The Bay County Tourist Development Council kicked off the world's greatest pre-season tailgate event on Thursday.

The TDC is celebrating the beginning of college football season with some big events over the next three days.

Crews set up a large stage behind Boardwalk Beach resort Thursday for the main events.

Country music stars, Sara Evans and John Rich, will be taking the stage Friday and Saturday nights, respectively.

A host of former coaches and players from the SEC, ACC, C-USA, and Sunbelt conferences will be in Panama City Beach all weekend, for meet & greets, celebrity charter fishing trips, a golf tournament, a spirit parade through Pier Park, a pep rally and fireworks.

The TDC is paying for the tailgate party with money it received from BP to offset the drop in tourism due to the oil spill.

"It helps to reinforce the fact that our beaches are beautiful, open for business, and the impacts that we've had from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill have been relatively minor and just to continue to reinforce the fact that this is a real fun beach,” said Dan Rowe, Executive Director of the TDC.

All the concerts will be free of charge.

Schedule of Events:
Thursday, August 26

• 7:00 -9:00pm Outdoor Concert, Aaron Bessant Park, small coolers and pets on a leash are permitted. Bring your chairs & blankets! Music performed by LoCash Cowboys!! The LoCash Cowboys will be doing what they do best--rocking a packed house. They have been criss-crossing the country, honing their craft on stages large and small, developing one of the most dynamic live shows in any genre of music. Along the way, they had sold more than 60,000 copies of their homemade CD. This will be one FANTASTIC show, don’t miss it
• 9:30pm - Alumni groups can gather at several sports clubs and grills for watching classic highlights. Sports celebrities will be making rounds to meet and greet fans.

Friday, August 27
• 6:00 am Celebrity Charter Fishing Trips – A great day of fishing with your Sports Celebrities aboard some of the finest charter boats at Grand Lagoon in Panama City Beach, Florida. Trips will be 4 hours ($130pp) or 8 hours ($260pp). Call Capt. Anderson's Marina now and make your reservations, (800) 874-2415. All fishermen and fisherwomen will be invited to the "Hook and Cook" at Boatyard following a successful day of fishing. You may eat those fresh fish you catch with all of the celebrities at Boatyard. Chef Konrad will prepare the fish and offer three sides for $9.00 per person.

• 6:00pm - 8:00pm Country music star Sara Evans performs live on the beach behind Boardwalk Beach Resort. Throughout her career, Sarah has had many number one hits, including “Born to Fly,” No Place That Far," "Suds In The Bucket" and "A Real Fine Place to Start.” There is no charge for the benefit concert. Opening for Sara Evans is Craig Campbell.
• 9:30pm fans will gather for late night football and meet & greet opportunities by coaches and players and cheerleaders in area restaurants.
Saturday, August 28
• TIME to TAILGATE! – Guests will gather their foam fingers, outdoor grills and best painted team faces to show their school spirit. Tailgate Central located on Hilton Drive in Pier Park and Aaron Bessant Park.

Activities include:
o 9:00 a.m. - Competition Begins! Best dressed fan(s), Outrageous Auto Competition and lots more! Aaron Bessant Park on west side of Pier Park. PRIZES!

o 10:00 a.m. - Line up for the parade. Park behind The Grand Theatre and gather over behind Hofbrau and line up with your school.

o 10:30 a.m. - Spirit Parade! All alum & fans dressed in your school colors join your Team’s Cheerleaders, Coaches and Players to be IN the parade!

o 11:00 a.m. – BBQ Judging for best tailgating recipe – prizes in excess of $2,000 will be awarded. Business AND Individuals allowed to enter. Please contact Jane if you are interested in participating. Don’t forget to stop by the Hofbrau tent while you are there for an ice cold drink!

o 11:15 a.m. – BBQ lunches for sale

• 4:00pm – Pep Rally – Time to Show School Spirit – each team takes the stage behind Boardwalk Beach Resort to announce their kick-off games and show team spirit.

• 6:00pm - 8:00pm John Rich performs live on the beach behind Boardwalk Beach Resort. The artist behind the theme song that opens the ESPN College GameDay Show, Rich’s lead-off single to his first solo project, “Shuttin’ Detroit Down.” The song is a fitting kickoff to Son of a Preacher Man, an album that finds country music’s Renaissance Everyman giving full rein to his own creative voice in a project that is personal as it is musically engaging. There is no charge for this benefit concert.

• 9:00pm - FIREWORKS! Finish out the weekend with a grand display of fireworks over the Gulf of Mexico. So grab your family and get the best seat in the house, at the beach of course! On the beach behind Boardwalk Beach Resort. Free