October 30, 2025
A Smoky Tradition with a Golden Heart
Every November, the air over Miramar Beach carries a familiar scent — smoky oak, sizzling seafood, and the unmistakable aroma of community. It’s the smell of Eggs on the Beach, the Emerald Coast’s most flavorful tradition.
Returning for its 11th year on Saturday, November 1, 2025, this Big Green Egg cooking competition transforms Seascape Towne Centre into a delicious open-air festival where locals and visitors come together to eat, cheer, and give back.
Think of it as the Gulf Coast’s answer to a barbecue championship — except instead of fences and stadium lights, you get palm trees, Gulf breezes, and a laid-back South Walton crowd.
What Is Eggs on the Beach?
At its core, Eggs on the Beach is a friendly culinary competition built around the iconic Big Green Egg, a ceramic kamado-style grill that’s part smoker, part oven, and part art form.
Over 20 cook teams — including local restaurants, backyard chefs, and even corporate groups — fire up their Eggs to create everything from smoked brisket and bacon-wrapped scallops to Gulf shrimp tacos and apple pie cobblers.
Guests, known as tasters, wander from booth to booth sampling unlimited bites and casting votes for their favorites. The atmosphere is relaxed but electric — the kind of event where everyone talks food, shares recipes, and cheers for their favorite grill masters like they’re old friends.
A Feast That Gives Back
More than just a culinary showdown, Eggs on the Beach doubles as one of Walton County’s most successful charity fundraisers.
Proceeds benefit Fisher House of the Emerald Coast, which supports military families during medical treatment, and Food for Thought Outreach, a nonprofit combating child hunger across Northwest Florida.
Over the years, the event has donated tens of thousands of dollars to local causes — one bite at a time.
Event co-founder Susan Kiley often says, “We wanted to create something that celebrates great food and great people — and if it can make a difference, that’s even better.”
That blend of generosity and good flavor is what’s kept the event growing from a small cookout into a South Walton institution.
When and Where
Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Seascape Towne Centre, 112 Seascape Drive, Miramar Beach, FL
Tickets:
- Advance Taster Tickets — ≈ $56
- Day-of Admission — ≈ $65
- Kids 10 & Under — Free
Tickets include unlimited tastings, a commemorative plate, and a vote in the People’s Choice Awards.
What to Expect in 2025
🔥 The Food
Expect a menu that reads like the dream lineup of a Gulf Coast backyard feast: blackened snapper sliders, smoked wings glazed with honey, and bourbon-infused desserts that somehow come off a grill.
Most booths compete in one of three categories — Backyard Cook Team, Restaurant, or Nonprofit — and creativity counts as much as flavor.
The Big Green Egg’s unique ability to smoke, bake, and roast gives competitors freedom to experiment. In past years, attendees have sampled everything from wood-fired pizza to chocolate bread pudding made right on the coals.
🎶 The Vibe
Picture a lively tailgate meets coastal farmer’s market. Music plays softly in the background, families stroll between booths, and teams chat with guests about cooking temperatures, rubs, and marinades.
No blaring loudspeakers or chaos — just conversation, laughter, and the clink of tasting plates.
🏆 The Awards
The festival ends with a flurry of cheers as winners are crowned:
- People’s Choice Award
- Judges’ Choice Award
- Nonprofit Cook Team Award
- Best Booth Display
Bragging rights are serious currency here — and for local restaurants, a win at Eggs on the Beach can mean a surge in customers who tasted their food and fell in love.
The Charcoal Behind the Charm: The Big Green Egg
If you’ve never cooked on a Big Green Egg, you might wonder why it inspires such loyalty.
The Egg’s design is based on an ancient Japanese clay cooker called a kamado. Its thick ceramic walls retain heat so efficiently that it can hold steady temperatures for hours — ideal for slow smoking brisket or searing steaks at over 700°F.
Each booth at the festival features one or more Eggs, and the rhythmic sound of lids opening and closing becomes part of the day’s soundtrack.
When you walk through Seascape during the event, you’re hearing not just cooking — you’re hearing obsession in its happiest form.
More Than Food: A Community Gathering
Eggs on the Beach is as much about people as it is about food. It’s one of the few events that truly brings every part of South Walton together — chefs, nonprofits, families, tourists, and military service members all sharing the same space.
Local business sponsors contribute raffle prizes and demo tents, while nearby restaurants often donate ingredients or volunteer their staff to help nonprofit cook teams.
It’s a reminder that “local flavor” means more than taste — it means connection.
For Visitors: How to Make the Most of It
- Arrive Early: Parking fills up quickly. The first hour is perfect for sampling before the crowds thicken.
- Bring Sun Protection: Even in November, the Gulf sun can surprise you.
- Pace Yourself: With 20+ booths, you’ll want to start small — one bite per booth adds up fast.
- Vote Thoughtfully: The People’s Choice Award often comes down to just a handful of votes.
- Stay a While: After the festival, Seascape’s restaurants and bars make for an easy transition from lunch to late afternoon.
For visitors making a weekend of it, nearby Grand Boulevard and The Village of Baytowne Wharf host live music and shopping, offering the perfect complement to a day of indulgence.
The Heart of South Walton’s Food Scene
What makes this event so distinctly South Walton is the way it merges sophistication and simplicity.
Yes, you’ll find gourmet creations and polished plating — but you’ll also meet home cooks flipping burgers with the same care they’d give a steakhouse filet.
There’s no divide between professional and amateur here, only enthusiasm. Everyone is united by the glow of the coals and the shared joy of feeding others.
That balance — between culinary craft and coastal casualness — mirrors South Walton itself: elevated, but never pretentious.
Sustainability at the Grill
Event organizers have made sustainability part of the mission, too. Compostable plates, local sourcing, and waste-reduction efforts all play a role in keeping the festival environmentally friendly.
The Big Green Eggs themselves are built for longevity and efficiency, using natural lump charcoal instead of lighter-fluid briquettes. It’s slow cooking, but sustainably so — the kind of philosophy that fits perfectly with South Walton’s broader eco-friendly culture.
Quotes from the Pit
“It’s like one big family reunion — everyone’s got smoke in their eyes and smiles on their faces.”
— Local competitor, 2024 festival
“There’s something about cooking on the coast. The salt air makes everything taste better.”
— Returning taster
“We come for the food, but we stay for the cause.”
— Volunteer team leader
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s included with a taster ticket?
A: Unlimited samples from all cooking teams, access to live entertainment, a souvenir plate, and one vote for the People’s Choice Award.
Q: Can kids attend?
A: Absolutely! Kids 10 and under are free, and the atmosphere is family-friendly.
Q: Are vegetarian options available?
A: Yes. While barbecue dominates, many teams offer seafood, veggie dishes, and creative sides.
Q: What happens if it rains?
A: The event is held rain or shine. Tents and covered areas are provided for both cook teams and guests.
Q: Do you need to own a Big Green Egg to compete?
A: No. Eggs are provided by the organizers, with discounts available after the event for those who want to purchase one.