Living on the beautiful Northwest Florida coast comes with a familiar trade-off: our stunning South Walton beaches are paired with the annual reality of Atlantic hurricane season. When it comes to tropical weather, protecting your property isn’t a matter of if a storm will threaten the coast—it’s a matter of when.
The South Walton Fire District Junior Lifeguard Program returns this summer with more than 200 participants preparing to dive into a season of beach safety education, lifesaving skills, and hands-on surf rescue training along the Emerald Coast.
The program kicks off Tuesday, June 2, and once again features both Foundations and Advanced curriculum tracks, allowing first-time and returning Junior Lifeguards to learn at a pace tailored to their experience level.
Planning and Construction has taken years, but now we have an official opening date of June 15th for The Grayton Beach Community Center, a new building, tram stop, and boardwalks in "downtown" Grayton Beach just west of the Red Bar.
Read more about the Grayton Beach Community Center on the SoWal Forum Post & Discussion.
The wild places of Florida and the animals that call them home are taking center stage this summer as two premier advocacy organizations team up for a massive milestone. Alaqua Animal Refuge is throwing open its gates to host The Wild Within: Florida Wildlife Federation 90th Birthday Celebration. This free community event takes place on Saturday, June 7, 2026, from noon to 3 p.m. at Alaqua’s beautiful 100-acre home in Freeport.
All South Walton backyards can be a gathering place for birds, butterflies, frogs, squirrels and many more types of local wildlife.
You can attract native species by offering food, water, cover and space for them to raise their young, and your yard will be transformed into a welcoming habitat for wildlife. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourages Flordians to make a difference and have fun by creating a refuge for wildlife in their own backyard.
Art Month presented by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA), is a month-long celebration of the arts held each May in Walton County, Florida.
Listen up, beach lovers! It's that special time of year again in South Walton – Sea Turtle Season is officially underway, running from May 1st all the way through October 31st.
These ancient mariners, our flippered friends who've been gracing our shores for millions of years, need our extra TLC during this crucial nesting period.
As the warm April breeze settles over the coast, the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival is ready to pour out another world-class weekend of discovery. From April 23–26, 2026, Grand Boulevard’s Town Center transforms into a vibrant celebration of flavor, bringing together dozens of celebrity winemakers, master distillers, and regional chefs for an unforgettable four-day extravaganza.
The 2nd Annual Reeling in the Emerald Coast - Conservation Day is coming to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on Saturday, April 18, 2026. This free family event, hosted by the park and Walton County 4-H, combines outdoor adventure with hands-on learning for the next generation of coastal stewards.
Everyone in our SoWal community wants locals and visitors to enjoy our beaches safely and to respect our wonderful natural areas. Please follow beach safety rules and guidelines.
We are committed to Beach Safety Every Day - For Gulf conditions and flag updates, text "SAFETY" to 31279.
See current beach conditions on the live SoWal BeachCams.
South Walton Beach Safety Flag information
