It was a difficult task to try and top last year’s Seabreeze Jazz Festival as the event took Panama City Beach by storm, filling hotel rooms and branding our great city with a favorable image. There was a lot of hype coming into 2010 and this years event not only lived up to the hype but could have very well been a better overall event than 2009. If you missed the show, you missed a something special.
On the heels of a rough spring break, loads of people from all over the Southeast filled Pier Park to the limit to join in on classy, exciting festivities. Talented acts like Nick Colionne, Brian Simpson, Jackiem Joyner, Ken Ford, Oli Silk, Steve Cole, Joey Sommerville, BK Jackson and many more gave Panama City Beach a show of smooth jazz while vendors sold artworks, music and collectibles. All across Panama City Beach, jazzy sounds filled the air and good, clean fun was had throughout the weekend.
The most amazing thing about the event, beyond the music, food and fun, was that only a few weeks prior Panama City Beach was jam-packed with students partying like mad. The city was able to transform from a spring break town into the perfect host of a very mature high-class event. Newspapers and the web were littered with stories about Panama City Beach: no fighting, no deaths, no arrests, just stories of a good time. It is that sentiment by which Panama City Beach’s future hinges. The tagline is, “real. fun. beach,” and Panama City Beach, if the Seabreeze Jazz Festival is any indication, is slowly becoming capable of hosting just about anything: a true one-stop-shop for all kinds of tropical fun.
I can just imagine what this event will be like when crowds from Baltimore, Houston and others can fly in and enjoy the world renowned artists taking the stage. The more events Panama City Beach can put on like this, the better for our economy and our future image.
PCBDaily 
This one could have very well been the best…….I’ve only missed 2 of them. Enjoy the tribute to Wayman Tisdale. That was very classy. See you next year Seabreeze!!!
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At the Seabreeze Jazz Festival, we had older adult tourists spending lots of money and renting all the new condos.
At this year’s Spring Break, we had drunk, underage students spending money on alcohol and drugs and falling off balconies resulting in negative national press headlines.
Due to the damage and destruction caused by Spring Breakers, most condo owners will not rent to anyone under age 25.
Due to all the negative national press regarding PCB, my concern is that when the new airport opens in May all the tourists after driving down highway 79 will turn right for Destin and 30A.
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I don’t think this is going to happen…. PCB has always been recognized as a party place for Spring Breaker’s. There is already a airport in Ft. Walton so why would people fly into our new airport & go to the west?
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The Festival was awesome and Host Nick Colionne really kept the party going. The talent was incredible and it was nice to see such national and international talent in PCB. We need more events like the Seabreeze jazz fest and no more spring break.
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I missed it this year, but I have heard so many great things about how it was the best so far!
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Jazz Festival will not change PCB’s image if you keep Spring Break aka Drug & Drunkfest!
Comments anyone?
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I do not believe this. This City is a very versatile place. You can have young people come here, then have a Jazz Fest., then Thunderbeach (for bikers for all ages… but mostly the older crowd), next is Gulf Beach Marithon and so many other events!!
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THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME AT THE SEA BREEZE JAZZ FESTIVAL AND I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME…I HAVE BEEN TO CAPITAL JAZZ FESTIVAL AND THE NORFOLK JAZZ FESTIVAL AND A FEW OTHERS BUT SEA BREEZE HAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE..IT’S GREAT AND I REALLY ENJOYED THE V.I.P TICKETS THAT WE BOUGHT…WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD IN RETURNING NEXT YEAR….FINE JOB OF JAZZ SEA BREEZE….LOVE ITTT JAZZ IS GREAT
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I too was a first timer at the Sea Breeze Jazz Festival. I came down from Minnesota where we are known for our cold weather, but beautiful summers. As a young 60+ woman, I really enjoyed myself even though I vacationed alone. The weather was wonderful, along with the ocean, beach, condo, festival and food. I recently went to a Minnesota Blues and Jazz Festival and you couldn’s get any seafood there, only cheese curds, corn on the cob, Famous Dave’s BBQ, etc. I came to hear the jazz and see the white sand beaches. The venue was great and had easy access. Nick Colionne is always a favorite and he was just in Minnesota again. I loved everything and plan on coming back next year.
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Awesome event, as is the case every year. The weather is unbeatable, the music is fantastic, and the people are all very friendly. Great summer destination!
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