Surround yourself with emerald water, white sand beach and beautiful weather in Panama City Beach as you enjoy this unforgettable Christian Concert featuring Point of Grace, Amy Grant, Chris Tomlin and Michael Smith. Best of all, it’s FREE to all vacationers and residents!

From August 20-22, 2010, you will be entertained with fantastic music meant to move the soul. Beginning Friday at 6:00pm, Point of Grace will take the stage. The three lady trio has been nominated for Grammy Awards twice and performed hit #1 singles “Steady On,” “The Great Divide,” and “Circle of Friends.”

On Saturday, Chris Tomlin will begin his performance at 6:00pm and on Sunday at 7:00pm, Amy Grant will take the stage. Grant, has sold more than 30 million albums, won 6 Grammy Awards and performed six #1 hits including “Baby, Baby” and “Every Heartbeat”

Michael W. Smith will also being his talents to the beach. His has received one Grammy for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, performed (28) #1 songs and sold 14 gold albums along with 5 platinum albums.

The concerts will be held on Panama City Beach along the pier and shuttle service will be available taking people to Pier Park. You will then be able to walk over to the City Pier.

Paddleboarding has become extremely popular and there are now Stand Up Paddle Races! Some of the normal 2 mile courses get a little repetitive but Liquid Surf and Sail is hosting The Sonic City 5000: The Great Gulf Coast Stand Up Paddleboard Race.

This race goes aims to go above and beyond the other courses with a 15 mile down-winder with a $5000 cash purse. There are multiple competition class including the Elite 12′6″ class along with recreation classes for men, women, juniors and teams of 3. 

The race will be held on Saturday, August 28, 2010 beginning at Helen Back in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Celebrate the 19th Annual Greek Festival in Fort Walton Beach over Labor Day weekend. The event will be located at the Emerald Coast Conference Center and this year’s theme is “Our Big Fat Greek Festival.”

Taste and enjoy a wide variety of homemade Greek food as you take in the traditional dance performances with live entertainment. Gift shops, arts and crafts will be available in addition to the open auction. You are invited to experience this wonderful event with the sights, sounds and flavors of Greece.

From Thursday August 26th – August 28, 2010 come to Panama City Beach and enjoy the World’s Greatest Pre-Season Tailgate featuring FREE concerts by Sara Evans and John Rich.

Everyday, there will be fun events for you to enjoy. On Thursday, there is a Celebrity Golf Tournament followed by a FREE concert at Aaron Bessant Park from 7:00 – 9:00pm. Part of Panama City Beach’s complimentary Concerts in the Park series, the LoCash Cowboys will be performing. Coolers and pets on leashes are permitted so gather up your chairs and blankets to relax and enjoy the fun.

On Friday, there will be Celebrity Charter Fishing Trips followed by the highlight of the event, a FREE concert by Sara Evans from 6:00-8:00pm. Mrs. Evans has had many number one hits including “Suds in the Bucket,” “No Place that Far,” “Born to Fly” and “A Real Fine Place to Start.”

On Saturday, it will be time to tailgate as guests gather with foam fingers, grills and painted faces honoring their favorite teams. There will be a Spirit Parade at Pier Park in Panama City Beach beginning at 10:30 am. At 11:00 am there will be BBQ judging for the best tailgating recipe along with over $2000 in prizes. Businesses and individuals are allowed to enter.

From 6:00 – 8:00 pm John Rich will perform a FREE concert followed by fireworks at 9:00 pm! Make your plans to visit a Panama City Beach vacation rental with Southern Resorts. You are sure to have an amazing time kicking off another football season along the beach.

Over the past few months, famous musicians from near and far have come to Rock the Beach. Brett Michaels, Kenny Loggins and the Doobie Brothers have each lit up Okaloosa Island with their awesome music and fantastic hits. Now, we have another musician to welcome to our shores.

This weekend, on August 15th, Lynyrd Skynyrd will take the stage at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island. With hits like Sweet Home Alabama and Free Bird, this FREE concert will be a spectacular event. Talented performer, Josh Thompson will open for Skynyrd.

So, what are you waiting for? Plan your last minute vacation down to Destin or Fort Walton Beach to enjoy this concert. There are also so many great SPECIALS courtesy of our Tourist Development Councils, like the Beaches of South Walton’s $250 Reasons to Visit and 50% our Navarre Beach properties (for more details, rules and restrictions, follow the link).

The Beaches of Northwest Florida are absolutely beautiful. With so many fun events, festivals and concerts on the horizon, you will have an amazing time when you visit our shores.

The Sandestin Triathlon on August 21st will help prepare you for the Beach Blast Sprint Olympic Triathlon and Duathlon in Port St. Joe on September 11, 2010.

St. Joe Beach, along the Forgotten Coast, sets the background for this USA Triathlon sanctioned event.  Athletes from all over the world come to run, bike and swim along the beautiful coastline of St. Joe Beach. The race begins at 7:00 am.

This “sprint” event is organized by certified staff and volunteers.  After the race, family and friends can celebrate the day with great food at Beacon Hill Park.

The spectacular show, Le Grand Cirque is entering its final performance week of the summer. Tens of thousands have enjoyed this show along with millions of people around the world. The jaw dropping, amazing feats are acts that you have to see to believe. Have a look at our Destin vacation rentals and make plans to enjoy this awesome event.

Over 40 champion acrobats from foreign countries such as Brazil, Russia and China come together for your enjoyment. Their skilled precision in events like contortion, chinese pole climbing, one handed balance, strong man act and the wheel of death (one of the most stunts ever attempted in a live show) will have you on the edge of your seat.

You may purchase tickets online HERE or you can call 1-866-973-9610 ($4 fee per order).  Tickets may be purchased and picked up at Grand Boulevard’s Visitor Services Kiosk, located in Grand Park. Southern Resorts guest receive special pricing through our Southern Perks.

Mark your calendar for the 2nd Annual Pensacola Beach Songwriters’ Festival featuring 50 writers from September 27th to October 3, 2010. Reserve your Pensacola Beach vacation rental with Southern Resorts so you can enjoy the 6 day event will include 8 venues and thousands of visitors to these lovely shores.

This will be a unique musical showcase with spotlights on the talent behind many wonderful hits of the musical industry. The list of stars includes Beverly Jo Scott, Bobby Tomberlin, Brice Long,  Candi Carpenter, CJ Watson, Dan Demay and the list goes on and on.

Go to www.pensacolabeachsongwritersfestival.com for even more information including locations and times.

The 21st Annual Lobster Festival and Tournament in Panama City Beach will be hosted by Schooners again this year. Thousands of lobster fans from across the southeast come to enjoy this huge event with fresh lobster prepared every mouth watering way imaginable.

The 12th Annual Schooners Sand Sculpting Contest accompanies the event along with a diving tournament with various categories including Spiny Lobster, Shovelnose Lobster and Big 6.

Final weigh-ins will be held Saturday and Sunday with the grand prizes being awarded and a lobster feast for all of the spectators at the end of the festival.

Whether you like lobster grilled, fried, sautéed, broiled, chilled, steamed, blackened, whole, halved, skewered or any other away, you’ll be able to find all of the delicious tastes here.

From September 24th - 26th, the  33rd annual Pensacola Seafood Festival will be held in historic Seville Square in downtown Pensacola.  Consistently recognized as one of the Top 20 events in the Southeast (by the Southeast Tourism Society), the fantastic seafood is the highlight of the weekend and the festivities are a short drive away from Pensacola Beach.  Click here for directions.

Handpicked food vendors offer a wide variety of seafood dishes and other festival fare.  Some highlights of the previous year’s menus include southern style crab cakes, gator bites, blackened mahi mahi, bang bang shrimp, fried crawfish pistolettes, shrimp creole, boudin ball and shark on a stick.

Along with all of the delicious food, there will be more than 180 arts and crafts vendors creating one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in Northwest Florida. 

With more than 180 arts and crafts vendors, the Pensacola Seafood Festival is also one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in Northwest Florida. Click here for more information about the arts and crafts vendors.

Live musical performances by local and regional acts will be held through the duration of the festival in Fountain Park adjacent to Seville Square.

The Pensacola Seafood Festival also offers cooking demonstrations, a 5K run/walk, the Splash Dogs competition, 2009 Redfish Cup Championship, a children’s area, and other activities that were located in Bartram Park.