Enjoy free dockside tours aboard the tall ship Peacemaker at the Panama City Marina, beginning Thurday, January 13^th, through Monday, January 31^st. This classic 150-foot barquentine was built in Brazil of the finest tropical hardwoods, îpe and mahogany. Its traditional rig takes us back to the age of sail. Tours will be from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM daily. Special group tours may be given upon request. Call Lee Philips at 912-399-6946 for details.

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Winner will receive a beautiful 2 bedroom condo with an ocean view. To see the room, look in our Facebook photo album for room 1807.

Winner will be notified via email and can call in to make reservations.

It’s that simple.

What’s your resolution?

Ring in the new year with Panama City Beach! The 800-pound glowing beach ball begins the more than 100-foot descent just before midnight on December 31. Pier Park festivities, free and open to the public, begin at 5:30 p.m. with family-friendly entertainment including bounce houses, party favors, street performers, stilt walkers and face painters. Kids beach ball drop at 8:00pm. The Barry Fish Band will perform for the Family Celebration.

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Panama City Beach, Florida (Dec. 13, 2010) – As year-end fast approaches, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport officials are reporting that the region’s newest airport has exceeded initial traffic expectations.

From its May 23 grand opening through November 30, Beaches International Airport handled 446,135 passengers, or nearly three times as many as the 160,000 passengers who passed through the old Panama City – Bay County International Airport during the same time period last year.

“The level of passenger traffic at the new airport has been impressive,” said Airport Executive Director Randy Curtis. “Each month, passenger traffic has been, on average, about 2.8 times greater than the same month in 2009.”

In another indication of strong traffic at the new airport, demand for parking has far exceeded the short- and long-term parking lot capacity of 697 spaces. Over the Thanksgiving Holiday, for example, the airport parked a total of 1,547 cars in the two lots and in temporary overflow areas. By comparison, the old airport had capacity for just 330 cars.

As a result, the Airport Authority is constructing additional parking capacity at the new airport.

Clearly, a big factor in the growth in passenger traffic is the arrival of Southwest Airlines to the new airport and a first to the region.

Beaches International is now served by Southwest and Delta Air Lines. Passenger loads on Southwest planes have been averaging about 64%, while Delta has been averaging about 76%, said Curtis.

“While the winter months are traditionally a slower period, we are encouraged that the new airport is now serving more than twice as many passengers as the old airport did this time last year,” Curtis said. “We anticipate a big jump in traffic numbers during the upcoming Christmas Holiday season and again in the spring.”

Today, Beaches International offers “single plane” service to Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Memphis, Nashville and Orlando, with the majority of the service on narrow body 737’s and MD88s.

Location: Aaron Bessant Park (Pier Park)

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You can’t go wrong on Panama City Beach this weekend. What a fantastic place to grab a few gifts and enjoy the lovely surroundings. You can sample established Panama City Beach traditions like the Optimists’ Panama City Beach Christmas Parade at Pier Park, and launch new traditions with your family, right here on the World’s Most Beautiful Beaches.

Panama City Beach Christmas Parade

Lot of excitement on Saturday night at 5:00 when thePanama City Beach Optimist Club Christmas Parade leaves Town Center, traveling  throughout Pier Park, down the Boardwalk to Front Beach Road.

Magical Christmas at Gulf World

Master Illusionists Noah and Heather Wells will be at Gulf World Marine Park to present   “…A Magical Christmas!” This two hour extravaganza features Christmas-themed illusions, comedy, and special effects “It’s A Magical Christmas!” is at Gulf World Marine Park on Front Beach Road.  Adults $20.00 plus tax. Bring and unwrapped child’s toy and receive $2.00 off each adult ticket.  Children 5 – 12 $10.00 plus tax. Children Four and under, no charge. Toys and a portion of ticket sales benefit Children’s Home Society of Florida.

“It is our collective responsibility to conserve the marine environment and maintain the biodiversity of the Gulf.” Guy Harvey Run For the Redfish is a certified course featuring a 1/2 marathon, 5k and kids 1 mile fun run benefits bringing awareness about our coastal redfish and it’s habitat. This year’s run will be held on December 4th, 2010 and starts and ends in beautiful Pier Park. Start Times: 8:00 AM (1/2 Marathon), 8:30 AM (5K) and 10:00 AM for Kids’ Fun Run.

Last year, over 600 racers participated and plans for 2010 are to take this signature event to the next level. We’d like to thank our sponsors and volunteers who support this race. We look forward to seeing everyone out on the course in December!

Saturday afternoon get ready for a delightful local tradition. At  5:30 we look out over St take Andrews Bay for the annual Boat Parade of Lights. The boats will line up at  historic St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club, passing by the downtown Panama City Marina at the end of Harrison Avenue, then make their way to St. Andrews Marina (first boats arriving about 6:15 PM) where the parade ends. Free parking and viewing at both marinas. Thousands-that’s what we said, folks- thousands of spectators gather every year along the shore and in the bay to usher in the season with the Boat Parade of Lights.

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This weekend is the Grills Gone Wild BarBQ Championship at Arnold High School.  This is the third year running and it’s bound to be as delicious as ever.  Every year they’ve had a huge variety of fantastic BBQ and this year, be ready to soak your tongue and sink your teeth into some really good cookin’.

This event began three years ago and benefits 7 local charities including: Anchorage Children’s Home, Beach Care Services, Boys and Girls Club, Children’s Home Society, Gulf Coast Child Advocacy Center, Panama City Rescue Mission, and St. Andrew’s Community Medical Center.

Tickets are $10, and we have three we’re giving away for FREE!

For more information click here.

Emerald Coast Cruizin – The South’s Best Blast from the Past family fun event. Cars, hot rods, trucks, food, and vendors all team up for a great weekend at  Frank Brown Park 16200, Panama City Beach Parkway-right across the street from Pier Park. And wait, there’s more! Rock out with the bopping sound of  T Graham Brown and TG Sheppard -and 100% of the ticket sales go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bay County.  Doors open at 6:00pm for the concert,  show begins at 8:00pm.  $20  advance and $25 the night of at the door. Tickets available at Sharky’s, and HammerHead Fred’s.

For more info click here