The Seabreeze Jazz Festival Offers a Holiday Discount

Many have already expressed excitement for the annual Seabreeze Jazz Fesitval coming April 18th-22nd, 2012.  The festival has offered a short-term sale on tickets!  Make sure to buy yours before December 15th, 2011 and you’ll save up to $100!

If you buy a weekend pass or a four-day pass, you will receive the second pass at half-price!  Order your tickets online before December 15th and make sure to enter the promotional code “Holiday 2011.”  They are sending tickets out via Priority Mail, ensuring arrival before Christmas!

 

The Resort Collection Giveaway: A Thank-You Present

The Resort Collection would like to say “thank-you” to all of their fans on Facebook for making them the most-liked property management company in Northwest Florida.  They are giving away an eight-megapixel digital camera dive mask from Liquid Image to one lucky fan.  “This is our way of saying ‘thanks’ to our guests and Facebook fans for being so supportive of us on Facebook,” says Paul Wohlford, vice president of sales and marketing for The Resort Collection. “It makes our job fun. When our guests are happy, we at The Resort Collection are happy!”

How to enter?

The drawing is open to fans of their page only, so make sure to “like” the page first!  Once a fan of the page, enter using your email address on the “Giveaways” tab.  Just make sure to enter before January 15th, 2012!

Good Luck to those who enter!  Congratulations to The Resort Collection and their properties!

PCB Visitors Bureau Racks Up Awards

The Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has been recognized by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) for four separate entries to the Adrian Awards.  The 55th Annual Adrian Awards Competition is the largest and most prestigious travel marketing competition.

The awards will be presented on February 27th, 2012 in New York City.  There were almost 1,000 entries from around the world being judged by top executives from all sectors of the industry.  “The bar is continuously set higher each year in regards to the quality of Adrian Awards submissions we receive,” said Fran Brasseux, HSMAI executive vice president. “This year’s winners have made their mark in travel advertising, public relations and digital marketing.  We look forward to showcasing this exemplarily work with the industry and recognizing the remarkable winners at the Adrian Awards Gala.”

Award Winning Entries from Panama City Beach CVB:

  • GOLD – Panama City Beach feature coverage on CBS “Evening News,” highlighting Spring Break 2011 and the launch of high season in the destination
  • SILVER – REAL.FUN.GUARANTEE. Digital Banners that kept consumers informed about Panama City Beach’s pristine waters and beaches during Summer 2010
  • BRONZE – Panama City Beach feature coverage in the Wall Street Journal, showcasing the destination and the Convention & Visitors Bureau’s innovative tactics for reaching potential travelers (see snip-it’s above and to the right)
  • BRONZE – Digital marketing campaign targeted to 45 colleges employing Facebook media which resulted in an increase of nearly 30,000 fans

“This honor is a great achievement and I want to thank our team and stakeholders for their commitment and tireless efforts in making this happen,” states Dan Rowe, president and CEO of the Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau.  “In spite of the challenges we faced last year, we are poised to break our existing record in the number of travelers and amount of revenue that tourism has brought to Panama City Beach by nearly 17 percent (number based on Jan-Sept.).”

You can learn more about the CVB online.  Congratulations on these achievements!

 

 

In The Spirit of Giving: BookIt.com’s “Trip-a-Day Replay”

Looking for a holiday getaway?  Know someone who deserves a vacation?  BookIt.com is bringing back their most popular giveaway this December.  With “Trip-a-Day Replay,” BookIt.com is giving away a free trip to one lucky traveler each day this month.  You can enter to win for free by visiting BookIt.com online or by visiting them on Facebook.

Contestants will enter to win a three-night stay, plus coach airfare for two.  The restrictions? U.S. and Canadian winners must be 25 years or older to redeem their prize.

Where are some of the free vacations? A different trip will be given away each day of December!

Majestic Elegance Punta Cana – All-Inclusive (see the picture to the left)

Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya – All-Inclusive Resort (see picture above for a sneak peak)

Las Vegas – PH Towers Westgate

Good luck to everyone entering, and have a great time on your getaway! If you are one of the lucky winners, please post pictures to share with us!

 

 

During the Second Week of Christmas…

There have been tons of holiday and Christmas activities already, and it’s only the second week of December.  This second week of Christmas there are several more events to count on for increasing your holiday cheer!

5K Reindeer Run and 1-mile Santa Shuffle

Looking to stretch your legs before settling in for a long winter’s nap?  The Junior Service League will be hosting the 5K Reindeer Race and a 1-mile Santa Shuffle in St. Andrews State Park on December 10th at 3pm.  The cost to register is $20 and proceeds will benefit the youth programs of the Junior Service League of Panama City Beach.  Physically-challenged participants and those who will be pushing strollers are welcome to enter.  All 5K finishers under age 12 will receive a reindeer medal and trophies will be awarded to top finishers in numerous age groups.

Parade on the Beach

Starting at 5pm on Saturday December 10th, floats will wind their way through the streets of Pier Park. The parade will feature floats from businesses and community organizations, local marching bands, and car clubs.  The parade will find it’s way through Pier Park to Front Beach Road.

Miracle on 34th Street

A true classic when it comes to Christmas stories!  Visit the Marina Civic Center on December 11th at 5:00pm to watch Miracle on 34th Street in it’s musical format written by Valentine Davies.  This is the story of Kris Kringle on trial, Macy’s becoming the store to shop in, two lost souls finding each other, and a little girl discovering her childhood through Santa Claus.  This musical will be brought to you by Virginia’s Barter Theatre, which is America’s oldest resident equity theater company.  Tickets are on sale for $45, $39, $32.50, and $23 depending on seating.  You can also save $10 for children 18 and under!  Tickets are on sale now!

 

Laketown Wharf’s Christmas Events

Laketown Wharf is hosting a weekend of Christmas fun December 9th-11th.  Complete with live entertainment, children’s activities, photo’s with Santa, local vendors, food and beverage, silent auction, and holiday themed laser light show.  All proceeds from the events will go to the Anchorage Children’s Home and National Military Family Association.

December 9th, 2011

The event will last from 4:00pm-10:00pm.

4:00pm-6:00pm, Live music from Travis Dean featuring Half Past 10

4:00pm- 8:00pm, Children’s activities and photo’s with Santa

6:00pm- 7:00pm, Live Music from Kevin Jacobs

8:00pm, Christmas Light Show

December 10th, 1011

Laketown’s Christmas event will be held from 12:00pm-10:00pm.

12:00pm-8:00pm, Silent Auction

12:00pm-8:00pm, Children’s activities and photo’s with Santa

1:00pm, Santa will arrive in a fire truck

2:00pm-4:00pm, Live Music from Kevin Jacobs

4:00pm-7:00pm, Life Music from Travis Dean featuring Half Past 10

6:30pm, Tree Lighting

8:00pm, Christmas Light Show

Winners from the Silent Auction will be announced immediately following the light show.

December 11th, 2011

The final day of Christmas at Laketown will be held from 12:00pm-4:00pm.

12:00pm-8:00pm, Children’s activities and photo’s with Santa

12:00pm-1:00pm, Live Music from Kevin Jacobs

1:00pm-3:00pm, Life Music from Travis Dean featuring Half Past 10

8:00pm, Christmas Light Show

 

Have a great weekend a Laketown Wharf and celebrating the Christmas season!

 

Where to Retire Magazine Features PCB

While most people think of Panama City Beach as a place for family vacations, college spring breaks, or weekend motorcycle trips- Where to Retire magazine thinks of the area as a place perfect for retirees.  The truth is, Where to Retire named Panama City Beach as one of the top places for retirees to relocate to.  The magazine will be featuring Panama City Beach in their January/February issue. Retirees bring a wealth of economic support to areas, which is why many states and cities hope to attract retirees who which to relocate each year.

Many of PCB’s retiree population comes from the thousands of winter residents who enjoy the area and decide to relocate permanently to our beaches.  “I have the pleasure of seeing first-hand how much our seasonal winter residents enjoy reconnecting with friends and experiencing all the terrific things there are to do in Panama City Beach. It’s no surprise that many choose the REAL.FUN.BEACH. lifestyle year round,” says Dan Rowe, president and CEO of the Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Where to Retire is a magazine dedicated to helping people with retirement relocation decisions and the only one of it’s type in America.  Approximately 700,000 Americans relocate to new towns after retirement each year.  Where to Retire editor Mary Lu Abbott said Panama City Beach possesses qualities important to today’s retirees.  “Though the area has grown in the last decade, retirees still find a relaxing, affordable lifestyle in the Florida panhandle. Panama City Beach shows off its natural beauty of white-sand beaches and emerald waters and continuing education opportunities are available through several area organizations,” Abbott added.

 


Get Your Christmas Spirit Up

Looking for more holiday events to help get the Christmas Spirit flowing?  There are plenty more events to attend!

Santa’s Beach House

November 26th -December 24th

Want to tell Santa what you want and get a picture taken with him?  He will be at his Pier Park house ready to take pictures Monday’s- Thursday’s 11:00am – 8:00pm, Friday’s – Saturday’s 10:00am – 8:00pm, Sunday’s 11:00 am – 6:00pm, and on December 24 from 9:00am – 6:00pm.

Christmas Parade

December 3rd

Downtown on Harrison Ave, at 5pm keep your eyes open for the Christmas parade to come by!  There will be floats themed “White Christmas” from local businesses, schools, entertainment and community groups, individuals, marching bands, and car clubs.  The parade will start at the marina and continue to 13th Street. For the 3rd year, the Panama City Parrot Head Club will be collecting donations and blankets for the local Jaycees group.

Christmas Boat Parade

December 3rd

Departing from Bay Point Marina and looping to the west end of Grand Lagoon, boats will pass in front of the Boatyard, Captain Anderson’s Lighthouse Marina, Treasure Island Marina, Pirates Cove Marina, Tacky Jacks, and 30 Degree Blue.  There will be a panel of judges at the Boatyard, with prizes being awarded in various categories including: Best Sailboat, Best Boat Under 30 feet, Most Outlandish, and Best Overall.  The awards will be presented at Bay Point Mariana and the after party will be held at 30 Degree Blue.

Christmas Tree Lighting

December 5th

At 6:30pm, the City of Panama City Beach will keep in the holiday tradition of lighting their Christmas Tree in Frank Brown Park.  Refreshments and music will be provided by local school, church, and civic groups.

We hope you have a blast looking at the lights, parades, and of course- telling Santa what you want for Christmas!

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!”