Panama City moves forward with holiday celebrations
Panama City will continue with holiday celebrations despite Hurricane Michael damage
From Staff Reports
PANAMA CITY, Fla. — The holiday season continues here despite the challenges that arose from Hurricane Michael. The Panama City region received significant damage during the hurricane, but officials there say the holiday spirit holds strong. Celebrations from Christmas to Mardi Gras will move forward as planned.
“The Panama City community will come together this holiday season to celebrate our strength and resilience in the face of disaster” Jennifer Vigil, Destination Panama City president and CEO, said in a press release. “Now more than ever, we need to get together to keep the community’s morale high and to bring back a sense of normalcy.”
The holiday celebrations will begin with St. Andrews Christmas Candlelight Vigil on Friday. Public Eye Soar will present a light show at a candlelit vigil at the Old Sentry Oak in Oaks by the Bay Park. Wabi Sabis will provide Christmas music, and there will also be poetry readings. Individuals who wish to attend can bring a candle to show support for the Panama City community. Visitors also are encouraged to drop off jackets and toys for Christmas to support the Bay District School and the children who lost everything during the hurricane.
On Saturday, the Hope and Healing Holiday Celebration will take place hosted by the city of Panama City at Tommy Oliver Stadium, where there will be a Santa station, holiday-themed food trucks, a DIY ornament station, and booths with hot chocolate and cider. The first 1,000 children will receive a free toy.
For holiday movie fans, The Four Winds Church will host the “Outdoor Movie in the Snow” on Dec. 14 with an outdoor showing of the movie “Elf” at Oaks by The Bay Park. There will be snow machines, hot cocoa and a large screen to show the film. The event is free and open to the public.
The 70th Jaycees Christmas Parade will march on on Dec. 15. Visitors can line up down Harrison Avenue in downtown Panama City to see the parade floats. The parade also raises money for local children in need.
The celebrations will pick back up in 2019 with the St. Andrews Mardi Gras two-day parade and festival Feb. 22-23. Visitors can see more than 14 krewes and 30 decorated floats. Beads and doubloons will be tossed to the crowd while music plays in St. Andrews.
More information for each of these events can be found at:
— St. Andrews Christmas Candlelight Vigil, www.facebook.com/events/348873775688229;
— Hope and Healing Holiday Celebration, www.facebook.com/events/1929909883743818;
— Outdoor Movie in the Snow, www.facebook.com/events/2190726347833402;
— Panama City Christmas Parade, www.pcfljaycees.com;
— St. Andrews Mardi Gras, www.standrewsmardigras.com.
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