LOCAL

Beach Home for the Holidays cultivates family traditions

Jan Waddy
jwaddy@pcnh.com
A Wynonna & The Big Noise Christmas kicks off its U.S. tour with Saturday's free concert at Aaron Bessant Park. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Instead of giving in to sleepy leftover turkey temptations, get out and celebrate the season with family and friends during Beach Home for the Holidays on Friday and Saturday in Aaron Bessant Park.

The second annual event starts at 4:30 p.m. each day — leaving plenty of time for Black Friday sales, too. 

"When you are done with shopping and want to make this about family time, not shopping, this is a free event. I think it's a good way to start a new tradition," said David Demarest, public relations manager with Visit Panama City Beach. "We're going to have more s'mores this year and more campfires. The Panama City Pops go on Friday night with classic Christmas music and Saturday is the big headliner, Wynonna."

Everyone is welcome to bring blankets and chairs for the free concerts, and all s'mores ingredients will be handed out while supplies last.

"Just pick a campfire. There will be some supervision, but you want to be there with your children. This is about creating a tradition," said Demarest, who added the number of fire pits is doubling this year. "We estimate we had about 2,500 attendees last year, and we should probably double that this year. We will have two tents where you’ll be able to pick up your s'mores ingredients, then make them at one of the 20 fire pits."

Dovalina's Wood-Fired Pizza and the Tikiz Shaved Ice & Ice Cream trucks also will be at Aaron Bessant Park. Danielle and Guillermo Dovalina are bringing both of their trucks to the event. One truck will serve their traditional pizza menu along with chicken wraps, fried pizza dough with cinnamon and sodas, and the other truck will be selling hot dogs, BBQ sliders, fries, coffee, hot chocolate, lemonade and tea.

Captain’s Lady Streetcar also will be selling a variety of New Orleans Cuisine, such as gumbo and jambalaya.

Carolers will be back Friday and Saturday night, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will be ready to hear children's wishes and take pictures; bring your camera. Fireworks follow Friday's Christmas concert by the Pops, and Saturday's concert ends with a Christmas tree lighting.

"The fireworks show should last about 10 minutes, and serve as a grand finale for the Panama City Pops performance," Demarest said. "Wynonna does a Christmas concert and has a Christmas album, and she's a pretty big name in music. Fans of Wynonna and fans of Christmas music will enjoy it."

Saturday's free "A Wynonna & The Big Noise Christmas Concert" at Aaron Bessant Park kicks of the band's U.S. tour, which runs through Dec. 17 in Lufkin, Texas. Wynonna & The Big Noise will play a mix of holiday favorites and Wynonna's biggest hits, as well as new music from their debut album released in February 2016.

“Every year I look forward to our Christmas tour,” said Wynonnawho is bringing the tour to audiences across the country for the third year. “It’s so easy to get caught up in the perfectionism that this time of the year often brings. I love singing the music that inspires me to remember the real reason for the season. My hope is that people can come to the show, forget about their ‘to do’ list and, for the time we are together, simply enjoy themselves.”

Wynonna's voice always has been center stage during her 33-year career, which includes sales of 30 million albums worldwide, 20 No. 1 hits and more than 60 awards. From the early 1980s to '90s she had a string of hits as a member of the Judds with songs such "Love Can Build a Bridge," "Mama He's Crazy" and "Grandpa." The success followed her solo career — from 1992's "She is His Only Need" to 2003's "What the World Needs." Other solo career hits have included "My Strongest Weakness," "I Saw the Light," "No One Else on Earth" and "Tell Me Why."

"We've partnered with Better Homes and Gardens this year to do a giveaway," Demarest added. "Readers can win a beach home for the holidays."

The winner and three guests will win a trip to Panama City Beach. The prize includes a three-night stay for four in a two-bedroom unit at the Tidewater Beach Resort, a $750 Visa gift card (per person) to be used toward airfare or ground transportation, a $200 Visa gift card to shop at Pier Park, cash vouchers to be used for meals and/or attractions, including Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Odditorium and St. Andrews State Park, Culver's, Schooners, Andy’s Flour Power, Dat Cajun Place, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, Thomas’ Donuts and Snack Shop, Runaway Island and Firefly. The total retail value of the trip prize package is $4,755.

The trip, sponsored by Meredith Corporation, is open to local residents of the 48 contiguous U.S. and D.C., excluding Alaska and Hawaii, and applicants must be at least 25 years of age. The contest began Nov. 1 and ends at 11:59 p.m. CT on Nov. 30. For more information, visit BHG.com/PCBsweeps.

What: Second annual celebration features campfires, s'mores, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, Panama City Pops Orchestra Christmas Concert on Friday followed by fireworks, Wynonna & The Big Noise Christmas concert followed by Christmas tree lighting Saturday

When: 4:30-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25-26; holiday entertainment begins at 5 p.m. and concerts are at 6 p.m. both nights

Where: Aaron Bessant Park, 600 Pier Park Drive, Panama City Beach

Admission: Free and open to the public; no tickets needed; bring blankets or chairs and camera

Details: VisitPanamaCityBeach.com/holidays/

BEACH HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS