COMMUNICATIONS
2023 Perfect in Walton County Awards
The winners of the 2023 Perfect Awards were announced during a celebration held at the Hilton Sandestin Beach and Golf Resort and Spa. Now in its ninth year, the annual awards are nominated and voted upon by residents and visitors alike who choose their favorites in tourism-related businesses, services and organizations.
"It's always an honor to shine the spotlight on our local businesses as part of our Perfect in Walton County awards," says Matt Algarin, Walton County tourism director. "These businesses help our residents and visitors create lifelong memories, so to be able to talk about them and promote them as Perfect Award winners is always rewarding."
More than 2,300 votes were cast across 30 categories to determine the best dining, entertainment, shopping and more in Walton County. The 90 winners – by first-third place, are featured online in our Perfect in Walton County 2023 guide and listed on the Perfect in Walton County webpage.
Also during the event, restaurateur Dave Rauschkolb was recognized as the winner of the Van Ness Butler Jr. Hospitality Award.
2023 Artist of the Year
Bradley Copeland was named the 2023 Walton County Artist of the Year during the Perfect Awards held at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa.
"Bradley is such an incredibly talented artist and her story is truly inspiring," says Matt Algarin, Walton County tourism director. "We are excited to honor her as the 2023 Walton County Artist of the Year and look forward to working with her and showcasing her talents."
Copeland, based in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., has more than 600 pieces in her collection with many works appearing in galleries across the Southeast. Her vibrant paintings have provided her the space to express and heal like nothing else in her life. She shares her process and the healing power of art with residents at the Walton County Correctional Institute in DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
“I’m so honored and so grateful to receive this award and to be able to live in a place where art is valued so highly in the community and so many opportunities are laid out for creative people like me,” said Copeland. To learn more about Bradley, read her full story HERE.
Now in its 21st year, the Walton County Artist of the Year award is a community program that showcases local artists, promoting the selected artist’s work throughout the year through a variety of publicity opportunities and events. The winner also receives an award of $4,000 in exchange for a piece of artwork that will be displayed in Walton County.
Walton County in the News:
Walton County was featured in a variety of high-profile publications recently, including the Wall Street Journal. Examples of these press mentions can be found below, and a complete list is available HERE.
- Wall Street Journal: The 9 Best Wine Coolers and Fridges to Store Your Bottles, According to Pros
- Travel + Leisure: 9 Best Beach Towns in Florida
- Southern Living: 20 Bookstores Everyone Should Visit in Florida
- Forbes: The 9 Best Beach Destinations for Families
What's New in Walton County:
Does your business have a new menu, a new location/offering, an event or have you recently renovated? We'd love to know "What's New" at your business. Please email Summer Padgett, Content and Public Relations Specialist, at Summer@visitsouthwalton.com or call (850) 267-1216 to share your information.
Create/Update Your Business Listing:
We are updating our database to include information from all visitor-facing businesses throughout Walton County. There is a special emphasis on the northern part of our county and its attractions, which will now be featured in our print guides and on our website.
Are you taking advantage of the free business listings on our website? CLICK HERE to register your business or access our partner portal, where you can review and update your company information. If you are a visitor-facing business in Walton County and do not currently have a listing on our website, we'd be happy to help you create one. Our accommodations partners are listed on the Book>Direct search engine, while non-lodging businesses are listed under different categories of our Things to Do section. Please email Lisa@visitsouthwalton.com or call (850) 333-2728 for help.
Events Calendar:
Check out our Events calendar to find out what’s happening in Walton County! If you would like to share your upcoming event on our calendar, CLICK HERE to submit your event details. For more information, contact Industry Relations Specialist Lisa Foster at Lisa@visitsouthwalton.com or (850) 333-2728.
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