Discount Tickets to Music Festival

The Panama City Beach Seafood, Wine & Music Festival kicks off the weekend festivities Friday, October 10th at Frank Brown Park on Panama City Beach.

The festival will feature musical entertainment from .38 Special, Blues Traveler, and Craig Morgan with tons of stuff to do with the kids in between.

Schedule of Events

FRIDAY: 4pm-11pm – 38 Special @ 9pm

Gates Open – 4pm – Marketplace, Bouncer Village, Food & Amusements all open
Sand Sculpture Ribbon Cutting – 4:45pm – Sponsored by Pineapple Willy’s
Jones & Company Band – 4pm-7pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
Grand Wine Tastings in Wine Garden – 4p-6p
Chef Exhibition in Chef Tent – 5pm (Chef John from Hammerhead Fred’s)
VIP Tent Open – 5p-11p (VIP passes required)
Panhandle Star Competition (Top 10 finalists) – 7p – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
King Cotton Band – 8p – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
38 Special – 9pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)

**Unlimited amusements & bouncers arm bands are available for one price through Saturday – see amusements ticket booth and/or bouncers ticket booth for details

SATURDAY: 11a-11pm – Blues Traveler @ 9pm

Gates Open – 11a – Marketplace, food, Family Fun Days activities, amusements, all open
Family Fun Days 11a-3p – Stilt Walkers, Balloon Artists, Face Painters, Bouncer Village, Sand Sculpting, Hands on Art by Visual Arts Center, live kids concerts, Gallaghers Gymnastics presentations, and more
Lunch With Sponge Bob – 11:30am-12:30pm – Coca Cola Tent (dining tent) $5 per child up to 12 years old, $8 per person 13+ (includes Pizza & Coca-Cola)
Steve’s Kazoo Krew Band – 11a-12:30pm – Coca Cola Stage (dining tent)
Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience Band – 12:30p-1:30pm – Colonial Bank Stage in KIDS VILLAGE
Half Price Temp Tattoos @ Tat Shack – 12:30p-1:30pm – KIDS VILLAGE
Sand Sculpting for Kids with master Sand Sculptor Mark Flynn – 1:30-2:30p – KIDS VILLAGE
On-Call Jazz Band – 1:30pm-4pm – Coca-Cola Stage (dining tent)
Gallagher’s Gymnastics Team performance – 2:30pm – Colonial Bank Stage in KIDS VILLAGE
Chef Exhibition – Chef of Reggae J’s – 3pm – Chef & Wine Tent
Grand Wine Tastings – 4p-6p – Wine Garden @ Chef & Wine Tent
De Lions of Jah Reggae Band – 4p-6:30pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
Chef Exhibtion – Chef Conrad of Boatyard – 4pm – Chef & Wine Tent
Chef Exhibition – Chef Paul of Firefly – 5pm – Chef & Wine Tent
Panhandle Star Competition Top 5 finalists – 6:30pm-7:30pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience – 7:30p-8:45pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
Blues Traveler – 9pm-11pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)

SUNDAY: 11a-9:30pm – Craig Morgan @ 8pm

Gates Open – 11a – Marketplace, food, Family Fun Days activities, amusements, all open
Family Fun Days – Stilt Walkers, Balloon Artists, Face Painters, Bouncer Village, Sand Sculpting, Hands on Art by Visual Arts Center, live kids concerts, Gallaghers Gymnastics presentations, and more
Lunch With Sponge Bob – 11:30am-12:30pm – Coca Cola Tent (dining tent) $5 per child up to 12 years old, $8 per person 13+ (includes Pizza & Coca-Cola)
Steve’s Kazoo Krew Band – 11a-12:30pm – Coca Cola Stage (dining tent)
Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience Band – 12:30p-1:30pm – Colonial Bank Stage in KIDS VILLAGE
Half Price Temp Tattoos @ Tat Shack – 12:30p-1:30pm – KIDS VILLAGE
Sand Sculpting for Kids with master Sand Sculptor Mark Flynn – 1:30-2:15p – KIDS VILLAGE
Timeless Band – 1:30p-3:30pm – Coca-Cola Stage (dining tent)
Gallagher’s Gymnastics Team performance – 2:30pm – Colonial Bank Stage in KIDS VILLAGE
Chef Exhibition – Chef of The Back Porch – 3pm – Chef & Wine Tent
Chef Exhibition – Chef Debbie of Breakers – 4pm – Chef & Wine Tent
Grand Wine Tastings – 4p-6p – Wine Garden @ Chef & Wine Tent
Todd Allan Herendeen Band – 3:30p-5:30pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
Chef Exhibition – Chef of Saltwater Grill – 5pm – Chef & Wine Tent
Panhandle Star Competition Top 2 finalists perform – 5:30pm-6pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
Southern Satisfaction Band – 6:15p-7:45pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
Craig Morgan – 8pm – Clear Channel Stage (mainstage)
Festival officially over after Craig Morgan show – estimated time 9:30pm

*schedule subject to change without notice

Tickets can still be bought today (10/9/2008) at the advance ticket discount price. Save up to 35% and buy your tickets now! Click here to buy tickets.

TDC – Interactive Selection Committee Meeting

On Friday, October 10th at 10:30 am the Interactive Selection Committee will meet to discuss the Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) received for the new TDC web site. The Interactive Selection Committee consists of Marty McDaniel and Buddy Wilkes.

During the meeting Susan Estler, VP of marketing for the CVB will present staff recommendations and review the qualifications of the other agencies that want to become involved with our future interactive marketing opportunities.

This should be a pretty cool meeting, I plan to be there.

AGENDA

INTERACTIVE SELECTION COMMITTEE
Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.
Panama City Beach
Friday, October 10, 2008 10:30 a.m. Board Room, Visitor
Information Center

I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER

II. ROLL CALL

III. REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE ON AGENDA ITEMS (3 Minutes)

IV. PRESENTATION OF STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS, Ms. Susan Estler, VP of Marketing

V. REVIEW AND CONSIDER RECOMMENDATIONS TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Mr. Marty McDaniel, Chairman

VI. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

VII. ADJOURNMENT

Please Note: If anyone would like to review the RFQ’s in advance of the Committee meeting, copies are available for review at the CVB Offices.

Click here to download the agenda.

The New TDC Website

Imagine that you’re a tourist (which we all are, at some point and place). You’re heading home from a great (or not-so-great) visit to Panama City Beach, Florida. You see 2 or 3 billboards on your way out, thanking you for choosing Panama City Beach, and a sincere request to “let us know how we’re doing!”

You see a HUGE “VisitPanamaCityBeach.com” web address and the good old-fashioned “1-800-PCBEACH” phone number to send your feedback. Whether you give feedback or not, doesn’t this at least make you think about how you feel about your vacation?

The new ability to phone right then and there from the car, or get online quickly once you get home, is something that today’s consumer is taking advantage of. Customers are letting their voices be heard, and they’ll talk to Bay County too, especially if we ask them. (And we need to ask more than 400 of them per month).

Those billboards and a feedback campaign would be a pretty smart way to spend TDC advertising dollars, if TDC advertising dollars must be spent.

The TDC/CVB’s staff’s main objective should be to listen to our tourists, save the data and share it with local bed tax collectors and Bay County businesses. This is marketing research. And in such a campaign, a very simple website is all that is needed to accomplish this tactic.

Instead, the TDC’s new website plans include selling ads, renting rooms and generating revenue. They will be able to accomplish this after they spend money to develop the new site, to the tune of $110,000.

If the CVB succeeds at building an effective, easy to use, money-making e-commerce website (HARD TO DO, I ASSURE YOU), our governmental Council is then, in one way or another, competing with a multitude of other business’ websites. From the bed tax collectors themselves, all the way to sites such as Google and Expedia, VisitPanamaCityBeach.com would be in the business-website business. Which is no business for real Tourism Development, in my humble opinion.

Just remember this, bed tax collectors… every dollar you spend on online marketing is about to be supplanted with your own bed tax dollars, in a partner-like, yet competitive kind of way.

Please use that hard-earned bed tax to get information you need to improve your own marketing and advertising. Don’t let the TDC get into the business of competing with your business.

Bud Light Boat Stomps by 28 Seconds

As mentioned earlier, the Bud Light Offshore Racing Team was truly in a class of their own Sunday. Out of the 5 boats that raced in the Superboat Unlimited class, the Bud Light Team averaged an astounding 28 second lead ahead of the second place boat, winning first place.

Around 10 am the boats started arriving at Marina Landing on Panama City Beach, just at the foot of the Hathaway Bridge. The boats were lifted from their trailers and lowered into the water, sometimes right into their respective slips.

“It was a great race. We got to the crane early, so we changed the gears and the props. That was definitely the right call,” said Johnny Tomlinson, Throttleman.

With 12 scheduled laps, the checkered flag was thrown on the 11th lap due to overwhelming mechanical failure of other boats. 24 boats competed in National Championships on this 6 mile course.

The wind was a gusty 15 knots early in the day and the seas had a moderate chop, but calmed as the day wore on.

“It just goes to show you, give us a little rough water and that’s the key. In this kind of race, the boat has to do some of the work and the motors don’t have to do it all. If you give us 2- to 3-foot seas, we’ve got an even playing field,” said Dave Scott, owner/driver.

The Bud Light Offshore Racing Team has a total of 67 wins with 10 National Championship Titles, 8 World Championship Titles, 6 Top Gun Titles, and 6 Official Speed Records.

The next and last scheduled race this year will be in Key West, Florida November 2 – 9.

Boat Race This Weekend

You know, it is actually kind of a shame, the lack of media presence at this awesome event, that is. There wasn’t even anything in the New Herald this morning. I took tons of pictures and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The “staging” area was truly a sight to behold. If you are subscribed to our twitter page, you were getting messages as I was nearly getting my ear drums blown with the loud crack and roar of the huge race boat engines. All of the ones that I asked were running 500+cu V-8’s with many running superchargers. 800 to 1000 hp per engine was common.

In order to get the boats in the water, they were brought close to the marina on their trailers, then lifted with a crane above the pilings, over the docks and lowered into the water; many times, directly into their respective slip.

Many crews were up late Saturday night and into Sunday morning tweaking their engines, and one team to speak of actually had to replace a ruptured head gaskett. When the boat was first placed in the water was the first opportunity they had to test the motor in the water.

At first, race teams were worried about the wind and the chop size in the gulf, but things actually calmed down and the surf was quite mild.

Tourist and locals alike crowded the beach in droves craving to see the action that was to happen a mere 300 yards from the shoreline. I was perched atop the Towne of Seahaven’s Origin building with a view of almost the entire course, except the start finish line.

Unbeknown to me, my “spot” was also the “spot” of a couple of the race teams and their coordinators. With their communications equipment in place and their headsets on, they awaited the start of the race so as to relay live, real time information to their pilots and other crew.

When the race began, the Bud Light boat shot out in front to capture a lead that grew rapidly throughout the race. It was very obvious that this boat was truly in it’s own class.

There were several classes racing, but the Bud Light team won overall.

This event was here last year and I beleive the year before. I challenge the local media outlets to give this event more coverage in the future. We need to support these events that come to our area.

Race Day This Sunday

Very few overwhelming experiences have stuck to the memory section of my brain from my childhood like race day. Grant it, my childhood consisted of car races of the stock/indy/GTP variant, and not boat races. However, even though this weekend’s events won’t let you get as close to the racing action, there will still be tons of action, speed and power, lots and lots of power.

The official race-village is at Pier Park on Panama City Beach, in the eastern most parking lot, closest to Calypso Towers. Race crews are already setting up, cleaning their boats and preparing for Sunday’s Race Day.

I’ll be poking around all weekend taking pictures, and encourage all who can to attend. It will be an awesome time. Words can’t describe the massive hulks of power and speed these awesome vessels are capable of. You’ve got to hear the roar yourself.

Charity Wine Dinner, Give a little

The Panama City Beach Seafood, Wine & Music Festival is just over a week away and the pre-event kickoff “Charity Wine Dinner” that will benefit the Visual Arts Center is planned for Thursday, October 9th at Breakers Restaurant.

Endorsement will come from the esteemed La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international gastronomic society devoted to promoting fine dining and preserving the camaraderie and pleasures at the table.

The menu for this event will consist of:

Appetizer: Ahi Sushi Grade Tuna with a Wasabi and Rice Vinegar Vinaigrette, garnished with a seasonal Melon Salad and Belgium Endive.

Soup: Cream of Oyster Soup with a hint of Smoked Lobster

Salad: Bib Salad with Fresh Rasberries, Almonds, oven dried Plum Tomato and Kaiamata Olives, topped with a LemonGrass Vinaigrette.

Entee: Pettite Filet Mignon, placed on a Boursin Cheese filled Crouton and a Marinated Mushroom, topped with Lump Crab meat and a Garllic Beurre Blanc.

Dessert: Molting Chocolate Lava Cake with Vanilla Beach Ice Cream and O Rasberry Coulisa.

This amazing collection of flavors of land and sea have been designed by the host chefs Dee Brown of Shores of Panama, Debbie Warren-Cook from of Breakers, and Konrad Jochum of Boatyard. The wine partner, RNDC will be pairing the dinner courses with a selection of fine wines to best enhance the dining experience.

Seating will be limited and the cost is $85 per person, or $150 per couple and will include 1 free ticket to the day of choice at the Panama City Beach Seafood, Wine & Music Festival.

To secure your tickets for this limited seating event, call Breakers 850.234.6060

Bud Light to Race this weekend

This weekend, the Bud Light Offshore team returns to Florida’s Gulf Coast for the Panama City Beach Super Boat National Championship. Dave Scott and team are looking to steer the Bud Light 50’ Mystic to another win in the Superboat Unlimited class.

This race could hold even more importance, as it will give the team a chance to check out other teams they will likely see at the World Championship in Key West, Fla., next month. Throttleman Johnny Tomlinson will be watching closely to size up the competition.

“It will be good to get back in the ocean,” Tomlinson said. “Since it’s an SBI venue, there will be some boats there that we’ll go up against in the world championship. We’ll be able to get a feel for the competition that will be down in Key West and have a better idea of what we need to do to win.”

“I was there my second or third time racing, in 1987 or 1988,” Tomlinson said. “I haven’t been back there in years, but it’s very similar to racing Destin or Orange Beach. With that in mind, I feel confident that we’ll do well. We’ve got a good team, and we just need to continue on with our momentum.”

In 2007, Scott and crew won their tenth National Championship at Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. They also brought home the checkered flag in six regular season races. The team won its classes at the Lake Ozark Fire Rescue shootout and secured its eighth World Championship in Key West, Fla. The team’s most recent win of 2008 came at the Captain Ron’s Shootout, securing the Top Gun title with a speed of 178 mph.

Festivities for the Panama City Super Boat National Championship begin Friday, Oct. 3 as the race village opens at 9 a.m. On Saturday, all classes take to the water for testing at noon. National Championship racing begins Sunday at noon.

The Dave Scott Bud Light Offshore Race Team is one of the most successful offshore race teams in history, having earned eight world championships and ten national championship titles since 2001. The team is also the proud owner of six offshore speed records. Dave Scott, Johnny Tomlinson and Mike Seebold have more than 40 years of combined experience in offshore powerboat racing.

Bike Week on Panama City Beach, Day 4

Saturday was the last day of Bike Week, for me at least. There were still venues open and bikers abound yesterday, but since it was Sunday and I was completely worn out, I stayed home with the fam.

Saturday was crazy busy, although it seemed like there were more bikers on the road than at the venues. Riding around, it seemed like there were bikers everywhere. Talking to a friend yesterday, he said that it seemed like everywhere he looked, there weren’t just a few bikers, but several packs of bikers – streetside, hanging out, at gas stations, etc.

Talking to several local businesses, many thought this year was actually up from last year’s fall rally. If anyone has any quantifiable evidence to exactly how many people were here, please share! In the future, we’ll have to figure out how to make a count – I know that it hasn’t been figured out yet.

I spoke to the camp site across from La Vela, and they said they were busier than last year, but were unsure if it had something to do with more people wanting to camp because it was cheaper. Talking to vendors, I was told that sales were way up. Apollo Choppers sold 7 bikes! Ms. Newby’s had motorcycles parked all the way down Thomas Drive almost to where Red Rose is and Ruthy T’s used to be.

Check below for pics, and comment on the fun you had over the weekend!!

Bike Week on Panama City Beach, Day 3

Me? I’m great, other than my legs feel like they are about to fall off and I’m totally and completely wiped out. But, I had fun.

What many may argue as the first day of Bike Week on Panama City Beach, today was awesome. Technically the festivities started Wednesday. Some of the venues were open, some bikers had come in town, but for the most part, many of us were worried about the turnout for this rally. Things started picking up yesterday, but today, man o’ man, the bikers rolled in.

Talking around, the numbers still seemed down from this time last year, and I think most agree the current state of the economy and gas prices are to blame. However, overall the vendors I talked to seem to be pretty pleased.

The Apollo Chopper guys were ecstatic having sold 6 bikes between today and yesterday. Merchandise sales seemed to be going very well all around, and at 10 o’ clock tonight, Club La Vela and Ms. Newby’s seemed to be the only party in town. People were almost fighting for a parking spot at La Vela, bikers and cars alike.

I rode all day, and went pretty much everywhere; so did everyone else. There were bikers everywhere – from Back Beach Road, to Pier Park, all up and down Front Beach Road, at all the gas stations, condos, hotels. They were packed in groups on the side of the road, talking, hanging out.

Tomorrow should be fun.