Fall in Panama City: a Camp Helen pumpkin patch to Oct. 31, Fright Nights downtown Oct. 15-25, then Public Eye Soar and the Songwriters Festival Nov. 6-7.

Last checked Oct. 14, 2026. This page is updated each year. Sources: Visit Panama City’s events calendar, the City of Panama City’s event calendar, Florida State Parks’ pumpkin patch listing and Gulf Coast State College’s fall arts schedule. Confirm with the organizer before you go.

Fall in Panama City runs from Halloween arts nights downtown in October to two festivals on the first weekend of November. The nearest pumpkin patch is the Camp Helen State Park fundraiser in Panama City Beach, open daily through Oct. 31.

Updated Oct. 14: Florida State Parks has confirmed the Camp Helen pumpkin patch for 2026, and October’s events stand after Hurricane Isaias.

Who to call

  • Fright Nights: Bay Arts Alliance, 850-640-3670
  • Public Eye Soar: 850-769-6996
  • Songwriters Festival: Bay Youth Music Association, BayYouthMusic@gmail.com
  • City events: City Hall, 850-872-3000; text PanamaCity to 38276 for alerts

After Hurricane Isaias: the city’s calendar for the rest of October was unchanged when we checked on Oct. 14. Check each organizer’s page before you go.

October

Fright Nights: Oct. 15-17 and Oct. 22-25, 6 to 9 p.m., historic downtown Panama City, based at the Panama City Center for the Arts, 19 E. Fourth St. The Bay Arts Alliance calls it a fall tradition of scares, art and community gatherings. Tickets are $20 to $40; proceeds support the alliance’s “Art on Every Corner” program. Details.

Panama City Fire Department Open House: Friday, Oct. 16, 5 to 9 p.m., Fire Station 2, 2003 Beck Ave. Free food and drinks, a live fire demonstration, a kids’ agility course and a costume contest for kids 14 and under at 7 p.m. Details.

Tree Giveaway: Saturday, Oct. 17, 8 to 11 a.m., Millville Waterfront Park, 301 Maple Ave. The last of the city’s six free tree giveaways this year: up to two trees per Bay County household while they last. Details.

Saturday farmers markets: the downtown Panama City Farmers’ Market (8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Harrison Avenue) and the Market at St. Andrews (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oaks by the Bay Park) run year-round. See our farmers markets guide.

Early November

Panama City Songwriters Festival: Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7, historic downtown. The eighth annual festival brings local, regional, national and international songwriters to venues within walking distance of each other. Proceeds fund youth music programs through the Bay Youth Music Association. Details.

Public Eye Soar: 6 p.m. Nov. 6 to 10 p.m. Nov. 7, Gulf Coast State College, 5230 W. U.S. Highway 98. Free and for all ages: projection art from around the world, live performance, short films, animation and sand art. The festival says it has shown work by artists from more than 45 countries and territories since 2014. Details.

Touch-a-Truck: Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Carl Gray Park, Collegiate Drive. Free; kids climb aboard fire trucks, police vehicles, garbage trucks and more, the city says.

Pumpkin patches

Friends of Camp Helen State Park Pumpkin Patch: daily through Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Camp Helen State Park, on Lake Powell in Panama City Beach. Pick a pumpkin or gourd and pay at the Friends’ table at the patch; sales benefit the park, according to Florida State Parks. The support group’s own site is camphelenfriends.com.

Running a pumpkin patch in Panama City this fall? Send dates, hours and the address to hello@panamacitydaily.com and we will add it.

What this means for you

  • October weekends: Fright Nights downtown on two long weekends, and the Camp Helen pumpkin patch any day through Oct. 31.
  • Mark Nov. 6-7 for the Songwriters Festival downtown and Public Eye Soar at Gulf Coast State College.
  • Halloween itself is Saturday, Oct. 31; see trick-or-treat hours.

Related: Halloween events in Panama City, things to do this month, parks and trails and farmers markets.

Frequently asked questions

What fall festivals are in Panama City in 2026?

Fright Nights in historic downtown on Oct. 15-17 and 22-25, the Panama City Songwriters Festival downtown on Nov. 6-7 and Public Eye Soar, a free light and projection art festival at Gulf Coast State College, on Nov. 6-7.

Is there a pumpkin patch near Panama City?

Yes. The Friends of Camp Helen State Park pumpkin patch is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Oct. 31, 2026, at Camp Helen State Park in Panama City Beach, Florida State Parks says. Pumpkin and gourd sales support the park.

When is the Panama City Songwriters Festival in 2026?

Nov. 6-7, 2026, at venues within walking distance of each other in historic downtown Panama City. Proceeds support the Bay Youth Music Association.

Is Public Eye Soar free?

Yes. Public Eye Soar at Gulf Coast State College, 5230 W. U.S. Highway 98, is free and open to all ages, from 6 p.m. Nov. 6 to 10 p.m. Nov. 7, 2026.