— It’s Already Here
If you live anywhere along Highway 331, you don’t need a market report to tell you something has shifted. You feel it in the traffic that no longer thins out mid-day. You notice it in the cranes rising beyond the tree line, the freshly staked parcels, the new signage appearing almost overnight. And you hear it—in grocery store aisles, at stoplights, over coffee—What’s going in there?
Every Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend since 2010, the 30A Songwriters Festival has turned South Walton’s quiet winter season into a destination built around music, storytelling, and community. On this episode of the HWY 331 Podcast, host Kerri Parker sits down with festival producers Jennifer Steele and Russell Carter to reflect on 17 years of a songwriter-focused festival that has become a cultural and economic cornerstone for Walton County.
By mid-February, South Walton usually knows what it wants to be: a little slower, a little softer around the edges, still shaking out winter while hinting at spring. Valentine’s weekend tends to arrive with dinner reservations, long walks, and the quiet confidence of a place that doesn’t need spectacle to feel full. But for three nights in 2026, something else will cut through the calm.
When the holiday season arrives, DeFuniak Springs comes alive like nowhere else in Northwest Florida. Its historic downtown, spring-fed lake, and Victorian architecture become the backdrop for a twinkling winter wonderland that draws families, friends, and travelers from across the region. But don’t just take our word for it—locals who have loved this town for years share why Christmas here feels truly magical. From horse-drawn carriage rides to festive markets and dazzling light displays, their voices guide you through the ultimate roadmap to holiday cheer in Walton County.
There’s a moment — just as the sun slips behind historic buildings and mature trees — when Lake DeFuniak becomes a mirror. The century-old homes that curve around its shore soften into silhouette, and then suddenly, with the flick of a switch, Christmas Reflections comes to life. Millions of twinkling lights ripple across the water of one of only two nearly perfect spring-fed lakes in the world.
In Historic Downtown DeFuniak Springs, The Last Stop Brew Vault isn’t just a taproom—it’s a living, breathing gathering place where craft beer, family, and community converge. From the moment you cross the threshold, the energy is unmistakable: the preserved Coca-Cola–painted brick wall catches the eye, the iconic vault whispers of history, and the air hums with laughter, conversation, and clinking glasses. Here, magic happens everywhere—in every corner, every pint, and every event.
