Panama City Beach is the perfect place to celebrate the magic of the holidays. Festive celebrations kick off the holiday season with campfires, s'mores, and tree lightings. The big question for many is, where is Santa? We have you covered with plenty of chances for photo ops with the big guy himself.
There are so many festive holiday activities including dazzling parades, fun, entertainment, and events complete with fireworks. Even ringing in the New Year is an enchanting experience with the number one beach ball drop in the country.
Events and Happenings for Christmas and New Year's Eve in Panama City Beach
Beach Home for the Holidays
Aaron Bessant Park
Beach Home for the Holidays is a magical family-friendly experience. The festivities kick off Thanksgiving weekend at 3:00 pm on November 29th and 30th. Families enjoy campfires, smores, and Santa’s village, where you can meet with Santa and have free photo opportunities.
The park is full of festive entertainment such as holiday movies playing under the stars, The Panama City Ballet performance of the Nutcracker, and performances by the Panama City Symphony Orchestra. There will be a special tree lighting and fireworks Friday evening to start the holiday season. This event is free to the public, for event scheduling check out Visit Panama City Beach.
Photos with Santa in PCB
Pier Park
This ultimate holiday tradition begins when Santa arrives on November 27th and continues daily through Christmas Eve. Families love to dress to impress and bring their wish list to Santa for this interactive experience. Photographers will capture these merry moments with Santa and offer various photograph packages for your family to purchase. To book your reservation with Santa today visit Pier Park.
Breakfast with Santa
Dave & Busters in Pier Park
On December 8th at 9 am you and your family can enjoy breakfast with Santa. Santa’s breakfast includes a breakfast buffet, a Power Card with Unlimited Video Game Play, a personal photo with Santa, merry & bright activities, and more. This is a family-friendly experience to visit Santa, play games, and have fun.
Photos with Cajun Santa in PCB
ZooWorld
Visit Santa and Queen Elsa this year in the Swamp for an adventure like no other. Take your picture with Santa and his scaly elves, make and give gifts to the resident animals, and make an ornament to take home for yourself. Families will love experiencing the wild with exotic animals and up-close encounters. This event is included with general admission and occurs December 20th through 24th from 10 am to 4 pm. To purchase tickets visit ZooWorld.
Panama City Beach Christmas Parade
Pier Park
The annual Christmas parade hosted by the Optimist Club, takes place on Saturday, December 14th at 5 pm. This nighttime parade includes marching bands, floats decked out with Christmas lights and decor, custom automobiles, candy handed out by parade walkers, and a firetruck with the star of the show, Santa.
Get into the holiday spirit with this special event for the whole community. The parade route starts at Sharky's overflow parking lot, heads west on Front Beach Road, turns into Pier Park, turns north at the roundabout, and ends east down Stingray Drive behind Target.
Christmas Boat Parade of Lights
Downtown Panama City
The Panama City Boat Parade of Lights will set sail on Saturday, December 14th at 5:30 pm. The parade will illuminate the waters of St. Andrews Bay during this cherished community tradition. The boat parade will feature a dazzling display of Christmas lights and decorations, transforming St. Andrews Bay into a magical winter wonderland.
The route will begin at St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club, the parade will travel westward along the shoreline of beautiful St. Andrews Bay, floating past Historic Downtown Panama City, the Panama City Marina, West Beach Drive, the St. Andrews Marina, Historic St. Andrews, and ending at the Hathaway Bridge. Holiday Village at the Panama City Marina will include holiday-themed vendors, festive music, and a special visit from Santa.
Panama City Beach Girls Night Out
Duplin Winery
Celebrate the holidays in sparkling style and say cheers to your favorite girls at the annual Heritage Club Christmas Girls’ Night Out. This fun and festive event includes an exclusive evening of giveaways, special deals, wine, delicious food, and a costume contest, where the best dressed win a $75 gift basket.
This event takes place December 5th from 6-8 pm at the Duplin Winery. Each ticket includes exciting raffles throughout the night, delicious bites to enjoy while you mingle, two glasses of your favorite wines, one-night-only discounts, and live music and dancing.
Emerald Coast Christmas Bazaar and Food Truck Festival
Captain Anderson Event Center
On November 22, 23, and 24th from 10 am till 4 pm Captain Anderson Event Center comes alive with a variety of vendors and food trucks. There will be free crafting with Santa, lots of children’s activities, a DJ playing holiday music, a full-service beverage tent, and raffle prizes in support of Second Chance of Northwest Florida. This Emerald Coast Event Show is a great opportunity for holiday shopping, good eats, entertainment, and charity all in one place.
New Year's Eve Beach Ball Drop in Panama City Beach
Pier Park
Ring in the New Year with not one, but two beach ball drop celebrations at Pier Park! That includes a street festival offering family-friendly shopping, dining, vendors, and activities. The Kid's Beach Ball Drop is at 8 pm with a countdown of 10,000 inflatable beach balls cascading down over the crowd to float into the new year. PCB's ball drop was voted "Best in the Country" by USA Today.
As the beach balls bounce around the first round of fireworks will illuminate the sky. The celebration will continue with free live music and the midnight beach ball drop. Celebration tower lights up the sky with one of the largest beach balls in the country, standing higher than the ball drop in Times Shares. As the clock ticks down, join the countdown for the midnight Beach Ball Drop and the second round of fireworks. This is a New Year's Eve celebration not to be missed.
Spending the Holidays in PCB is where memories are made!
Celebrating the holidays beachside in Panama City Beach is truly a magical experience. You and your family are sure to make memories that will last a lifetime in this special place. Book today at Panhandle Getaways to start enjoying the festivities. We wish you a happy holiday season!