UNwineD, Tacos & Tequila Festival, Sand Jam & A Jimmy Buffett Fans’ Party Highlight Spring’s Hot Happenings
Not the weather, mind you, but a lineup of hot happenings ranging from a wine and craft beer festival, a tacos & tequila event, music and motorcycles.
“Spring is always a favorite time of year for our locals and visitors in Panama City Beach,” says Visit Panama City Beach President and CEO Dan Rowe. “With a first-class alternative rock music festival like SandJam joining our event roster this year, we’re excited to bring new travelers to our destination, as well as welcome back returning visitors to some of our popular annual favorites like UNwineD.”
Here’s a rundown of the hottest of these hot events.
UNwineD: March 23-24
This award-winning event takes place at Aaron Bessant Park and features craft beer, spirits and wine from around the world, culinary creations from the region’s leading chefs and a Southern garden party presented by Southern Living. Guests can raise a glass at the Friday night Biscuits & Jam, a time to mix and mingle with some of the South’s most elite chefs, mixologists and tastemakers. The celebration continues Saturday with the Grand Afternoon Tasting & Cocktail Competition followed by a live concert with headliner St. Paul & the Broken Bones and opener Los Colognes. For more information, please click here.
Tacos & Tequila Festival: April 7
Fish tacos and margaritas are serious business in a beach town. The Grand Lagoon Tacos & Tequila Fest is a ‘friendly’ competition between local restaurants and bars vying for bragging rights and giant trophies that winners keep for the year and then return to defend at the next year’s event. All competitors start with the same fresh from the gulf fish and top shelf tequila, from there they go loco with original garnishes and secret ingredients. Winners are decided by attendees who cast their votes for the best fish taco and the best margarita. For more information, click here.
Seabreeze Jazz Festival: April 18-22
Named a “Top 10 Jazz Festival in the USA” by JazzIZ Magazine and recently nominated as “Best Jazz Festival” at the Oasis Smooth Jazz Awards, the Seabreeze Jazz Festival welcomes top national smooth jazz artists for a full weekend of fun, sun, great beaches and good times. The 20th annual event is held in the Pier Park Amphitheater, featuring both international known acts and local performers such as Brian Culbertson, Boney James, Kool and the Gang and more. For more information, click here.
SandJam Fest presented by Pepsi: April 26-28
From the same producers of Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam and SpringJam comes Panama City Beach’s inaugural SandJam Fest presented by Pepsi, taking place on the sand by the M.B. Miller County Pier. Music lovers will enjoy live performances from some of America’s best alternative-rock bands. This year’s performers include Incubus, Sublime with Rome, St. Lucia, Kaleo, Capital Cities and Fitz & The Tantrums. For more information, click here.
Cajun Festival at Schooners: April 27-29
Cajun music, Cajun food & Cajun fun! The annual Cajun Festival at Schooners promises fun for the entire family. Join us for a Cajun Beach Party Saturday and Sunday with daytime bands on the beach. For more information, click here.
Parrot Head Rendezvous 2018 – License to Chill: April 26-29
The Panama City Parrot Head Club hosts Parrot Heads from all over the country each year during the last week of April. Trop Rock music starts at 6 pm Thursday evening, and continues daily until Sunday afternoon at 5. If you are a current member of a Parrot Head Club, the cost is $80 for a 4 day pass. The general public can purchase day passes for $20. For more information, click here.
Thunder Beach Spring Motorcycle Rally: May 2-6
The most biker-friendly rally in the country, the free four-day Thunder Beach Spring Motorcycle Rally will feature 200 vendors and exhibitors, a bike parade, beauty pageants, poker runs, motorcycle stunt shows, tattoo contests, bike shows with category judging and much more. Event happenings will take place at multiple venues throughout the Panama City Beach area. For more information, click here.
Watercross Super Cup: May 5-6
The wild and crazy racers of the Pro Watercross Tour hit the shore and the surf for this stop on the national personal watercraft tour. These are fun events to watch and later, you can get up close a lot of the participants the end of the day in the local bars. Good luck if you can understand half of what they are saying because they speak a language of their own. For more information, click here.
Jeep Beach Jam: May 15-20
Thousands of Jeep lovers turn out for the third annual Jeep Beach Jam. This five-day event, organized by the JBJ Productions, Inc. team, will be filled with many fun-in-the-sun activities including concerts, scavenger hunts, off-road excursions, bonfires and more. Events will take place at many locations throughout the beach. For more information, click here.
For more on Panama City Beach, visit www.visitpanamacitybeach.com.
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