Mattie Kelly Concerts in the Village Has an all New Line Up for 20 yr Celebration
Nine Local and Regional Music Acts to Perform on Thursday Nights May 7 – July 2
The come-as-you-are music showcase staged in the heart of the Destin’s Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village has become a summertime tradition for Northwest Florida and a popular “Things to Do in Destin” for locals and visitors.
Altogether, the area’s first music concert festival will showcases nine local and regional singer/songwriters, musicians and tribute bands performing a range of live music from rock and roll to rhythm and blues and from Motown to your favorite oldies.
- Check our Calendar of Events to see the complete list and descriptions of the bands.
“For 20 years the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation has lifted heart and kicked up heels for thousands of families and friends who gather under the stars for one form of art that is surely universal — music! If you haven’t been to the Concerts in the Village or haven’t been in a while, please join us to celebrate two decades of live music, food and fun,” said Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation CEO Marcia Hull. “This year is surely going to be the best yet.”
Bring a chair, blanket and picnic or purchase dinner onsite featuring various local restaurants and food trucks serving up delicious dinner menu options. Bring your own beverages or purchase water, soft drinks, beer and wine at the event.
Twenty years ago the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) began an earnest mission to bring art programs, cultural events, art education and lively entertainment to the sleepy beach town of Destin, Florida. Fast forward from 1995 to 2015, and the milestone 20th anniversary of the organization founded on the cultural, educational and spiritual beliefs of Destin matriarch, Mattie Kelly. The anniversary year provides an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of the organization, while presenting vision for the future.
In recognition of the 20th anniversary, MKAF will introduce a new event: Bluegrass at the Beach, presented by ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacations. Friday, Sept. 11 is an invitation only concert event and Saturday, Sept. 12, is a full-day Bluegrass music concert in the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village, featuring the award-winning and chart-topping band, Blue Highway. Tickets for Bluegrass at the Beach will be available online beginning May 1.
Other signature events will include the 20th Annual Concerts in the Village, 7th Annual Labor Day Weekend Concert (Sept. 6) featuring the soul stirring sounds of the Heather Hayes Experience in a tribute to Ms. Hayes’ late father, Isaac Hayes; the 20th Annual Festival of the Arts (Oct. 24-25) and the 20th Annual Sound of the Season (Dec. 4).
Admission to each of the spring/summer Concerts in the Village is $10 per person; children under 12 and MKAF members are free. A few remaining VIP event tables are available. Proceeds benefit MKAF’s cultural and education mission.
MKAF honors our men and women in uniform with a Military Appreciation Night on May 28. Admission to The Mulligans concert for those in armed services with valid military ID will be $5 (a 50 percent discount).
For more information on how you can become a member of MKAF, gain benefits as an event sponsor, provide a donation or explore opportunities to get involved on a committee of the Board of Directors, call (850) 650-2226 or visit www.mattiekellyartsfoundation.org.
Tagged Concerts in Destin, Concerts in the Village, Destin FL, Live Music in Destin, Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation, MKAF, things to do in Destin FL