CAA Announces 2026 Art Month Schedule of Events

This May, Art Month Walton County returns with a vibrant, month-long celebration of creativity, culture, and community. Presented by the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) of Walton County with support from Visit South Walton, the initiative features more than 40 arts experiences spanning visual, literary, and performing arts.

Highlights include the 38th Annual ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival, Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach, the Longleaf Writers Conference, and Mystic Pizza at Emerald Coast Theatre Company, alongside performances from Sinfonia Gulf Coast, gatherings hosted by Emerald Coast Storytellers, the SEASIDE® Art Walk, gallery events, and more.

At the April 14 meeting of the Walton County Board of County Commissioners, May was officially proclaimed Art Month Walton County, recognizing the arts as a vital driver of economic development, tourism, education, and quality of life in the community.

Led by the Cultural Arts Alliance, Art Month brings together artists, organizations, and businesses to showcase the depth and diversity of Walton County’s creative landscape—offering opportunities for both residents and visitors to engage with the arts in meaningful and memorable ways.

“This proclamation is more than a designation—it’s a reflection of how deeply the Arts are woven into the fabric of our community,” said Jennifer Steele, President and CEO of the Cultural Arts Alliance. “Art Month Walton County is an open invitation to experience the creativity that thrives here year-round. We’re proud to partner with so many organizations and artists to bring this collective vision to life.”

Art Month Walton County serves as a call to explore, participate, and support the Arts—celebrating not only creative expression, but the connections and inspiration it sparks across the community.

The CAA’s mission is to foster creativity through the inclusive and collaborative advancement of the Arts. It is proud to promote and support the work of the pARTners in our community who are creating programs that align with the CAA’s vision for every person to experience the power of the Arts. Following is a list of Art Month events.

Seaside Neighborhood School presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr. at the Seaside Lyceum Stage on April 30 and May 1 at 7 p.m. Enjoy a splashy, song-filled adventure brought to life by talented student performers. This production is proudly supported by the Cultural Arts Alliance through an Art For All grant.

April 30 is also the opening night of Mystic Pizza presented by Emerald Coast Theatre Company. Mystic Pizza is a dynamic new musical based on the 1988 rom-com about three working-class waitresses who navigate the complexities of life, love, and family in a small-town pizza joint. Performances are Thursday, April 30, through Sunday, May 17. For tickets and more information regarding performance dates and times, visit EmeraldCoastTheatre.org.

The 38th Annual ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival returns to Grand Boulevard’s North Park on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 3, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., showcasing more than 120 exhibiting artists from across the country. Produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) and presented by Grand Boulevard and Visit South Walton, the festival offers a dynamic blend of visual, performing, and interactive arts experiences for all ages.

Highlights include the CAA Member Artist Gallery, student exhibitions, live art demonstrations, a powerful showcase from the CAA’s Prison Art Program, and interactive art activities for all ages. Guests will enjoy non-stop live music from acts like Ohana Rock on the Road, Matt McCarty Quartet, The Steenos + John Reinlie, Aubrey Jane, Balder Saunders + Matt Miller, Kalen Nash, Aslyn, The 78’s, and Martha’s Trouble. Attendees can also explore ImagiNation, a hands-on creative space where kids take the lead. 

Don’t miss a special Meet & Greet on Saturday, May 2 from 5 – 7 p.m. with featured festival artist Renee Broxson. 

ArtsQuest is a rain or shine event open to the public. A $5-$10 donation per person is encouraged at the gate to support the Arts. An artist directory, the entertainment schedule and other details will be available online at CulturalArtsAlliance.com/arts-quest. 

Curate 30A in Rosemary Beach is hosting an artist show featuring local artist, Plaid Columns, May 7-9 . His mixed media works exude nostalgia and breathe new life into classic Americana and vintage iconography. Don't miss this opportunity to experience his creative process live. 

The Emerald Coast Storytellers return to the Art Month lineup this year on May 7 with an Open Mic Night at Distillery 98 Listen as brave local storytellers share their written and spoken tales. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and stories will begin at 6 p.m. sharp. For more information and tickets, visit EmeraldCoastStorytellers.com. 

The annual Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Concerts in the Village series continues May 7, 14, 21 and 28. Each Thursday evening concert features family-friendly premier musicians and bands performing everything from classic rock, reggae and disco to modern pop. Visit MKAF.org for the complete lineup and to purchase tickets. 

Art Walks will take place at Ruskin Place Artist Colony on Friday, May 8, at the Artist Warehouses on County Road 393 on Thursday, May 21, and in SEASIDE® on Wednesday, May 27, featuring local artists, crafters, local retailers, restaurants, and bars.

The 15th Annual Longleaf Writers Conference will take place in Grayton Beach May 9 through 16, featuring award-winning, visiting authors Jennifer Haigh and Beth Ann Fennelly with other special guests including literary agents Tess Weitzner and Nicole Cunningham. Full conference registrations and a la carte seminars are available, along with options to participate in special events throughout the week, including personal consultations, readings and more. Register and purchase tickets online at LongleafWritersConference.com.

Celebrate creativity at the Petite Picasso Art Showcase on Wednesday, May 13 from 6–8 p.m. at Art Basha Gallery. Guests are invited to browse and bid on original works by 20 talented young artists (K–8th grade), who will be painting live Picasso-inspired portraits alongside local artists Allison Wickey and Bradley Copeland. The evening also features two large collaborative pieces created in real time and available for auction.

On Thursday, May 14 from 5-8 p.m. Justin Gaffrey Gallery, in partnership with Emerald Coast Magazine, invites you to "Neither Here Nor There" - an evening marking both a milestone and a turn. Fresh from the pages of Emerald Coast Magazine, where Justin's Liminal collection was featured, the gallery now looks forward - a new direction taking shape, revealed only in the work. Come not knowing what to expect. That's exactly the point. For more information, visit JustinGaffrey.com. 

Celebrating its 19th anniversary, Digital Graffiti is a one-of-a-kind projection art festival where artists use the latest digital technologies to project their original works onto the white walls of Alys Beach. This year’s event takes place Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16. Each year, the festival attracts international digital artists, filmmakers, musicians, interactive designers, photographers, VJs, producers, celebrities, agency executives and fans of art, technology and architecture. Visit DigitalGraffiti.com for tickets and details.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the concert hall … experience Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg’s classic 1970s adventure thriller like never before. Jaws in Concert will keep you on the edge of your seat as Sinfonia Gulf Coast performs composer John Williams’ iconic Academy Award–winning score live, perfectly synced to the film projected in HD on the big screen on Friday, May 15. Purchase tickets online at SinfoniaGulfCoast.org.

Come experience the more intimate side of Emerald Coast Storytellers: face to face, pen to paper, fingers to keys on Thursday, May 21. No matter where you are on your own writing journey, this event is open to all. We'll be at Distillery 98 armed with our pens, journals, and laptops, and ready to talk shop and get to work. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a brief discussion followed by breakout time to work on individual projects or an optional writing prompt. The event is free to attend, but rsvp’s are encouraged. For more information, visit EmeraldCoastStorytellers.com.

Celebrate the Memorial Day holiday weekend in Alys Beach at the Sinfonia Salutes FREE family-friendly music concert on Sunday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. Bring blankets or low back chairs and grab a spot on the amphitheater lawn. For more information visit SinfoniaGulfCoast.org or AlysBeach.com. 

Art Month Walton sponsors include Visit South Walton, Grand Boulevard Town Center, Alys Beach, Grayton Beer Company, Emerald Coast Magazine, and Hwy331.com. For more

information on all Art Month events, please visit CulturalArtsAlliance.com/art-month. 

ART MONTH WALTON SCHEDULE

APR 30 - MAY 1 THE LITTLE MERMAID JR. SEASIDE® Lyceum Stage, 42 Smolian Circle, Seaside 7 p.m.

APR 30 - MAY 17

MYSTIC PIZZA

Emerald Coast Theatre Company

560 Grand Boulevard, Ste. 200, Upstairs, Miramar Beach

MAY 1 - 31

SPECIAL EXHIBITION AT EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY

560 Grand Boulevard, Ste. 200, Upstairs, Miramar Beach

MAY 2 - 3

38th ANNUAL ARTSQUEST FINE ARTS FESTIVAL

585 Grand Boulevard, Miramar Beach

Saturday, May 2: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 3: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

MAY 7 - 9

PLAID COLUMNS EXHIBITION AT CURATE 30A

72 Main St., Rosemary Beach

MAY 7

EMERALD COAST STORYTELLERS OPEN MIC NIGHT

Distillery 98, 835 Serenoa Rd, Santa Rosa Beach

5 - 8:30 p.m.

MATTIE KELLY ARTS FOUNDATION CONCERT SERIES - BRASS TRANSIT

4323 Commons Dr. W, Destin

Gates open at 6 p.m. Concert begins at 7 p.m. 

MAY 8

RUSKIN PARK ARTIST MARKET

Ruskin Park, SEASIDE®

10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

MAY 9 - 10

THE ART OF LIVING WATER OIL PAINTING WORKSHOP

Bayou Arts Center, 105 Hog Town Bayou Lane, Santa Rosa Beach

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

MAY 9

DWIGHT FEST

The Pavilion at Watersound Town Center, 85 Origins Main St, Watersound

3 - 8 p.m.

MAY 9 – 16

LONGLEAF WRITERS CONFERENCE

Grayton Beach

MAY 12

PAINTING WITH SUNSHINE CYANOTYPE WORKSHOP

Bayou Arts Center, 105 Hog Town Bayou Lane, Santa Rosa Beach

10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

MAY 13

PETITE PICASSO GALLERY NIGHT

Art Basha Gallery, 3925 W County Hwy 30A, Unit E, Santa Rosa Beach

6 - 8 p.m.

MAY 14

ART + ARCHITECTURE WALKING TOUR

Alys Beach

4 - 6 p.m.

JUSTIN GAFFREY: NEITHER HERE NOR THERE

Justin Gaffrey Gallery, 21 Blue Gulf Dr., Blue Mountain Beach

5 - 8 p.m.

CLAY & BOUQUET WORKSHOP

Bayou Arts Center, 105 Hog Town Bayou Lane, Santa Rosa Beach

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

MATTIE KELLY ARTS FOUNDATION CONCERT SERIES - TURNSTILE

4323 Commons Dr. W, DestinGates open at 6 p.m. Concert begins at 7 p.m. 

MAY 15

CREATIVE KIDS NIGHT

Bayou Arts Center, 105 Hog Town Bayou Lane, Santa Rosa Beach

5 - 8 p.m.

SINFONIA GULF COAST PRESENTS JAWS IN CONCERT

1250 Miracle Strip Pkwy, SE, Ft. Walton Beach

MAY 15 - 16

DIGITAL GRAFFITI

Alys Beach

MAY 16

ECO-PRINTING WITH BOTANICALS & FOLIAGE WORKSHOP

Bayou Arts Center, 105 Hog Town Bayou Lane, Santa Rosa Beach

12 p.m. - 2 p.m.

MAY 17

LOCALS LAST STAND

The Pavilion at Watersound Town Center, 85 Origins Main St, Watersound

2 - 6 p.m.

MAY 20

COCKTAILS & CLAY

Distillery 98, 835 Serenoa Rd, Santa Rosa Beach

5 - 7:30 p.m.

MAY 21

THIRDSDAY ART WALK

416 S. County Hwy 393, Santa Rosa Beach

6 - 8:30 p.m.

MATTIE KELLY ARTS FOUNDATION CONCERT SERIES - BOOGIE WONDER BAND

4323 Commons Dr. W, Destin

Gates open at 6 p.m. Concert begins at 7 p.m. 

EMERALD COAST STORYTELLERS AFTER HOURS WRITING

Distillery 98, 835 Serenoa Rd, Santa Rosa Beach

6 - 8 p.m.

MAY 24

SINFONIA SALUTES

Alys Beach

7:30 p.m.

MAY 27

SEASIDE® ART WALK

SEASIDE®

4 - 8 p.m.

MAY 28

RESIN ART WORKSHOP

Bayou Arts Center, 105 Hog Town Bayou Lane, Santa Rosa Beach

6 - 8 p.m.

MATTIE KELLY ARTS FOUNDATION CONCERT SERIES - THE MOLLY RINGWALDS

4323 Commons Dr. W, Destin

Gates open at 6 p.m. Concert begins at 7 p.m.