This weekends kicks off first of many big events for Panama City Beach

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Gulf Coast Jam, UnWineD, and baseball tournaments all in one weekend.

“You don’t get that anywhere else, it’s a unique experience,” Jamie Cox, general manager for the Panama City Beach Sports Complex said.

Thousands of tourists are visiting Panama City Beach for big events.

“Everybody is ready to put the pandemic in the rearview mirror,” Dan Rowe, executive director of Visit Panama City Beach said.

Events that are happening for the first time since the pandemic.

Festivals like Gulf Coast Jam have been postponed twice because of COVID-19.

And UnWineD was not only canceled last year but also pushed back from its original date in March.

“It’s busy this summer, we’re really looking forward to having a great year, so we’re just thrilled to be able to have UnWineD in the books, and then next year we look forward to putting it back in March again,” Rowe said.

Festivals aren’t the only thing drawing in visitors.

Sports tournaments are bringing people here to play ball and play at the beach.

“Not only do they come to the ballpark to have a good time, they can go out to the beach, they can get in the water, but then you bring in festivals like UnWineD and Gulf Coast Jam and they get to go see their favorite country artists the same weekend they get to play baseball,” Cox said.

Panama City Beach officials said the boost in visitors is a homerun for local businesses.

“UnWineD is a great event for Panama City Beach because it really reflects the laid back atmosphere we have in Panama City Beach, there are beaches around the world that people go to to see and be seen, but in Panama City Beach it’s all about fun,” Rowe said.

A fun-filled weekend, kicking off a summer that looks more like ones from before COVID-19.

Gulf Coast Jam continues Saturday and Sunday at Frank Brown Park.

UnWineD continues at 1 p.m. Saturday at Aaron Bessant Park.

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