The 67th Annual Blessing of the Fleet In Destin, Florida
Date: Thursday, May 9th 2024
Time: Prayer service under the tent begins at 4:00pm followed by the Fleet Blessing at 5:15pm. After the blessing there will be a fish fry under the tent for all (donations requested).
Location: 210 HWY 98 East, Destin, Florida, 32541 (Behind Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer)
Blessing of the Fleet on Destin Harbor is one of the oldest traditions along the Emerald Coast. The 67th annual Blessing of the Fleet in Destin, Florida will take place on Thursday, May 9th 2024.
Blessing of the Fleet takes place every year at Destin’s Fishing Fleet Marina located directly in front of Brotulas Restaurant on Destin Harbor as part of a week-long celebration known as Destin’s Week of Blessings.
The Fleet Blessing always takes place on a Thursday (unless it is moved for storms or high surf).
The purpose of the event is to bestow well wishes and blessings upon the vessels of those who make their living from the sea. This has grown to include both fishing charters as well as tourist excursion boats.
Several local area pastors will gather at the dock and the bless the boats one by one as they proceed in a line down the harbor–wishing them safe passage and bountiful catches for the 2024 season.
A short worship service precedes the boat blessing under the tent in front of Brotulas restaurant before the Pastors from area churches gather on a barge together.
The boats line up in the harbor and each one is called by name in front of the Pastors and blessed for safe sea passage and a bountiful harvest for all captains, crew and passengers. A fish fry on the dock follows the blessing.
Many people think of Destin as a beach destination, but long before people came here to enjoy the white sands and crystal-clear water, it was a town founded on fishing.
Whether they are part of the church community or not, most boaters in Destin enjoy the event and want to start the season by having their boat blessed.
Destin now boasts the largest fishing fleet in North America of over 125 charter fishing boats so a lot has changed since the days of it being a quaint fishing village.
That is what makes continuing this tradition so special. Events like this serve to remind us of the significant role that fishermen have played and continue to play in our beloved Destin community.
Blessing of the Fleet is a great time for everyone, including those who don’t normally go to religious events. This is a special event in Destin and there will not be another time of year where you can see this many boats on the harbor at once.
The air is thick with nostalgia as the locals come out to have their fleet blessed and Destin transforms back into the lucky fishing village it is best known for. This is the one event in town that will always feel like old Destin.