On Monday, March 20, 2023, the Destin City Council made the decision to waive parking fees at the Marler Parking Lot on Harbor Blvd for the upcoming 66th Annual Blessing of the Fleet and Community Fish Fry event.

• The Blessing of the Fleet is Destin’s second oldest tradition, which began in May 1958, second only to the annual Fishing Rodeo. 
• It has been the catalyst for the beginning of Destin’s Week of Blessings activities, which are now held annually in conjunction with the Blessing of the Fleet.

The Destin Week of Blessings Committee and the Immanuel Anglican Church requested that the City of Destin waive the parking fees at the Marler Parking Lot on Thursday, May 18, 2023, beginning at 3:00 PM in support of this long-standing community event. Immanuel Anglican Church is the event sponsor, but the Church of Destin and the entire community participate in this event.

The Blessings of the Fleet Committee will post appropriate signs at the parking lot indicating that the parking fee has been suspended for that one day.

• The event will take place on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at 4pm on the docks at the Destin Fishing Fleet Marina, behind Brotula’s restaurant.

The Blessing of the Fleet is available to all vessels that make their living from the sea. The event involves the community’s fishermen and other sea-goers bringing their boats to the marina for a blessing of safety and prosperity for the upcoming season. The event is significant for the community and celebrates the city’s long-standing relationship with the sea and its culture.