A Toast to the Coast
September brings plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy the Emerald Coast, with live music, local celebrations, outdoor adventures, and community events filling the calendar. From Panama City Beach to 30A and beyond, there’s something for everyone to enjoy, whether you’re looking to try something new, spend time with friends and family, or simply make the most of the season.
FEATURED EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Get outdoors and go on a guided tour of Camp Helen State Park! Led by park ranger staff, you’ll learn information about the flora and fauna throughout the park. Dress appropriately for the weather and have a water bottle and insect repellent available. The program is free with paid park entry of $4 per vehicle. Visit their website HERE.
Take a break from the usual routine and recharge your creative spirit during Art Break Day in Historic St. Andrews. Bring your favorite creative activity and enjoy art experiences for kids and adults throughout the neighborhood, with participating merchants offering activities both indoors and outside. Whether you want to make something, try something new, or simply take a break, it’s a fun way to spend an afternoon in St. Andrews. More information HERE.
Go beyond your park visit and discover the past and present on a ranger guided history walking tour of the grounds at Camp Helen. Learn about the rich history of Camp Helen’s Historic District, which is a Nationally Registered Historic Place, from the Hicks family building all the way to when Avondale Textile Mill utilized the property for their employee summer retreat . This free tour will begin promptly at 10 am from the Visitor Center. For more information, visit their website HERE.
Spend Labor Day weekend surrounded by art, music, and coastal charm at Perfect Hues: Baytowne Wharf Art Fest. Stroll through the village and browse original paintings, photography, sculpture, and mixed-media works from talented local and regional artists, with live music adding to the atmosphere each evening. On Sunday, stay for a spectacular 9:15 p.m. fireworks show over the Baytowne Lagoon. Admission is free.
Close out Labor Day Weekend with an evening of live music with family and friends. Bring a blanket or low-back chair and enjoy a relaxing night of live music under the stars. This free concert is open to the public and offers an easygoing way to spend a September evening along 30A.
Bring a cake, share a slice, and make some new friends at The Great Cake Social at The UnReal ARTists Gallery. For a $20 donation benefiting the gallery, guests are invited to bring a cake to share—sweet or savory, homemade or store-bought—and enjoy an afternoon of good food, local art, and community. It’s a fun twist on the traditional cake picnic and a delicious way to connect with others while supporting a local creative space.
Pack a picnic blanket or folding chairs and enjoy free live music along the shores of St. Andrews Bay during the return of Backstage Pass. The six-week concert series, presented by the Bay Arts Alliance, features regional bands spanning a variety of musical styles, with the September shows kicking off on the 17th and continuing each Thursday through the end of the month. With restaurants and cafés just a short walk away, it’s an easy way to turn an evening of live music into a night out downtown. For updated band information visit their website HERE.
Spend an evening by the Gulf at the inaugural Sunset Sessions, a free Bay County Concert in the Park celebrating music, community, and the beauty of Panama City Beach. Bring a beach chair, settle in near M.B. Miller County Pier, and enjoy live performances from Corey Hall, String Theory, and headliner Matt & Zack as the sun sets over the Gulf. Open to all ages, the event is an easy way to enjoy live music with one of the coast’s best views.
Support a meaningful local cause while enjoying a day on the golf course at the 14th Annual Fore Her Golf Outing, presented by Emerald Coast Hospice. The event features 18 holes of golf, on-course food and beverage tastings, fun contests, prizes, raffles, and an after-party with lunch, drinks, and awards. Proceeds benefit Fore Her, helping provide financial assistance to local breast cancer patients during treatment. More details HERE.
Raise a stein and celebrate German tradition at Panama City’s 38th Annual Oktoberfest Weekend. The free two-day celebration kicks off Friday with the Downtown & St. Andrews Volksmarch from 5:00–9:00 p.m., followed by Saturday’s Volksmarch from 12:00–8:00 p.m. and the Oktoberfest Festival in Downtown Panama City from 3:00–9:00 p.m. Enjoy live music, German food and refreshments, local vendors, and fun competitions including the Kids Pretzel Toss, Stein Hoisting Competition, and Costume Competition. More information HERE.
Gather the family for an afternoon of fall fun featuring live music, crafts, food, and handmade goods. Enjoy live music from 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., browse local vendors, and take in the festive atmosphere. The first 300 visitors will also receive a complimentary tote bag.
Lace up for the 3rd Annual Race for the Bays, featuring 5K, 10K, and Fun Run options through Conservation Park in Panama City Beach. The event benefits the St. Andrew & St. Joseph Bay Estuary Program, with proceeds supporting efforts to protect and restore the local bay and estuarine ecosystems. The 5K and 10K begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by the Fun Run at 8:30 a.m.
