Downtown’s Dickens of a Christmas

Downtown Panama City is hosting a series of events to put any Scrooge in the holiday season! You’ll find the schedule of events below! Visit Panama City Downtown’s website for all of the details. Join Panama City in lighting up the spirit of Christmas downtown!

December 2nd, 2011 4:45pm-9:00pm

4:45pm- The official tree lighting at city hall

5:00pm-9:00pm- Horse drawn carriage rides, Ice skating*, free kid’s zone and craft village, and Photo’s with Santa (for people and pets)

6:00pm- Bay County Christian Youth Choir on the Knology Stage

6:00pm- Decorate at Gingerbread Man at Sugar Boogers

6:00pm- 8:00pm- Wine Crawl, at participating restaurants downtown. Tickets are $25.00.

7:00pm- The Pyramid Players from The Pyramid School on the Knology Stage

8:00pm- The Singing Commodores from Gulf Coast State College on the Knology Stage

December 9th, 2011 5:00pm-9:00pm

5:00pm-9:00pm- Horse drawn carriage rides, Ice skating*, free kid’s zone and craft village, and Photo’s with Santa (for people and pets)

6:00pm- Woodlawn Community Arts Center on the Knology Stage

6:00pm- Decorate at Gingerbread Man at Sugar Boogers

7:00pm- Oakland Terrace Christmas Program on the Knology Stage

8:00pm- The Pyramid Players from the Pyramid School on the Knology Stage

December 16th, 2011 5:00pm-9:00pm

5:00pm-9:00pm- Horse drawn carriage rides, Ice skating*, free kid’s zone, craft village, and Photo’s with Santa (for people and pets)

6:00pm- Sandbox Singers from The Early Education and Care, Inc. on the Knology Stage

6:00pm- Decorate at Gingerbread Man at Sugar Boogers

7:00pm- Oakland Terrace Christmas Program on the Knology Stage

8:00pm-Baywind Community Band directed by Fred Bozwell on the Knology Stage

*The ice skating rink will be open Saturday December 3rd, 10th, and 17th with free admission with proof of purchase from any downtown restaurant or merchant*

Have fun Downtown celebrating a “Dicken’s of a Christmas!”

Michael McDonald Philanthropic Concert

On December 7th, 2011 at 7:30pm, Michael McDonald, a former Doobie Brother and five-time Grammy Award winner, will be coming to the Marina Civic Center. McDonald will be performing as a benefit to the Children’s Home Society of Florida’s Emerald Coast Division. Tickets are on sale at the Marina Civic Center box office or online for $59.75, $49.75, or $29.75 (Price depends on ticket section).

About Michael McDonald

While focusing on music Michael McDonald has also worked to be an active humanitarian, lending his talents to many causes and benefits. He is now lending those talents to raise money for the Emerald Coast Division of the Children’s Home Society of Florida.

Working as a singer and a songwriter, McDonald has had a collection of popular works. McDonald is most popularly known for his time in the Doobie Brothers, co-writing Van Halen’s “I’ll Wait,” singing a duet with Patty Labelle called “On My Own,” and many more songs he both sang and wrote. You may also recognize him from his Motown tribute album in 2003 called Motown. He as also sang the National Anthem at numerous sporting events in recent years, appeared on American Idol’s final episode in Season 9, and on an episode of 30Rock in 2009.

About The Children’s Home Society

Benefitting from the Michael McDonald concert is the Children’s Home Society of Florida‘s Emerald Coast Division. It is the oldest and largest state-wide, private, not-for-profit provider of services to children and families in Florida. The Children’s Home Society provides safety and shelter to children victimized by abuse, abandonment, or neglect. They have helped to keep over 1,200 local children safe through six programs designed to build and stabilize families. These programs include adoption, early intervention and child development case management, birth to five mental health services, dependency counseling, parent education, Early Steps, and Clair’s House.

For more information about Children’s Home Society of Florida’s services in the local community, please contact Erica Spivey, Director of Development at 850-747-5411.

Enjoy the musical stylings of Michael McDonald on December 7th while raising money for the Children’s Home Society!

Festival of Trees

From November 29th till December 2nd, the Panama City Rescue Mission will be hosting the 8th Annual Festival of Trees: The Greatest Gift of All. The festival will be held at the Marina Civic Center.

This event enables local artists and designers to decorate beautiful Christmas items for charity, which are judged in a competition and then sold at auction. All proceeds help Bethel Village, the Rescue Mission’s home for recovering homeless women and families.

The event will be open admission on Friday December 2nd from 10am-9pm, but the gala on December 1st will be $50 per person or $1,500 a table. Tickets and more information are available online.

Enjoy some Christmas fun while giving back to the community!

Here are some past trees from the Festival of Trees:

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Looking to shed the Scrooge-like funk before the holidays hit? Panama City Beach is full of events and activities to get you singing “Jingle Bells” in no time!

Santa’s Arrival and Breakfast

November 25th, 2011

At 9:00am, Santa will be arriving at Pier Park for cookies, hot chocolate and pictures with all of the boys and girls who come to see him! Pictures will be taking place at the Santa House on the boardwalk.

Annual Mayor’s Tree Lighting

November 25th, 2011

The age old tradition of the Christmas tree lighting will take place from 6:00pm-7:00pm. Listen to holiday carolers as the Mayor lights the 20ft tree in Pier Park and starts the holiday season!

25th Annual Christmas Boat Parade

November 26th, 2011

This year’s boat parade will mark the 25th Anniversary of the parade in Panama City. From 4pm- 9pm in Historic St. Andrews you can watch the “Silver Anniversary”-themed parade tour the St. Andrews Marina. For more information, please visit the website.

Schooners Last Local Beach Party

November 26th, 2011

Celebrate the holiday season with Schooners! Starting at 7pm, Schooners would like to thank those who have supported them all year long. They will have live entertainment from Smoke N Mirrors. There will also be food and drink specials, holiday gifts, and VIP card giveaways. The event will benefit the Children’s Home Society. Schooners asks you to bring a new unwrapped toy to benefit an underprivileged child in the community.

8th Annual Festival of Trees

November 29th- December 2nd, 2011

The Panama City Rescue Mission is hosting the 8th Annual Festival of Trees: The Greatest Gift of All at the Marina Civic Center. This event enables local artists and designers to decorate beautiful Christmas items for charity, which are judged in a competition and then sold at auction. All proceeds help Bethel Village, the Rescue Mission’s home for recovering homeless women and families.

The Rescue Mission will also be hosting a “Lunch with Santa,” which will be a field trip for our school’s homeless children allowing them to enjoy beautiful trees, learn the history of Christmas, meet Santa, and receive presents.

Tickets and more information are available online.

The Snapperbowl Tradition Continues

The 43rd Annual Snapperbowl Thanksgiving Classic continues this year with three days of youth football. The Snapperbowl is the largest running youth football tournament in the United States, and attracts teams from all over the country. The Classic is a double elimination tournament, continuing till only one team remains in each division. The Classic will begin on Thanksgiving and run till the 26th at Pete Edwards Field (7300 McElvey Road). Admission is free for children and will be $5.00 for adults.

The first Snapperbowl was held in 1967, and has since become the Harold M. Creel Memorial Snapperbowl.

Divisions

PeeWee (7 and Under, 70lbs)

Bantumweight (8 and Under, 80lbs)

Lightweight (9 and Under, 90lbs)

Welterweight (10 and Under, 100lbs)

Middleweight (11 and Under, 110lbs)

Cruiserweight (12 and Under, 120lbs)

Heavyweight (13 and Under, 130lbs)

For more tournament information, please see the Snapperbowl website.

Good luck to all of those who are playing! Have fun watching the future generations of football players!

Richard Adams Book Signing: Author of The Parting

The Hidden Lantern in Rosemary Beach will be holding a book signing for the award-winning author Richard Adams this Saturday from 10am-12pm. Richard Adams is the author of The Parting: A Story of West Point on the Eve of the Civil War.

Richard Barlow Adams

The author of this book graduated from West Point in the Class of 1967, the first of three brothers graduating from West Point. He served in Vietnam as an artillery forward observer for D Company, 1/506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. After returning to the United States he worked as an army aviator for the Army Corps of Engineers. He later returned to Austin, TX and his family to begin a career as a consulting civil/environmental engineer. Later, he moved to Baton Rouge, LA where he formed, grew, and sold an environmental engineering company. Since the sale he has consulted as a sole practitioner and pursued a second career in writing.

Adams has remained active in alumni affairs at West Point, even serving as adjunct assistant professor to West Point’s Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering and as adjunct professor to the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Southern Methodist University.

The Parting

Describing life in the Victorian Era and at West Point, The Parting, is based on non-fictional sources. The story involves West Point’s military and academic excellence, Jefferson Davis’ ties to West Point, General Winfield Scott, British Royalty’s first visit to North America, and Benny Havens, the legendary tavern keeper.

There are characters from several states, Edmund (Ned) Kirby (New York), Henry du Pont (Delaware), Thomas Rosser (Texas), George Custer (Ohio), Adelbert Ames (Maine), Nathaniel Chambliss (Tennessee), Charles Patterson (Arkansas), Henry Walter Kingsbury (Connecticut), Emory Upton (New York), Charles Hazlett (Ohio), Patrick O’Rorke (New York), Charles Ball (Alabama), and Henry Farley (South Carolina), serving as cadets at West Point. The story of The Parting focuses on John Pelham from Alabama, who does not like following the rules West Point laid out for him.

Enjoy meeting the author and getting your copy signed!

Win a Trip to PCB For New Year’s Eve

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, meaning Christmas and New Year’s Eve aren’t that far behind either! Sterling Resorts would like to help you figure out your plans to ring in 2012.

Celebrate New Year’s Eve Sterling Style

Want to go to the Panama City Beach Ball Drop for New Year’s? Sterling Resorts is giving away a 3 night/4 day stay in a beautiful 2-bedroom condominium at a Sterling Resort for New Year’s Eve. In addition, they are also giving the lucky winner a $100 gift card to Pier Park Shopping and Entertainment Center and transportation to and from the beach ball drop in Pier Park.

How to Enter

Visit Sterling Resorts on Facebook, then click the tab that says “Contest” on the left- enter your name and email address. The winner will be announced December 15th, 2011.

Will you be the one who Celebrates New Year’s Eve Sterling Style? Good Luck!

Holiday Fun at the Beach

It’s almost time to flip the switch and turn on the Christmas lights! Four main events will set the holiday atmosphere here in Panama City Beach. If you’re looking for something to do this holiday season, look no further!

About Fun for the Holidays:

Panama City Beach is putting on four events to kick-start the holiday season right for everyone! Tickets are available online or at the gate, however- Friday November 18th, admission will be free and will include a performance by the Panama City POPS Orchestra. Tickets will be $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for students, seniors, and active members of the military, $2.00 children age six to 12, and children under six are free. Ice skates are available for an additional $5 adults, $2 children 12 and under. Bay County residents will receive a Thursday discount: $5.00 Adults, $2.00 students, seniors, active military, $1.00 children 12 and under. Fun for the Holidays kicks off on November 18 and will run every Thursday, Friday & Saturday until December 23rd. (Except for Thanksgiving Day)

Christmas Tree Forest and Ice Palace

A forest of lighted Christmas trees and a ice skating rink will transform the intersection of Alf Coleman Drive and Front Beach Road into a winter wonderland and the hub of holiday activities. The ice skating rink will be 50×100-feet. In the center of the Christmas tree forest, you’ll find a 40-foot tree with lights that have been choreographed to festive holiday music.

Santa’s Beach House Village

Shipwreck Island Waterpark will be changed into a beach wonderland, complete with elves, reindeer, and other holiday favorites. Visitors will be greeted by the friends of Mr. and Mrs. Claus- starfish, seahorses, turtles, dolphins, fish, and crabs- each one illuminated. There will be a craft table to make holiday keepsakes, hot chocolate, Christmas cookies, holiday treats, and of course- pictures with Santa.

Christmas Under the Sea

M.B. Miller County Pier will be decorated with lights and animation, allowing you to experience holiday lights while overlooking the Gulf of Mexico!

Beach Ball Drop

2012 will begin after the Fourth Annual Beach Ball Drop hosted by Pier Park on Saturday, December 31st. Complete with family-friendly entertainment including bounce houses, street performers, stilt walkers, face painters, and live music starting at 5:30pm. At 8:00pm thousands of inflatable beach balls will be dropped for the delight of children. Counting down till midnight an 800-pound beach ball will decend 100-feet as we enjoy the last moments of 2011. New Year’s Eve activities are complimentary.

Happy Holidays, from PCB Daily!

Coastal Holiday Gift Market

Looking for a gift for that special someone? From 9am-2pm on Saturday, November 12th, you are sure to find something unique at the St. Rita Catholic Church in Santa Rosa Beach. They are hosting the First Annual Coastal Holiday Gift Market.

What will you find at the market?

Over 36 local and regional Artisans
A variety of finely crafted items (Art, stained glass, photography, handmade soaps, metal art, pottery, hand-painted tiles, craftsman quality jewelry and much more!)

One vendor even re-purposes wool sweaters, belts, jewelry, and more to make ladies handbags. (You can see a picture of this above and to the right.) For more information you can visit two of the vendor pages online (Tilly Towel and Ginger Leigh) for the Coastal Market Facebook page.

Where is the money going?

Habitat for Humanity and St. Vincent DePaul will receive the money collected
A local Boy Scout troop will be raising money through the sale of hamburgers and hot dogs
Habitat for Humanity will be raising money through morning sales of coffee and cider

The demand for booth space at this year’s event went so quickly, they have already started a list for next year!

Have a fun day of shopping and fun!

A Very Aware November

It’s commonly accepted that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, but November? November is home to a long list of causes vying to win the title. Since they are all good causes, here is the list- you decide which you’ll participate in!

American Diabetes Month

Encouraging people to learn about diabetes and take the pledge to stop diabetes, the American Diabetes Association takes a spot in November. There are two types of diabetes, those affecting youth and those found in older individuals.

Art Everyday Month

Inspired by National Novel Writing Month (below), this spin-off was for non-literary artists. Create a piece of artwork and share it each day throughout November! You can sign-up to participate online

Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Raising awareness for the causes and symptoms of lung cancer and hoping to paint November gray. You can learn more about lung cancer online. (Gray is the color used to represent lung cancer)

Military Family Month

Established in 1993, November’s Military Family Month is to recognize and honor military families for their sacrifices and contributions they have made to this country. Learn more about recognizing military families at ASYMCA

Movember

Movember encouraged men to grow mustaches in order to address men’s health issues, pancreatic cancer, and other men’s cancers. For more information on Movember, please read our article on the no-shave holiday.

National Adoption Month

Hoping to find every child a loving family, the National Council for Adoption is hosting a month-long fundraiser. There will be an online auction, helping you to get your holiday shopping done while raising money to support children in need of a family.

National Novel Writing Month

Encouraging you to write a 50,000 word novel in one month, the National Novel Writing Association takes on 30 days and 30 nights of writing! At the completion of 30 days, you can upload your novel for official verification and compete to join the winner’s circle.

Native American Heritage Month

Pay tribute to the rich heritage, ancestry, and traditions of the Native Americans. November was named Native American Heritage month in 1990 by President George W. Bush, which has been celebrated since 1994. Learn more about the month online.

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

November has always been the month where the PANCAN organization has turned things purple. Purple in honor of those who have fought or are fighting pancreatic cancer. You can learn more about pancreatic cancer and PANCAN online.

Prematurity Awareness Month

The March of Dimes is on a mission to spread awareness about the birth of premature babies. In America, one in eight babies are born too soon. November 17th marks World Prematurity Day, so don’t forget to remember this issue.

Warrior Month

Supported by the Wounded Warrior Project, one cause hoping to take over November is Warrior Month. This was designated by the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in 2008, with the goal to ensure that all veterans wounded by war receive the benefits they deserve and, more importantly, need.

There are probably more causes that are raising awareness and publicity in the month of November, but these are the heaviest hitters. Good luck to all of the organizations behind the campaigns. No matter what you’re supporting, support something. November is definitely a month of philanthropy!