Blue Marlin Evades Anglers at Sportfishing Classic

The anglers tried, but the Blue Marlin evaded being caught at this year’s 2nd Annual Panama City Beach Sportfishing Classic.

Nonetheless, last weekend’s Sportfishing Classic was a huge success with 34 boats registered and over 2500 lbs of fish caught. Varieties included Swordfish, Tuna, Wahoo and Dolphin.

The largest Swordfish that was brought in was a monster 225 lbs.

Once the fish were brought in and admitted to the tournament, they became property of the tourney. And the tourney decided they wanted to cook their new-found property and serve it to the attendees. Chef Konrad Jochum from Boatyard was grilling up the fresh catches.

Full results

Swordfish

Reel Comfort – Martin Flowers – 225 lbs – won $15,500
Linda Gale – Mark Revell – 120 lbs – won $9,500

Tuna

Committed – John Lee – 87.6 lbs – won $12,500
Salt Crusher – Jason Hines – 85.8 lbs – won $7,500
Salt Crusher – Josh Conyers – 84.8 lbs – won $5,000

Wahoo

Reef Dog – Jake Quave – 89.2 lbs – won $12,500
Iona Louise – Woody Woods – 61.8 lbs – won $7,500
Perseverance – Justin Friez – 47.6 lbs – won $5,000

Dolphin

Cazador – Joey Sostheim – 23.6 lbs – won $12,500
Reel Sorry – Pat Hymel – 18.6 lbs – won $7,500
Sea Ya Later – Brian Beighey – 18 lbs – won $5,000

Pictures

Concert Preview- Country Fest

Country music artists Miranda Lambert and Jason Aldean will be coming to Panama City Beach’s Frank Brown Park across from Pier Park this coming weekend. Miranda Lambert was first introduced to the public through Nashville Star, while Jason Aldean was introduced through his self-titled album. These concerts are a part of “The Fun Never Sets Fall Concert Series on Panama City Beach” concert series.

Friday night

Friday night’s line up will include Justin Moore and The Randy Rogers Band opening up for Miranda Lambert. The gates will open at 6:30 pm (or earlier, crossing fingers) and the show is set to begin at 7:30. They are actually erecting the stage, lighting and sound right now.

Friday night schedule

7:30 PM The Randy Rogers Band
8:10 PM Justin Moore
9:15 PM Miranda Lambert

The Randy Rogers Band is known for:

“Tonight’s Not the Night”
“Kiss Me in the Dark”
“Too Late for Goodbye”
“Steal You Away.”
Visit the Randy Rogers Band’s website.

Justin Moore is best known for:

“Back that thing up”
“Backwoods”
“Redneck Side”
“Small Town USA.”
Visit Justin Moore’s website.

Some of Miranda Lambert’s best known songs are:

“Kerosene”
“The House that Built Me”
“White Liar”
“Dead Flowers”
“Only Prettier”
Visit Miranda Lambert’s website.

In addition to these, Lambert has had many more hits and popular songs.

Saturday night

Gates will open at 6:30PM, for The Dirt Drifter’s, Corey Smith, and headline Jason Aldean, with the concert scheduled to start at 7:25pm.

Saturday night schedule :

7:25PM The Dirt Drifters

8:00PM Corey Smith

9:15PM Jason Aldean

Corey Smith is best known for:

“If I Could Do it Again”
“Twenty-One”
“Maybe Next Year”
Visit Corey Smith’s website.

The Dirt Drifter’s are known for:

“Something Better”
“Always a Reason”
Visit The Dirt Drifter’s website.

A Few of Jason Aldean’s Singles are:

“She’s Country”
“Big Green Tractor”
“My Kinda Party”
“Dirt Road Anthem”
“Hicktown”
Visit Jason Aldean’s website.

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! And don’t forget your lawn chair or blanket!

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.

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.

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

Panama City Beach Festival of the Arts

Coming up on September 17th from 10 am to 6 pm, the Palms Conference Center is hosting the Festival of the Arts, an arts and crafts show and sale. The event will include paintings of all types, sculptures, varying types of crafts that can include wood workings, puzzles, jewelry and more.

Event Details

The event is located at the Palms Conference Center located in east Panama City Beach. The conference center is right down the street from Wonderworks and Ripley’s Believe it or Not!

The address:

Palms Conference Center
9104 Front Beach Road
Panama City Beach, FL 32407

Click here for a map.

Some of the things you can expect to see at the festival

How to become a vendor

If you’re interested in having your arts or crafts displayed at this event, becoming a vendor is easy. Just go to their website and download the Vendor application, linked to on the left of their site.