, Cumulus Broadcasting, Destin Life, Destin Log, Eloquent Signs, Emerald Coast Magazine, Emerald Ladies Journal, Good Grit Magazine, Gulf Coast Restaurants, Land • Air • Sea Productions, Maxine Orange, Mingle, Northwest Florida Daily News, Proffitt PR, SoWal Life, SoWal.com, Thirty A Review, VIP Destin Magazine, VIP Pensacola Magazine, and Visit South Walton.