Founded in 1984, AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar is turning 30 this year, and will be celebrating in a big way throughout the entire month of October.
The Fishing Rodeo
To kick off its birthday month, AJ’s will be running daily specials.
“We’ll be doing a lot of specials during the rodeo, with food, drinks, and events; everything you can imagine,” said Marketing Director Tracy McCraw. “It’ll be lots of fun for 30 days.”
As the official host for the rodeo 11 years running, AJ’s will be giving away tons of prizes during the daily weigh-ins between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. at AJ’s rodeo barge directly behind the restaurant.
“Every day of the rodeo, at the end of the day we will be giving away gift certificates and prizes from local businesses down on the docks,” said McCraw. “We will also be giving away a $30 gift certificate to AJ’s daily during the rodeo.”
3 for 30
Starting Oct. 1, AJ’s will be adding a three for 30 special to its menu, with a pick-three for $30 dinner option. The meal includes a cup of soup, a salad and your choice from four dinner specials of stuffed fish, top sirloin, chicken Florentine, or the shrimp platter.
“It’s a three-course meal for just $30,” said McCraw. “We are going to be running the 3 for 30 for the rest of the year.”
Staying with the 30th theme, AJ’s will be offing 30 cent soup specials from 4-7 p.m. daily with your choice of gumbo or red beans and rice. And for those just wanting a cold one, $3 drink specials will be available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily for beer and the cocktail drink of the day.
Seafood Festival
AJ’s will be hosting three stages during the Destin Seafood Festival, Oct. 3-5, with bands playing on the new Jumbotron stage as well as in the Tiki Villiage, and inside the restaurant at Club Bimini in the upstairs lounge.
“We’ll have music going on all three days of the festival,” said McCraw. “From noon until closing at 1 a.m.”
BikiniContest
On Oct.18 come on out to take part in AJ’s annual Jack Daniels bikini contest. “There will be lots of prizes for the winners and lots of fun for the people who want to watch it,” said McCraw.
Fall Festival
The kids of Okaloosa County will be out of school Oct. 20 for a teacher’s workday, and what better way to get them out of the house and entertained then by taking them down to AJ’s fall festival?
“It’ll give the kids something to do on their day off from 1-3 p.m.,” said McCraw. “We’ll have Home Depot come out and do arts and crafts. And Build-a-Bear and Bass Pro Shop will come out with activities, and we’ll have pumpkin decorating.”
Hog Rally
As a major sponsor for the Harley Davidson Association’s Destin Hog Rally, AJ’s will host several activities along the docks from Oct. 22-25. Concerts will be held at the Jumbotron stage on Oct. 22 and Oct. 25, and a special event, Blues Brews and Barbeques will be held Oct. 25.
Halloween
As a spooky ending to the month-long celebration, AJ’s will take part in trick-or-treating along the Destin harbor and will host an adult costume contest on Oct. 31.