TDC wraps up it's second weekend of free concerts
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Updated: 10:16 PM Aug 30, 2010
TDC wraps up it's second weekend of free concerts
Panama City Beach - The Bay County Tourist Development Council has wrapped up its second straight big promotion weekend designed to attract tourists back to the area after the oil spill.
Posted: 5:38 PM Aug 30, 2010
Reporter: Amber Southard
Email Address: amber.southard@wjhg.com

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Panama City Beach - The Bay County Tourist Development Council has wrapped up its second straight big promotion weekend designed to attract tourists back to the area after the oil spill.

The “World's Greatest Pre-season Tailgate Party” had all the makings of a huge promotion for Panama City Beach.

Concerts by country music stars Sara Evans and John Rich on Friday and Saturday nights, big name NFL and college football players and coaches visiting beach bars and restaurants for meet 'n greet, and a huge pep-rally and parade at Pier Park.

The only thing the Bay County Tourist Development Council couldn't deliver was the weather.

"The concerts unfortunately we had some pretty daunting weather out there so the numbers weren't quite as great as we hoped, but the performances were terrific," said Susan Estler, V.P. of Marketing for TDC.

The tailgate weekend came on the heels of three night event the weekend before. The concert series featured Christian music performers, with 10,000 people on the beach by the city pier Sunday night to hear Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith.

Officials estimated the crowds for Evans and Rich this weekend to be about half that number.

"We estimated roughly about 4,000 to 5,000 people each evening of course once the crowd stated hearing the music and then we did have people off the balcony's of boardwalk as well with their school colors and listening and enjoying the on the beach," said Estler.

Tourism officials say the biggest problem, other than the weather, was the short window of opportunity to promote both events. They’re hoping they'll be able to have enough time to spread the word about a few remaining events this fall. The first on the agenda is a Songwriter's Festival scheduled for September 9th through 11th.

"There's going to be 21 different performers coming in at four different venues and a late night jam session at Fire Fly both evenings and then a jam session on Saturday at Aaron Bessant Park,” said Estler.

The TDC is also earmarking B.P. money for some existing events like Lobster Fest, the Indian Summer Festival, and a Fishing Tournament at Bay Point.

The TDC received a total of 1.3 million dollars from B.P. to market the area to tourists. Most of the panhandle counties that received similar funding used it for special promotions like concerts, room rebates and gift card programs.


Latest Comments

Posted by: ed Location: panama city on Sep 13, 2010 at 10:41 PM

Songwriters Festival was superb and hopefully the beginning of a fall tradition. Our new connection to Nashville via Southwest links us to music city and tremendous talent. Nine #1 Reba songs, Riding with Private Malone, two #1 George Strait hits, Shadows in the Moonlight, Grammy winner, Songwriters Hall of Fame, what a lineup of artists!
Posted by: Danny Location: PC Bch on Aug 31, 2010 at 01:56 PM

Q:How do you turn 350 people into thousands? A: have the Tourist Development Council count them.... I was at these events and there might have been 350 - 400...but there's no way you had the numbers they are putting out.......
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