Emerald Coast Powerboat Week

Few spectacles on the Emerald Coast rival the raw horsepower and dazzling excitement of Powerboat Week, when the Florida Powerboat Club brings its celebrated Emerald Coast Poker Run to Destin's iconic harbor. Every September, hundreds of gleaming high-performance powerboats — from sleek catamarans to roaring offshore racers — converge on HarborWalk Village for four days of watery thrills and harbor-side festivities.

The poker run format sends boats thundering along a designated course through the emerald-green Gulf and Choctawhatchee Bay, stopping at checkpoints to collect playing cards. The boat with the best poker hand at the finish wins big, but the real prize is the electrifying spectacle visible from the docks, beach bars, and waterfront restaurants all along the route. The sound alone — those massive engines rumbling across the harbor — is worth the trip.

When the boats are not running, HarborWalk Village transforms into a vibrant festival with vendor exhibits, live music, and chances to get up close to some of the fastest watercraft in the world. If you love boats, speed, and the thrill of the Gulf, clear your calendar for Powerboat Week — it's one of Destin's most thrilling annual events.