International Beach Cleanup Day in Okaloosa & Walton County

 

This Saturday, September 21^st is one of our area’s most important annual events, International Beach Cleanup Day! Both residents and visitors are invited to take part in the honored tradition of keeping our beaches clean. After a long summer of fun in the sun, plastics, glass, metals, and all sorts of treasures become scattered across our beaches, putting the ecosystem and beach-goers at risk. In honor of all our beaches give us, we give back by picking up and properly disposing of these out-of-place items. Read more to discover participating locations, times, and more on how you can help preserve our beautiful beach ecosystems.

 

Okaloosa County (8-10 a.m.)

Okaloosa County is comprised of the Destin, Crestview, and Fort Walton Beach areas, all known for their emerald shores and fine sands. These cities house some of the most visited beaches in the area, and with a lot of visitors also comes a lot of belongings left behind. In past years volunteers have collected 1,000 pounds of garbage and over 8,000 cigarette butts. Okaloosa County invites you to come and help keep these sugar-white sands perfect for bare feet, and emerald waters clear of debris. Below are the participating locations and addresses. 

• The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island (1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy, Fort Walton Beach, FL) 
• The Crab Trap/James Lee Park (3500 Scenic HWY 98, Destin, FL) 
• The Surf Hut (551 Scenic Gulf Dr, Miramar Beach, FL) 
• Norriego Point (1 Gulf Shore Dr, Destin, FL) 
• Clement Taylor Park (131 Calhoun Ave, Destin, FL) 
• Henderson Beach State Park (17000 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin, FL) 

These beach cleanups will take place on Saturday, September 21^st from 8-10 a.m. Participating individuals of all ages are encouraged to bring their own buckets, mesh bags, gloves, and trash grabbers. Early birds will also receive a free event t-shirt and a free post-cleanup breakfast will be available at the Boardwalk, the Crab Trap, and the Surf Hut. Visit their website for more information. 

 

Walton County (9 a.m. - 12 p.m.)

Walton County beaches range from Miramar Beach to the beach communities along Scenic Hwy 30A. After the busy summer season, there is an increase in items left behind by beachgoers. To combat this impact, Walton County is inviting both visitors and residents to clean the shore, helping to keep the ecosystem and wildlife safe. Below are the locations and addresses of where these cleanups will be held. 

• Miramar Beach Regional Beach Access (2375 Scenic Gulf Dr, Miramar Beach, FL) 
• Dune Allen Regional Beach Access (5999 W Scenic Hwy 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL) 
• Inlet Beach Regional Beach Access (438 S. Orange St. Center, Inlet Beach, FL) 

These cleanups will start at 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, September 21^st. All participants who sign up are welcome and must check in upon arrival. Cleanup supplies are provided for the first 100 volunteers that arrive so make sure to bring backups. Visit their website for more information and to sign up as a volunteer. 

 

Keep Our Emerald Coast Clean 

Celebrate the beauty of these beaches by making sure they stay beautiful for summers, falls, and winters to come. These events happen annually, but anyone can take a stroll down to the beach with a spare bag to pick up lost items along their beach walk. When visiting these events or heading out for any beach day make sure to bring sunscreen, and water to stay hydrated. This is a great opportunity to vacation forward and be part of protecting and preserving our beautiful coastline. 

 

Stay at the Beach 

After cleaning the shore, we know you'll be inspired to come back and enjoy the beach. We invite you to view our collection of beachfront vacation rentals and plan your next 30A or Destin vacation. Remember to always book direct with Newman-Dailey for our best rate guarantee and no third-party fees. 

See you @ the beach!