Celebrate Spring · May Events in Bay County

Known as “The Most Biker Friendly FREE Rally in the United States,” Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally is held twice yearly in Panama City Beach during the Spring and Fall. Bikers from around the country enjoy scenic rides along the Emerald Coast, live entertainment, and local cuisine.

Celebrate Star Wars Day, May the 4th, in Historic Downtown Panama City from 2-5 PM at the Panama City Center for the Arts. This is a FREE, family-friendly event with roaming Storm Troopers, an immersive Star Wars soundscape, a Baby Yoda scavenger hunt, fun activities for kids, a charity Raffle for dueling light sabers, and much more!

Get ready to witness the skies come alive in Panama City Beach on May 4^th and 5^th at the Russell-Fields City Pier, as we proudly present the inaugural Gulf Coast Salute Airshow. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast, a thrill-seeker, or simply looking for a memorable weekend with your loved ones, the Gulf Coast Salute Airshow promises excitement and entertainment like no other.

Panama City is celebrating Tourism Appreciation Week – and lunch is on them! This is a time to thank every Destination Panama City Tourism Ambassador for your passion, commitment, and tireless efforts in making our community a vibrant and welcoming destination for travelers. Join us on the Destination Panama City beach to enjoy some of the best bayside views in Panama City, with live music! You will have your choice of delicious lunch provided by local food trucks. This event is FREE and open to the public.

Panama City Beach owes a lot to tourism and for this year’s Tourism Appreciation Week in Florida, V will be hosting a Real. Fun. Celebration. on Wednesday, May 8! Join us at the M.B. Miller Park County Pier at 5PM as we celebrate Tourism Appreciation Day! This FREE event is open to locals, visitors, and everyone who works so hard to promote this great destination. The celebration will include food, ice cream, live music, games, and more!

Full of thrill and adventure, Visit Panama City Beach IRONMAN 70.3 Gulf Coast is perfect for those chasing their first IRONMAN 70.3 finish line or those more experienced looking for a personal record. This course combines a 1.2-mile buoyant saltwater swim in the Gulf of Mexico, a non-technical 56-mile bike ride through the Florida pines, and a fast, spectator-filled 13.1-mile run course along the coast to give you an exciting early-season race.

Florida Jeep Jam features a ton of Jeep activities combined with family fun hosted on “The World’s Most Beautiful Beaches”, helping to make it easy to see why so many Jeep families keep choosing Florida Jeep Jam as their favorite Jeep event! This May is the perfect time to enjoy your favorite Jeep beach destination. Gather up everyone from your Jeep club and start making plans for a fun Jeep week vacation in Panama City Beach.

The 27th Annual BLESSING OF THE FLEET, Fish Fry & Burning of the Socks will be held at the St. Andrews Marina on Saturday, May 18th. Fish Fry will be from 10AM–3PM, while supplies last. Processional of water vessels starts at 12PM with Sock Burning event to follow. Vendors on site from 9AM – 5PM. Proceeds benefit Second Chance of Northwest Florida, a local non-profit organization that provides services to brain injury survivors and their family in the community. Bring your socks to burn, and free your feet!

Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam is a FOUR day Country Music Festival in Panama City Beach. It takes place just moments away from the beautiful beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. We hope you will join us for this year’s festival. It is going to be the BIGGEST Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam! Headliners include Morgan Wallen, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, and Parker McCollum.

Cultura International Festival will boast hours of lively cultural talent and crowd engaging performances along with over 50 of the best and most authentic vendors in NW Florida. Celebrate our rich diversity, meet someone new, and be a part of the premier International Festival in NW Florida. This event is free to the public.