The 2026 recreational bay scallop harvest is closed in the Gulf County Zone, and that includes St. Joseph Bay. The city posted the FWC notice after a survey found very low scallop abundance. Fishing, boating and swimming are all still open. In most years, late summer and early fall here run on snorkel gear and coolers. This year the season that usually gets people onto the water never opened.
What's left is a fall calendar that happens on land, close to the bay but not in it. Nearly every public event on Port St. Joe's schedule from now through December is on Miss Zola's Drive or Reid Avenue, the two downtown streets that meet near US 71.
Miss Zola's Drive Gets Both Weekend Anchors
The Salt Air Farmer's Market sets up at Miss Zola's Drive in the shaded park near US 71 and Reid Avenue. It runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Today's market is the first of October. The remaining dates are October 17, November 7, November 21, December 5 and December 19.
The other weekend anchor is the Forgotten Music Festival, on October 10 and 11 at George Core Park, 162 Miss Zola's Drive, overlooking St. Joseph Bay. The market and the festival use the same stretch of waterfront on alternating Saturdays, so they never land on the same day. Market Saturday is October 3, festival Saturday is October 10, and the market is back on October 17.
The festival's own description:
Two days of the hottest music in the coolest setting overlooking iconic St. Joseph Bay, it's more than just a concert—it's a community-driven gathering where locals and visitors come together to enjoy great music, coastal beauty, and an unforgettable festival experience.
The Forgotten Music Festival, Next Weekend
Joe and Sara Whitmer produce the festival. It came out of more than ten years of the couple's Gulf Coast vacations, Joe's 30-plus years in entertainment, and Sara's introduction to roots music through her father, who brought artists from the American South to festivals in Italy. The Port St. Joe Star reported that the Whitmers started the event in 2018. Visit Gulf lists this year's edition as the eighth annual, presented by the Gulf County Chamber of Commerce.
The lineup is blues, blues rock, soul, funk and roots music. Gates and Will Call open at noon both days, and all times are Eastern.
| Set time | Saturday, Oct. 10 | Sunday, Oct. 11 |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00–2:10 p.m. | Corey Hall & The Misplaced Ramblers | Finga FAYA |
| 2:40–3:50 p.m. | Bridget Kelly Band | King Cotton Band |
| 4:20–5:30 p.m. | Blue Mother Tupelo | Billy The Kid & The Regulators |
| 6:00–7:30 p.m. | Selwyn Birchwood | Brandon Santini |
The two-day choice comes down to ticket math. Saturday costs $25 in advance or $30 at the gate. Sunday costs $20 in advance or $25 at the gate. The $40 weekend pass and the $90 VIP pass are listed as out of stock on the ticket page, and neither is sold at the gate. That leaves two single-day tickets bought in advance at $45 total, or $55 at the gate. Children under 12 get in free.
The practical details from the festival's FAQ and ticket pages:
- Parking: Festival parking is on 4th Street, west of Highway 98. Follow the signs to the gate and Will Call. The FAQ doesn't mention a shuttle.
- Will Call: It's at the festival site from noon to 7 p.m. both days. Bring your confirmation email or ID.
- Seating: General admission is bring-your-own lawn chair. Blankets, umbrellas, strollers and small backpacks up to 12 by 12 inches are on the allowed list.
- Food and drink: Food and alcohol are sold on site. Outside food, outside alcohol and glass containers are not allowed.
- Dogs: Well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome, and owners clean up after them.
- Re-entry: You can leave and come back through the entry checkpoint, so you can walk to Reid Avenue for dinner between sets.
- Weather: The event is rain or shine, and all sales are final.
Check the Organizer's Page Before You Plan
A small-town fall calendar gets copied from site to site, and older copies stick around. The Gulf County Chamber's annual events page, published in January, lists the Forgotten Music Festival for October 3 and 4, which is this weekend. The festival's own site and the Visit Gulf listing both give October 10 and 11.
The lineup has the same problem. A June 14 WMBB story announcing Selwyn Birchwood's return listed Sticky Tim, Josh Garrett, Kenny Brown, Thornetta Davis, The Shaelyn Band, Bo Spring Band, Piper & The Hard Times and The Currys. That roster matches the Star's coverage of the 2025 festival. The table above comes from the festival's current schedule, which also says artists and times can change without notice.
Reid Avenue Takes Over Through December
After the festival, the calendar moves a few blocks inland. All three of the next big events are on Reid Avenue:
- Ghosts on the Coast, Saturday, Oct. 31, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The City of Port St. Joe and the Gulf County Chamber of Commerce host trick-or-treating along Reid Avenue, with a costume contest judged as kids walk the street. The divisions are ages 0–3, 4–6 and 7–10, plus a family, groups and pets division, so dogs can enter in costume.
- First Friday Sip & Shop, Friday, Nov. 6, 5 to 7 p.m. It's on and around Reid Avenue, with the Gulf County Chamber of Commerce listed as organizer. The next morning, November 7, is a market Saturday on Miss Zola's Drive.
- Forgotten Coast Festival of Trees, Nov. 20 to Dec. 12. The Joe Center for the Arts at 201 Reid Avenue opens it with a reception and silent auction on November 20, a Friday. The next morning, November 21, is a market Saturday, and the market is back on December 5 while the trees are still up.
From mid-November on, those two weekends pair up the same way. Friday evening is on Reid Avenue, and Saturday morning is at the market on Miss Zola's Drive.
Two Thursdays and a Short Drive
Two events on the calendar are outside downtown. On Thursday, October 8, the CCA Florida Forgotten Coast Chapter holds its banquet and auction at 6 p.m. at Point South Marina, 340 Marina Drive. The organizer says the marina is a new venue for this year.
That same night, Gulf County's free Fall Concert Series has Kelly & The Healers at Veterans Memorial Park, 8750 W. Hwy. 98 in St. Joe Beach, from 6 to 8 p.m. If you're choosing between them, the banquet is the one with a set start time. The series has two more Thursday shows, King For A Day on October 22 and the Corey Hall Trio on October 29. Corey Hall also opens the Forgotten Music Festival on Saturday with The Misplaced Ramblers, so you can catch him twice in three weeks, once in a ticketed show on the bay and once at a free show in St. Joe Beach.
Where the Summer Openings Fit In
Three restaurants announced this spring were aimed at summer openings. Two of them are now serving, and both fit into a festival or market weekend.
The Fish Market, 114 Sailors Cove Drive. It was announced as a seafood market and restaurant with a May 10 target. Tripadvisor reviews from August and September confirm it's serving. The listed hours are Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., closed Sunday. A September 24 review recommends the calamari and a grouper or rockfish sandwich, and mentions an outdoor patio. Other reviewers mention sautéed crab claws, spicy baked oysters and grilled triple tail. Since it's closed Sundays, festival Saturday is the day to pair them.
Mike's Deli, 301 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. This Detroit-style deli is in the former Cozy Cafe building. Its announcement gave a June 1 target, pending approvals. It's open now. Hours are noon to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, closed Sunday. The menu includes The Doc Italian sub, the MotorCity Meatball, the Gulf Coast Gobbler and the Detroit Deli Classic, plus fresh pasta made daily until it sells out. The Saturday 11 a.m. opening means you can grab a sandwich before festival gates open at noon. Outside food isn't allowed inside, so eat it first.
Ralphie's Fish Camp, 470 Marina Drive. A spring announcement put this one by the city marina with an August 2026 target. The planned menu included fried po' boys, whole fried flounder, shrimp baskets and oysters. As of early October, we couldn't find an announced opening date or published hours, so it's still listed here as on the way.
None of these change what's on Miss Zola's Drive or Reid Avenue. They're places to eat before or after the events.
The fall calendar is what we cover when we're talking with neighbors here, and Carter Dorsch is glad to share what we know about Port St. Joe's waterfront and downtown blocks any time of year. If you have friends or family coming in for the festival weekend and they're asking questions about the area, Let's Connect.