Arts in Panama City, October 2026: Fright Nights downtown Oct. 15-25, a new gallery show at Gulf Coast State College and the symphony's Piazzolla Nov. 14.

Last checked Oct. 14, 2026. Covers today to Nov. 25 and is refreshed through the month. Sources: the Bay Arts Alliance’s Panama City Center for the Arts and Fright Nights sites, Gulf Coast State College’s fall 2026 arts schedule, the Panama City Symphony and Visit Panama City’s events calendar, where the two November festivals are listed. Confirm with the venue before you go.

The arts calendar in Panama City runs through two places this fall: the Bay Arts Alliance’s Panama City Center for the Arts downtown, which becomes Fright Nights: Dreamwalkers on Oct. 15-17 and 22-25, and Gulf Coast State College, whose gallery, theater and music students fill November. Most college events are free.

Who to call

  • Panama City Center for the Arts and Fright Nights: Bay Arts Alliance, 850-640-3670, info@bayarts.org
  • Gulf Coast State College arts: the Amelia Center Gallery, 850-769-1551, ext. 4874; tickets and showtimes at gulfcoast.edu/arts
  • Panama City Symphony: Patron Services, 850-785-7677

Exhibitions now showing

  • This Is Not a Pipe: Oct. 16 to Nov. 7, Amelia Center Gallery (AC112), Gulf Coast State College, 5230 W. U.S. Highway 98. Jamie Zimcheck explores the meaning of home through sculpture, installations and new media. The free opening reception is 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, with a gallery talk by the artist, according to the college’s fall schedule.
  • Nineteenth Annual Cup Show, Form and Function: Nov. 13 to Dec. 4, Amelia Center Gallery. A juried survey of contemporary ceramics through the cup, juried by Bryan Wilkerson. Opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13.
  • ArtCityPC, Local Artist Expo: opens Thursday, Nov. 12, Panama City Center for the Arts, 19 E. Fourth St. Two-dimensional work by local artists, including photography, painting, illustration and mixed media. Opening reception 5 to 7 p.m., the Bay Arts Alliance’s exhibitions page says.
  • “Grief” by Ryan Hubbard, Miller Gallery, Panama City Center for the Arts, is listed as a current exhibition; the alliance has not published its closing date.

The Panama City Center for the Arts is closed during its regular hours in October while it is turned into Fright Nights. Its usual hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, to 7 p.m. on Fridays, and entry is free.

Theater and dance

  • Fright Nights: Dreamwalkers: Oct. 15-17 and 22-25, 6 to 9 p.m., Panama City Center for the Arts, 19 E. Fourth St. The Bay Arts Alliance’s immersive haunted theater show, with live actors and built sets, is its biggest fundraiser of the year. Visit Panama City lists tickets at $20 to $40. Tickets and details. More on our Halloween events page.
  • All in the Timing: Nov. 13-15 and Nov. 20-22, Amelia Center Theatre Lab, Gulf Coast State College. David Ives’ collection of one-act comedies. Seating is limited; tickets and showtimes are at gulfcoast.edu/arts.

Concerts and classical

  • Faculty and Friends Music Recital: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, Amelia Center Theatre, Gulf Coast State College. Free; donations support scholarships.
  • Renaissance to Rock-n-Roll, A Frightful Fusion of Sound: 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Captain Anderson’s Event Center, Panama City Beach. A Panama City Symphony fundraiser with the Will Thompson Band and a Carrabba’s buffet. General admission is $100, and costumes are encouraged. It is not part of the season subscription. Details.
  • Panama City Songwriters Festival: Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7, venues within walking distance of each other in historic downtown. Festival site; dates, passes and venues on our festival page.
  • Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, St. Andrew Baptist Church, at Beck Avenue and 15th Street. Part of the symphony’s season subscription; single tickets are sold through its concert page.
  • Instrumental Studios in Recital: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, Amelia Center Theatre, Gulf Coast State College. Free; donations support scholarships.

Light, film and new media

  • Public Eye Soar: 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7, Gulf Coast State College campus. A free outdoor projection art festival with animation, music, theater and dance. Visit Panama City listing; more on our Public Eye Soar page.

Classes and workshops

  • Projecting Workshop: 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, Amelia Tapper Center (AC128), Gulf Coast State College. Jamie Zimcheck demonstrates projection mapping with MadMapper, with hands-on activities tied to the gallery show and Public Eye Soar.
  • The Bay Arts Alliance sells its classes and workshops for all ages through its class store.

Regular events

  • PC Art Club, Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m., Lake Huntington Clubhouse, 3504 W. 15th St., on the city’s recreation calendar.
  • PC Senior Arts, DIY art workshops for older adults, 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Glenwood Community Center, 722 E. Ninth Ct. City listing.

Coming in December: the Bay Arts Alliance’s Holiday Bazaar of local artisans is 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Panama City Center for the Arts.

Send us your event

Running a show, exhibition, concert or class in Panama City? Email hello@panamacitydaily.com with the date, time, venue, price and a photo, and we will add it.

Related: things to do this month, things to do this weekend, live music and nightlife and getting around.

Frequently asked questions

What art exhibitions are on in Panama City right now?

Gulf Coast State College’s Amelia Center Gallery shows This Is Not a Pipe, sculpture, installations and new media by Jamie Zimcheck, from Oct. 16 to Nov. 7, with a free opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 16. Its Nineteenth Annual Cup Show of ceramics follows Nov. 13 to Dec. 4.

Is the Panama City Center for the Arts open in October?

Not during its normal hours. The Bay Arts Alliance says the center at 19 E. Fourth St. is closed during regular business hours in October while it is turned into Fright Nights: Dreamwalkers, which runs Oct. 15-17 and 22-25 from 6 to 9 p.m.

When does the Panama City Symphony play next?

Renaissance to Rock-n-Roll, a costume fundraiser, is at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Captain Anderson’s Event Center in Panama City Beach. Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires is at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at St. Andrew Baptist Church in Panama City.

Are there free arts events in Panama City this fall?

Yes. Gallery receptions at Gulf Coast State College, its student and faculty concerts, Public Eye Soar on Nov. 6-7 and a visit to the Panama City Center for the Arts outside October are all free.