PANAMA CITY BEACH – The end of the school year signals the most popular time of year to visit Panama City Beach, where spectacular weather and countless activities and events abound throughout the summer season. Families flock to Northwest Florida to take in the 27 miles of award-winning white sand beaches, emerald green water and southern hospitality of this beachside community. The area’s All-American style and strong military ties make it a natural pick for Fourth of July vacations and the fun activities that continue throughout the summer.

“Our community takes great pride in helping families make unforgettable summer memories,” says Visit Panama City Beach President and CEO Dan Rowe. “June and July are our busiest months of the year and we look forward to welcoming visitors as they enjoy this Real.Fun.Beach.”

In addition to the celebration of Panama City Beach’s 80th anniversary in 2016, below are highlights of Panama City Beach popular summer events and activities:

Summer Events

Somewhere on a Beach
Right in Panama City Beach, in fact! Country music star Dierks Bentley is putting on the “Somewhere on a Beach Bash” behind Spinnaker Beach Club on Memorial Day, May 30 to mark the upcoming release of his new album.

There’s Music in the Air in Panama City Beach, Summer 2016

Starting June 9, visitors and locals alike can gather for the free summer concert series at Aaron Bessant Park amphitheater, where live performances in the open-air venue set the tone for summer.  The PCB Summer Concert Series takes place every Thursday night through August 11, and Groovin’ on the Green offers a scaled down version of the open-air concert series on Monday nights at the Carillon Beach neighborhood. 

Keep it Fresh
Stop by the Grand Lagoon Waterfront Market every weekend to peruse offerings from local farmers and crafts-makers.

Movies and More
Bring the family to enjoy “Movies & More” at Camp Helen State Park. This is a free event, with a youth-appropriate film being shown, and park rangers will lead attendees in roasting marshmallows over a fire and give a talk about local flora and fauna. This event is held June 1, 15, & 29, and July 13 & 27.

Seeing Red
Panama City Diving is holding the Seeing Red Spearfishing Tournament on June 5-7. For participants there are great prizes up for grabs, and attendees can come to see the winning fish being weighed in and enjoy freshly caught and cooked seafood.

Nashville visits the Beach
Boardwalk Beach Resort is hosting the Nashville Songwriters Florida Sunshine Tour on June 18, July 9, and August 19. The event is open to the public and will feature great singer songwriters performing on the deck overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

Sports Central
Panama City Beach is home to sporting events and travel tournaments year round, but summer might be the biggest season of all as the Grand Slam World Series of Baseball, the USFA Fast Pitch World Series, the Air National Guard Softball Nationals, and the Next Generation Sports World Series are all hosted at Frank Brown Park.

Independence Day Celebrations
Panama City Beach starts the celebration early with the Freedom Rocks Fireworks show at the Grand Lagoon and the Light up the Gulf Fireworks show on July 3rd, then puts on the largest fireworks display on the Gulf Coast for the 4th of July with the Star Spangled Spectacular, as a choreographed fireworks show is shot off simultaneously from the city and county piers, putting on a show that can be seen for miles up and down the beach.

Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam, Sept. 2-4, 2016
It what’s become one of the best county music concerts in America, Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam brings today’s biggest country music to the beach. Festival-goers will get a chance to see many of the biggest names in country music as they take the headline stage at Frank Brown Park. Headliners include Brad Paisley, Jake Owen, Eric Church and Lynyrd Skynyrd just to name a few. For more information, click here.

 

Favorite Activities

Explore Shell Island
Located just across the pass from St. Andrews State Park, Shell Island is an undeveloped seven-mile island of white sand, emerald water, and beautiful pine forest. It’s perfect for a picnic, walk on the beach or snorkeling adventure. Sightseeing trips, private charters, boat rentals and an hourly shuttle service make the barrier island accessible to anyone who wants to really get away from it all. Click here for more information.

Discover Camp Helen State Park
Camp Helen State Park is bordered on three sides by water, the Gulf to the south, and Lake Powell to the north and east, and offers over 180 acres for daily recreational use. Activities include swimming, beachcombing, bird watching, nature study, hiking and biking on the trails, and both freshwater and saltwater fishing. History tours are given the first Saturday of every month at 10:00 am and are free with paid park admission. Click here for more information.

Make a Splash at Gulf World Marine Park
Gulf World is the perfect place for the entire family, featuring daily interactive shows with dolphins, sea lions, reptiles and tropical birds.  Over the years, the marine park has matured into one of Panama City Beach’s jewels for its charismatic trainers and commitment to rehabilitating local marine life on site. Intimate arenas allow spectators to get up close with all animals and even swim with dolphins as part of their Trainer for the Day program. Click here for more information.

Tee off with a Round of Golf
With five championship golf courses, including the only Nicklaus Design course in Northwest Florida, 320 days of sunshine a year, and an average temperature of 74 degrees, it’s no wonder that Golf Digest magazine named Panama City Beach one of America’s top three golf towns. Panama City Beach golf courses even host the PGA’s Qualifying School, and now it’s easier than ever for golfers of all skill levels and groups of all sizes to book a golf vacation. For more information on golfing in Panama City Beach, click here.

Hook a Big One
Novice and experienced fisherman alike will be thrilled with the variety of fresh and saltwater fishing options available in Panama City Beach. The “Chasin’ the Sun” fishing show recently filmed a variety of episodes highlighting the outdoor pursuits of Panama City Beach. The destination is famous for fishing of all kinds, especially deep sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. But serious anglers also catch plenty of fish from the piers along the beach and St. Andrew Bay, or by casting a line directly from the shore. Anglers will also enjoy bay fishing, or scouting a local river or freshwater lake during the summer months. For more information on fishing in Panama City Beach, click here.

 

For more information on Panama City Beach, visit www.visitpanamacitybeach.com.