PC Downtown Renaissance

04/17/2026

Now… we could tell you everything.

But where’s the fun in that?

Some things are better when you stumble into them, a little unexpected, a little magical, a little hard to forget.

We’re working on something really special for y’all for next year.

OLD FLORIDA FILM FEST

October 15 • 16 • 17 2027

Presented by PC Downtown Renaissance

Just wait ‘til you see.

04/16/2026

PC Downtown Renaissance Artist Micro-Grant Application - Tag your artist friends!

"Supporting bold ideas. Activating downtown. Investing in local creativity."

PC Downtown Renaissance is partnering with The Black Cat Creative and Bay Arts Alliance to offer two Artist Micro-Grants to support creatives bringing original, community-driven art work to life in Historic Downtown Panama City.

These grants are designed to spark new ideas, support working artists, and activate public spaces through art, storytelling, and immersive experiences.

It can be seed money for part of a project, it can support buying a piece of gear, we know these grants are small but you have to start somewhere!

Grant Overview
• Number of Grants: 2
• Grant Amount: $250 each
• Project Timeline: You tell us!
• Location Focus: Historic Downtown Panama City

We’re looking to support projects and artists that:
• Engage the community
• Activate or enhance downtown spaces
• Reflect creativity, storytelling, or cultural connection
• Feel fresh, bold, or a little unexpected

Who Can Apply

Open to:
• Visual artists
• Filmmakers/Photographers
• Performers
• Musicians
• Designers
• Immersive / experiential creators
• Creative collectives

Applicants must be based in or connected to the Panama City / Bay County area.

What We Fund

We’re open to a wide range of ideas, including (but not limited to):
• Public art or photo installations
• Short films or projection-based work
• Live performances or pop-up experiences
• Interactive or immersive concepts
• Community storytelling projects

If it brings people downtown and makes them feel something, we want to see it!

APPLY HERE - https://forms.gle/kQDztF7zPVd4ENer5

Deadline to Apply May 8th. Recipients announced May 18th!

03/17/2026

Before the flash of cameras…
before the front row…
before the spectacle,
there were salons.

In late 19th-century Paris, garments were not shown, they were revealed.

Figures moved slowly through candlelit rooms, not as stars, but as vessels, their purpose simply to carry the design.

But something shifted.

As the runway evolved into the défilé,
movement became more than function, it became expression.

By the early 20th century, the walk itself began to matter.

A turn of the shoulder.
A pause.
A presence.

And then, the model emerged.

No longer invisible,but essential.

By the late 20th century, models were not just wearing fashion, they were shaping it.

They brought attitude. Identity. Energy.

They transformed garments into moments.

From the quiet elegance of early couture
to the supermodel era and beyond, the runway became a collaboration:
designer, garment… and the person who brings it to life.

Today, the runway is not complete without them.

Not just models but storytellers.
A presence.
A reflection of the world around us.

Reflection: An immersive runway experience

REFLECTION
Where art, design, and Downtown Panama City meet

A runway shaped by local creatives.

🗓 March 28th, 6PM
📍 Center for the Arts

The runway is not a place. It is a passage.

And for one night, we invite you to step into it.

From salons to stadiums, a brief look at how catwalks evolved into the social media spectacles that we know them as today.

03/16/2026

What a weekend for Historic Downtown Panama City!

Over 600 people filled McKenzie Park for Bluegrass by the Bay, and it was an incredible reminder of how much heart this community has.

From all of us at PC Downtown Renaissance, we want to say thank you to our amazing volunteers, sponsors, partners, musicians, and everyone who came out to support the event.

Our volunteers worked hard all day to make sure everything ran smoothly, and we are so grateful for the time and energy they gave to help bring this event to life.

A HUGE thank you to Pearl Entertainment & Productions for having us along for the ride!

And a special thank you to all of the artists who shared their music with us Black Creek String Band, Chris Woods and the Eight Fifty and our headliners Yonder Mountain String Band and to the community members who showed up and made the park feel so alive.

Moments like this remind us why we do what we do.

Historic Downtown Panama City is something special.

Thank you for being part of it.

- PC Downtown Renaissance 💙

03/15/2026

💙💙💙

Yesterday, something truly special happened in downtown Panama City.

The first-ever Bluegrass by the Bay bluegrass festival came to life, and what we witnessed was nothing short of extraordinary. What began as a vision to celebrate the rich tradition of American roots music right here in our community became a joyful gathering of over 500 music lovers, families, artists, and supporters.

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who made this day possible including the ticket buyers, generous sponsors, talented musicians, vendors, volunteers, and every single person who showed up to support live music in downtown Panama City. Your enthusiasm, encouragement, and belief in this event made it a resounding success.

Bluegrass by the Bay was created with a bigger purpose in mind. Bluegrass is one of America’s great musical traditions, and celebrating it is also about celebrating community, heritage, and shared experiences. Festivals like this do more than entertain, they help build culturally vibrant cities, strengthen our local economy, and create spaces where people connect, gather, and take pride in where they live.

This was just the beginning.

Bluegrass by the Bay will return in 2027, and with your continued support it will grow each year welcoming more artists, more visitors, and more opportunities to showcase the spirit of Panama City.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in this vision and for helping us make history.

Here’s to the first of many!

Jennifer Wright Shepard
Pearl Entertainment & Productions

Black Creek String Band Chris Woods and the Eight Fifty PC Downtown Renaissance Panama City Downtown Improvement Board Shepard Law History Class Brewing Company Hotel Indigo Panama City Marina, an IHG Hotel 925 WPAP BGN Contractors Full Heart Rentals Beachy Beach Real Estate Jimmy M Branch Yard Bar Smoked Meats Sweet Mags Children’s Boutique 💙

03/13/2026

🚨TOMORROW is the day when hundreds of bluegrass lovers will pack McKenzie Park in downtown Panama City for the first annual Bluegrass by the Bay featuring Yonder Mountain String Band!!

Here is the lineup!
11:30 Park opens
12:00 Black Creek String Band
1:00 Chris Woods and the Eight Fifty
2:00 Intermission
2:30 Yonder Mountain String Band
4:00 Event over

✅ Ticketed event
✅ Kids 12yo and younger FREE
✅ Bring your lawn chairs
✅ Coolers ok (no glass please)
✅ Well behaved dogs on leashes ok (please pickup after them!)
✅ Cell photos/videos ok
🚫 Tents or umbrellas

Limited food and beverages will be sold on site. Co****le boards will be there too!

For more information and to buy tickets visit bluegrassbythebay.com 💙