A Beach Ball Drop.....at Midnight??? (edit/delete)
Yes you heard it right. Panama City Beach is going to Drop a Huge Beach Ball to Ring in the new year.
Below, please read the press release from the PCB Chamber about the event.
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 16, 2008) - Celebrate the start of 2009 with a bounce and a bang at the New Year's Eve "Beach Ball Drop" in Panama City Beach, Fla. Presented by Margaritaville and hosted by Pier Park, this first annual event rings in the New Year with live entertainment and fun activities for the whole family, including a spectacular fireworks display, amidst dazzling beaches and holiday lights.
Creating its own beachside version of Times Square, Panama City Beach will close the roads of Pier Park for pedestrian traffic only and host a street festival with live music, food, festivities and more. To mark the start of the New Year, a larger-than-life illuminated beach ball will slowly descend from a 120 ft. tower, 12 stories high, at the stroke of midnight.
"The Beach Ball Drop is the first of what promises to become an annual tradition at Pier Park, Northwest Florida's largest shopping, dining and entertainment venue," remarks Felicia Cook, Director of Mall Marketing for Simon Property Group. "We are thrilled to play host to this one-of-a-kind New Year's Eve event and look forward to ringing in the New Year in Panama City Beach."
Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with exciting activities for the entire family including live music, food, bounce houses, stilt walkers and face painters and a Florida Lottery Prize Zone. The New Year's Eve countdown celebration starts at 9:00 p.m. with more live entertainment, leading up to the awaited Beach Ball Drop at midnight. The evening will culminate with a spectacular fireworks show over the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
"The New Year's Eve Beach Ball Drop provides the perfect opportunity to visit Panama City Beach and become a part of history," states Dan Rowe, president and CEO of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitor's Bureau. "We welcome locals and visitors alike to join us for a weekend of cheer and celebration as we kick-off 2009 in the world's most beautiful beach destination."
The Panama City Beach New Year's Eve "Beach Ball Drop" is free to the public and will be held at 600 Pier Park Drive in Panama City Beach, Fla. Festivities will be simulcast on Clear Channel stations WPAP-FM, WFSY-FM and WEBZ-FM.
For more information, go to http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com or call 850-233-5070.
Please visit www.Simon.com for more information about Pier Park.
If a Beach Ball Drop is not for you.....
There are many other events this New Year's Eve.
Some include:
Schooner's New Year's Eve Party
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008
Panama City Beach, (850) 235-3555
http://www.schooners.com/entertainment/event/newyearseve_2008.htm
Spinnaker's Heaven on Earth White Party
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008
Panama City Beach, (850) 234-7882
http://www.spinnakerbeachclub.com/
Rock & Bowl New Year's Eve
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008 - Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009
Panama City Beach, (850) 249-2695
http://www.rockitlanes.com/
Club La Vela's New Year's Eve Party
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008 - Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009
Panama City Beach, (850) 235-1061
http://www.clublavela.com/event/index.php?page_id=594
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