It’s a Country Music, Fishing, and Philanthropy Filled Weekend

This weekend Panama City Beach has a full line up and many options if you are looking for something to do. Country music, fishing contests, eating for a cause, and rubber ducks are headlining in this weekend’s events.

Country Music Fest

Friday and Saturday September 23^rd and 24^th

Country music artists Miranda Lambert and Jason Aldean will be coming to Panama City Beach’s Frank Brown Park in Pier Park this weekend. Miranda Lambert was first introduced to the public through Nashville Star, while Jason Aldean was introduced through his self-titled album. Tickets are available through lodging partners as well as Ticketmaster.

Gates will open at 6:30pm on Friday night for Justin Moore, The Randy Rogers Band, and Miranda Lambert. Saturday gates will open earlier for Corey Smith, The Dirt Drifter’s, and Jason Aldean.

If you’re a fan of music, especially country music, there is no doubt that you’ll enjoy the Country Music Fest this weekend. If you haven’t gotten your ticket yet, visit Ticketmaster or book with local lodging partners! See you out there!

Panama City Beach Sportfish Classic

Friday and Saturday September 23^rd and 24^th

Overnight fishing for Swordfish will begin on Friday, before anglers compete on Saturday for Blue Marlin, Tuna, Wahoo, and Dolphin. Weigh-ins will be on Saturday for both events and spectators are welcome to attend! The festival opens at 5pm on Saturday at the Lighthouse Marina and Boatyard Restaurant, with live music from 5pm-7pm, weigh-ins will be from 7pm-10pm, and the awards will be given out at 10:30pm or as soon as possible after the last fish is weighed in.

There will be a total of $100,000 given away in prizes this weekend, including $40,000 for the largest Blue Marlin catch. Fishing will begin at 2pm on Friday after the kick-off lunch and captains meeting. The event will be family friendly and a good time for everyone who wants to see some truly big fish!

Compassionate Chef’s For Kids benefitting Children’s Home Society of Florida

Saturday September 24^th

From 6pm-9pm this Saturday at the Holley Academic Center on the Panama City campus of Florida State University, the Children’s Home Society of Florida will be hosting the Compassionate Chefs for Kids. This is a “Cullinary Extravaganza” event, which will include food from twenty local chefs, live auction, silent auctions, as well as live entertainment. For general admission the event is $35, while for VIP admission is $75. VIP events will begin at 5pm.

This is the 8^th Annual culinary fundraiser, which is the signature fundraiser for the organization. The theme will be “Dine, Dance, Donate” this year. Some of the live entertainment will include Fred Astaire Dancers, Mark Harris, Mojo Rising, child performances, and more. The profits will go to the Children’s Home Society of Florida which serves abused children, adoptions, serves a local group home, and works with the Early Step’s program for mentally delayed children.

Beach Care Services Annual Duck Race and Cocktail Party

Tuesday September 27^th

From 5:30pm to 8:00pm, poolside at the North Tower of the Grand Panama Beach Resort the Beach Care Services will be holding their annual duck race. This isn’t your typicall duck race though! This involves adults on the back of giant rubber duckies in a pool, raising money to provide emergency financial assistance to the residents of Panama City Beach. The goal is to aid in the payment of household bills in order to prevent families becoming homeless. Last year this event raised almost $13,000 and they have high hopes to meet or exceed this amount this year.

The event will include food and drinks, cash prizes, and live entertainment from the Kevin Jacobs Band. Duck Race entries are $10 per person or five duck entries for $45. Little rubber ducks are also available for those who cannot physically attend the event. First prize is $500; second prize is $250, and third prize being $100.

PCB International Real Estate Summit Discount Ends Tuesday

We recently reported on the International Real Estate Summit that’s coming to Panama City Beach. The event is pacing to be a huge success with speakers and guests coming from over 16 countries.

Advanced registration for this event ends tomorrow.

Normally the registration price for this event is $325, but advanced registrants can save with a ticket price of $275. If you’re familiar with conferences and events like this, you know this is a cheap date to brush shoulders with industry leaders and people of international influence.

Vision

From the website

“The vision of the “World Summit” is not to recreate your typical atmosphere of the International Real Estate trade shows, but to promote true unity and collaboration in and around the globe to create business. The message will be clear, that there is a new and better way of doing business on a global scale. You will be taught international business strategies by industry specialists that are working smarter and are proven leaders in their respected countries around the world.”

Date of the event and schedule

The event is from October 20 – 22, 2011 and will be held at the Boardwalk Beach Resort’s Conference facilities.

Pre-registration is on the afternoon of the 19th with the summit beginning at 9 am the following morning. Sessions will go through 5 pm.

For a full list of the schedule, visit their website.

Speakers

The International Real Estate World Summit is drawing speakers from Germany, Canada, Dubai, England, Asia, and of course, the USA.

Some of the topics that will be presented on are:

International Real Estate Trends
Mexico, the Growing Retirement Market
Immigration-Based Investment
How to Breakthrough with the Asia Investors
Marketing to Canada

For more information on the summit, visit their website.

Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert in Concert This Weekend [SCHEDULE]

The country music festival everyone’s been talking about begins this Friday, September 23. Featuring artists Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert, this event is expected to draw a large crowd to Frank Brown Park. Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert are two of country’s biggest up and coming stars right now.

About the event

The event begins Friday September 23 and will end on Saturday September 24. Gates will open at 6:30 pm on both days with the show to start at 7:30 pm. The Panama City Beach Country Music Festival will be at Frank Brown Park.

Friday Night

Main Act: Miranda Lambert

Opening Acts: Justin Moore & Randy Rogers Band

Saturday Night

Main Act: Jason Aldean

Opening Acts: Corey Smith & The Dirt Drifters

How to get tickets

The interesting thing about this festival and the Christian Music Festival we had a few weeks back is that they were devised to bring people to the beach. The tickets for both festivals were originally only made available through lodging partners – that is condos, hotels and resorts. In order to get a ticket, you had to book a place with one of the lodging partners.

All in all (and we’ll have a report on it in the coming weeks), it seems to have worked pretty well. Many properties and resorts are reporting a heavily occupied weekend.

While the tickets are now available at Ticketmaster, many lodging partners are offering free tickets to their guests as an incentive to stay with them.

What are your thoughts on this festival? Will you be going?

Weekend Events – Lobster Fest, Arts Fest, Coastal Cleanup and More!

This week we have some really fun things to get you out of the house. From the 26th Annual International Coastal Cleanup to Schooners Lobster Fest, there are plenty of fun things to do. The weather is supposed to be fantastic, clear and not too hot.

26th Annual International Coastal Cleanup

Saturday September 17th

Each year tons of trash ends up in the oceans and beaches of Florida. While workers and volunteers try to keep the beaches clean waste still makes it into the sand and waters of the Gulf Coast. Sadly, until people stop littering this problem is here to stay. However, volunteers can help do something to alleviate this problem! On September 17th at 9:00am you can join The Friends of St. Andrews State Park, Panama City Dive Club, and other volunteers to clean up St. Andrews State Park and Shell Island, just meet at Russell Fields Pier and identify yourself as a Coastal Cleanup volunteer. The beach clean up is in association with the annual International Coastal Cleanup from the Ocean Conservancy. Don’t forget to bring work up gloves! Water, trash bags, and log sheets will be provided. If you have your own pickup stick- that would be extremely helpful and save your back some pain the next day! Volunteers will receive T-shirts (while supplies last) and have a free shuttle to Shell Island for picking up there.

Schooners Lobster Fest

Thursday September 15 – 18

Each year, Lobster Fest brings divers out in droves to bring in the biggest lobster. There’s a huge beach-front party at Schooners in celebration of these spiny legged critters that’s accompanied by food, drink, music and fun activities for the kids.

We’ve published more about this event here.

First Annual Panama City Beach Festival of the Arts

Saturday and Sunday September 17th-18th

Fine art, performances, culinary delights, and handmade crafts- two days full of them! The festival will be held at the Palms Conference Center, from 10am-6pm on Saturday at 10am-5pm on Sunday. Admission will only be $2 per person each day.

We published more information about this here.

Yappy Hour at Salty Sue’s

Thursday September 22nd

Bring $5.00 and your dog, and come to Salty Sue’s for outdoor dog-friendly dining on the outside patio at Salty Sues. There is a fenced in play area, door prizes, and a raffle. While your eating dinner, there is also a specialty menu that is dog friendly. Not only can you eat dinner with friends and your pets, this is an opportunity to meet other dog owners in the area!

Schooners Lobster Fest Starts Today [EVENT]

Pull out that dive gear and come with an appetite – the 22nd Annual Schooners Lobster Festival starts today!

Schooners Lobster Festival and Tournament has always been a local favorite, but now as the festival continues to grow in popularity, there is an effort to attract visitors from all over the South East to come and enjoy the festivities and take advantage of Panama City’s beautiful beaches and seafood.

About the event

Divers from all over the country will compete in a variety of lobster categories including Spiny Lobster, Big 6 and Shovelnose, with an opportunity to win cash and prizes totaling over $10,000. Weigh-ins will be from 3-6pm on Saturday and Noon-3pm on Sunday.

This year there will be a “mini” lobster feast served on Saturday, with the famous traditional Lobster Feast beginning at Noon on Sunday. A special Schooners menu has been developed for all the fresh local lobster that will be harvested by the divers.

At 5pm, Thursday, a silent auction will begin featuring incredible merchandise and unique packages with proceeds benefiting the Toys for Kids Foundation and the Florida Aquatic Marine Institute (FAMI). The auction will close at 8pm and all auction items will be handed out from the Beach stage.

There will also be a giant Lobster Festival sand sculpture contest – one of the biggest in the Southeast, with some of the best sand artists in the country, as well as enthusiastic amateurs competing for cash and prizes.

Schedule

Thursday

Sand Sculptor begins on the beach-Sand Odyssey

11am – 10pm Lobster specials all day till close

5pm – 8pm Boukou Groove on the Beach Stage

5pm – Silent Auction begins on the Beach

6pm – VIP/Sponsor and Media Beach Party

8pm – Silent Auction ends, Money Collected, Auction items given out from Beach Stage

8:30pm-Midnight – LONG REEF on the Main Stage

10pm – Nightly Raffle Drawing for $500

Friday

11am – 10pm Lobster specials all day till close

5pm – Diver registration

6pm – Diver Safety meeting

4:30pm – 8:30pm DEREK GIVANS on the Beach Stage

9pm-1am – LONG REEF on the Main Stage

10pm – Nightly Raffle Drawing for $500

Saturday

Dive Tournament begins

8:30am – Registration for Sandcastle & Sand Sculpting Contests begins

9:00am – Open division for advanced Sandcastle & Sand Sculpting starts

10 am – Sandcastle & Sand Sculpting Contest for all other divisions start (Youth, Teen, Adult, Family)

10am – Beach Stage goes live with music & games for families and children. DJ Surfer Mark Hosts.

11am – Lobster Mini Feast on the Beach begins

11am – 10pm Lobster specials on the menu all day till close

2pm – Sandcastle & Sand Sculpting competition ends – All divisions

2pm – 5pm STAINLESS STEEL on the Beach Stage

2:30pm – Sand Sculpting Awards Presentation on the Beach Stage

3pm – Weigh-Ins starts. Scales close at 6pm

5pm – Lobster Mini Feast Ends (Lobster Specials still available till close on the menu)

5-9pm – NOTHING SHORT OF PURE on the Beach Stage

9pm-1am – LONG REEF on the Main Stage

10pm – Nightly Raffle Drawing for $500

Sunday

11am – Beach Stage goes live with music & games for families and children

11am – 6pm – Lobster FEAST Buffet on the Beach & Beach Party

11am – till – Lobster specials on the menu all day till close

12pm-3pm – Weigh-Ins, SCALES CLOSE at 3pm

4pm – Lobster Auction, Diver Awards & Door Prize Raffle on the Main Stage

5pm-7:30pm – SAUCE BOSS on the Beach Stage

8pm – GRAND PRIZE DRAWING

8:30-11:30pm – HERITAGE on the Beach Stage

For more info on Lobster Fest, visit their website.

Breakfast Point Subdivision Now Selling Homes

The name was picked years ago. The plan for the school came shortly after – now they’re on their 4th school year. One can only assume the development of the subdivision was only waiting for a turn around in the real estate market. Well, now apparently it’s turned enough for St. Joe to move forward with the first phase of development.

Now selling homes

If you drive through the intersection of Back Beach and R Jackson Blvd, you’ve probably seen the signs at the corner of the quadrant Publix is on. “Now Selling” is in big letters with ‘Homes from the low 200’s” just below it. They’ve got a model home under construction and it looks like all the infrastructure (roads, water, sewer) is in place.

Details about the development

From the plat map, it looks like they are planning on having 45 homes in this first phase. They plan on having some park areas, walking trails and access to conservation area and ponds.

The subdivision is located essentially at the end of R Jackson Blvd. If you go north on R Jackson, like you’re going to Breakfast Point Academy, you’ll go straight at the stop sign. You’ll see what I presume to be the first model home being constructed right on that corner lot – labeled 1 on the plat map.

Note: I’m using the term ‘phase’ under the assumption that there will be more to the Breakfast Point development than what is slated for this particular set of homes we’re discussing in this post. In a post we published in 2007, we had info that slated the Breakfast Point development as completed would have 3100 residential units.

This is a St. Joe owned development but it looks like they’ve either contracted with home builders to build the homes, or they’ve sold the lots to them to build and resell homes under the Breakfast Point brand. The two builders that are building in this phase are David Weekly Homes and Huff Homes.

Pricing and home sizes

Pricing is always an interesting discussion. For the developer/home builder, it’s a critical topic. If they price too high, they won’t sell. And if they price too low, they may not attract the right audience. From what I can tell from the website, home prices will start in the $230’s and be sized ranging from 1600 to 2800 square feet.

Annual Beach Care Service Duck Race

If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck. Right?

This year’s Beach Care Service Duck Race will take place at the beautiful Grand Panama Beach Resort Pool, in the North Tower. This event will be on September 27th from 5:30 to 8 pm. Last year’s event was a blast.

Press Release.

Panama City Beach, FL (September 1, 2011) — Beach Care Services (BCS) is happy to announce their Annual Duck Race & Cocktail Party will again take place at the beautiful Grand Panama Beach Resort, poolside in the North Tower, on Tuesday, September 27 from 5:30pm to 8:00pm. The event will include food and drinks, cash prizes and live entertainment by the Kevin Jacobs Band. In 2010 a record of nearly $13,000 was raised.

The race includes human beings on ducks – as well as little rubber ducks. These two choices allow people who cannot attend to still participate and possibly win some of the cash prizes: first prize is $500; second prize is $250; and third prize is $100.

BCS’ Annual Duck Race & Cocktail Party is sponsored by Grand Panama Beach Resort, Bonefish Grill, Tipton, Marler Garner & Chastain, Diver’s Den, Ms. Newby’s, Bikini Beach Resort Motel, Angelo’s Steak Pit, Charlie Lahan’s Carousel, Vision Bank, Beef O’Brady’s, Coastal Communications, Hess Entertainment, Perry & Young, A1 Anytime Bonding, Beach TV and 105.1 BOB FM.

Cost of the Duck Race is $10 per person (5 ducks for $45). For more information and sponsorship opportunities, contact Felicia Cook at 850-238-2790 or fcook@simon.com. For more information on Beach Care Services, visit www.beachcareservices.org.

Compassionate Chefs For Kids Returns Sept 24

The Children Home Society’s 8^th annual Compassionate Chefs for Kids will be held at the FSU PC Holley Academic Center on Saturday September 24th from 6 to 9 pm. The event will benefit local children and families in our area and is themed Dine, Dance and Donate.

This year there will be 20+ local top chefs and restaurants presenting their signature dish.

About the event.

The event will be held at the FSU PC Holley Academic Center Saturday September 24th from 6-9pm – map link
Tickets can be purchased at the door, $35 General Admission, $75 VIP
20+ restaurants & top chefs from the local area will be presenting their signature dish
There will be a Silent & Live Auction
Live Entertainment from Nashville, Mark Harris & Mojo Rising
Local children will be performing
Fred Astaire dancers will be performing

To make a reservation, please call 850-747-5411 ext 1520

First Large Military Contractor to move to ECP’s VentureCrossings

VentureCrossings, St. Joe’s Enterprise Center at the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport will be home to ITT Corporation, one Bay County’s leading military technology contractors. The new VentureCrossings Center was granted ‘through the fence’ access to use the new airport last November. This commercial facility was planned and designed to be the home for commercial businesses just like this.

Press Release

(September 6, 2011 – Bay County, FL) The Bay County Economic Development Alliance (EDA) is pleased to announce that ITT Corporation’s Panama City facility plans to expand its operations to a new, 100,000-square-foot building at VentureCrossings Enterprise Center at West Bay, near the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, in mid-2012. The company will be the first commercial development in the business park built by The St. Joe Company in its 70,000-acre West Bay sector. ITT is projected to hire an additional 30 employees, increasing its total employment to 120, at an average annual wage of $49,500, exceeding 150 percent of Bay County’s average annual wage.

The Panama City facility develops and deploys secure, networked communications and essential electronic warfare, sensing, surveillance, reconnaissance and structures technologies to detect and clear mines from maritime waters. Its Mine Defense Systems operation’s primary Department of Defense local customer is the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division.

“Mine defense is essential to keeping global trade safe and dependable,” said Vice President and General Manager Rich Sorelle of ITT’s Electronic Systems’ integrated electronic warfare systems business. “A growing number of customers, both in the U.S. and around the world, have chosen ITT technology to protect the shipping lanes from threats to world trade.”

Facilitated by the EDA, a competitive package of state and local incentives was leveraged to assist ITT in its expansion in Bay County. The company was approved for Florida’s Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund and a Bay County Property Tax Abatement.

“The EDA not only focuses on attracting companies to Bay County, we also assist our diversified industries in their expansion needs,” said Glen McDonald, chairman of the EDA. “It is because of the partnership with the State of Florida and the Bay County Board of County Commissioners that this project has been successful.”

“ITT’s decision to expand its Bay County operations has a notable economic impact on our community,” said Janet Watermeier, executive director of the EDA. “For every 10 jobs ITT creates, an additional 10 jobs will be created in other areas of the local community. For every $100 that ITT spends, an additional $27 in sales will be generated by other Bay County companies. For every $100 that ITT spends in wages, an additional $46 will be earned by other Bay County workers.”

About ITT Corporation

ITT Corporation is a high-technology engineering and manufacturing company operating on all seven continents in three vital markets: water and fluids management, global defense and security, and motion and flow control. With a heritage of innovation, ITT partners with its customers to deliver extraordinary solutions that create more livable environments, provide protection and safety and connect our world. Headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., the company reported 2010 revenue of $11 billion. www.itt.com.

July Tourism UP 50% Over Last Year

July tourism numbers are up 50.84% over July 2010. The bed tax revenue numbers just came in and they confirm what we all knew already. This summer was the busiest tourism summer Panama City Beach has ever seen.

True, the 50% compares to last year, a tourism season that was dramatically down due to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill that devastated local businesses. But, when comparing July of 2011’s numbers to July of 2009 – we’re still an astounding 29% up!

The numbers

These numbers are derived from actual bed tax collections. Each transient short-term rental is required to register with the local bed taxing authority and pay a 5% tax on all accommodations. The 1st, 2nd and 4th are proportioned for promotion of the beach (it funds the TDC). The 3rd is only for beach renourishment and the 5th was directly tied to bringing a low-cost carrier to Panama City Beach and expires April 2014.

July 2009 – 2,302,863.86

July 2010 – 1,967,020.33

July 2011 – 2,966,961.49

July accommodations

This past July, many beach accommodations reported a completely sold out inventory. Many calls up and down the beach netted no vacancies. Many speculate that this summer’s growth was indicative of a large pent-up demand for our area that stemmed from last year’s environmental disaster. Other’s state that we’re just making up for lost ground. Either way, we’re still expecting to see growth next year, but more along the lines of a normal 10 to 15% growth in bed tax collections.