Panama City's December: the Boat Parade of Lights Dec. 12, a symphony Christmas concert Dec. 5, caroling in St. Andrews Dec. 22 and lighted oaks by the bay.

Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: Destination Panama City’s Boat Parade of Lights and Jingle Bell Express pages, its Nov. 1, 2025, holiday release and holiday guide, its events calendar, and the City of Panama City’s solid waste page.

December in Panama City is built around the water. The Boat Parade of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 12 is the big night, with the city’s own Christmas parade a week earlier on Saturday, Dec. 5. The parade, the downtown and St. Andrews tree lightings and their routes are on their own page: Christmas parade and tree lighting. This page covers everything else: lights, Santa, concerts, markets and caroling.

Good to know

  • Boat Parade of Lights and holiday events: Destination Panama City, 850-215-1700
  • Christmas trash: garbage runs as normal Thursday, Dec. 24, but yard trash does not; no collection Friday, Dec. 25
  • Bayway buses: full service Christmas Eve; no service Christmas Day

Boat Parade of Lights: Saturday, Dec. 12

The 40th annual Boat Parade of Lights sends lighted boats from the St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club west along the shore past downtown, the St. Andrews Marina and Sun Harbor Marina to the Hathaway Bridge, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. At the Panama City Marina, 1 Harrison Ave., a free Holiday Village with vendors, music and Santa runs 4 to 7 p.m., and a drone show starts at 5 p.m. Full details: Christmas parade and tree lighting.

Lights to see

  • Oaks by the Bay Park, 2715 W. 10th St., historic St. Andrews. In 2025 Destination Panama City said the park would have lighted oak trees, decorated walkways and bay views for evening walks. The tourism agency had not posted 2026 details when we checked.
  • Downtown tree at the Panama City Center for the Arts, 19 E. Fourth St. The 2025 lighting added a light display choreographed to music. The 2026 date is not out yet; it will go on the tree lighting page.
  • Harbor of Lights at Sun Harbor Marina, 5505 Sun Harbor Road. The marina’s first Harbor of Lights on Dec. 21, 2024, was a free self-guided walk along the docks past boats decorated with lights. A 2026 date had not been posted when we checked.

We found no drive-through light show on the city or visitor calendars. Know a home display worth the drive? Tell us at hello@panamacitydaily.com.

Getting around: the Jingle Bell Express

The free Jingle Bell Express trolley links downtown and historic St. Andrews on Friday and Saturday evenings in early December, with Panama City A Cappella leading carols on board. In 2025 it ran 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20 (the Dec. 5 and 6 runs were canceled for weather), with six stops:

  • Downtown: Atelier, 100 Harrison Ave.; Tom’s Hot Dogs, 416 Harrison Ave.; Lone Star Boil House, 320 W. Fifth St.
  • St. Andrews: Captain’s Table Fish House, 1110 Beck Ave.; Uncle Ernie’s Bayfront Grill, 1151 Bayview Ave.; Oaks by the Bay Park, 2715 W. 10th St.

2026 dates and stops are not out yet.

Concerts, caroling and carriage rides

  • A Grand Symphony Christmas: Saturday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m., Barbara W. Nelson Fine Arts Center, Bay High School, 1200 Harrison Ave. The Panama City Symphony with its adult and children’s choruses; the concert is not part of season subscriptions. Listing.
  • Christmas Caroling in St. Andrews: Tuesday, Dec. 22. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at 2805 W. 12th St.; carolers walk the historic district from 6 to 7:30 p.m., then gather at a hot chocolate bar. Free. Listing.
  • Horse-drawn carriage rides downtown. Destination Panama City’s holiday guide says carriages run through downtown on the first three weekends of December. Times for 2026 are not out yet.

Markets, Santa and a holiday run

  • Holiday markets: the Saturday markets on Harrison Avenue and at Oaks by the Bay turn festive in December. See Black Friday and holiday shopping.
  • Santa: at the Holiday Village on Dec. 12 and in the Christmas parade on Dec. 5.
  • Sleigh the Bay 5K: Saturday, Dec. 19, 8 a.m., from Fleet Feet Panama City. Free entry; registration closes Dec. 17. Register.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown Friday, Dec. 4. No public menorah lighting in Panama City had been posted on an organizer’s page when we checked. Hosts can send details to hello@panamacitydaily.com.

Christmas week: what is open

Day Garbage Yard trash Bayway
Thursday, Dec. 24 Normal None Full service
Friday, Dec. 25 None None No service

From the city’s holiday collection schedule and Bayway’s holiday list. Homes whose pickup falls on a holiday are served on their next scheduled day. More: trash and recycling.

Related: New Year’s Eve in Panama City, things to do this month and free things to do in Panama City.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Boat Parade of Lights in Panama City in 2026?

Saturday, Dec. 12. The 40th annual parade runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., from the St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club west to the Hathaway Bridge, with a Holiday Village and Santa at the Panama City Marina from 4 to 7 p.m.

Where can I see Christmas lights in Panama City?

Destination Panama City says Oaks by the Bay Park in historic St. Andrews is decorated with lighted oak trees and walkways in December, and the downtown tree at the Center for the Arts has a light show set to music.

Where can kids see Santa in Panama City?

Santa visits the Holiday Village at the Panama City Marina from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, before the Boat Parade of Lights, and rides in the Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 5.

Is there a Christmas concert in Panama City?

The Panama City Symphony performs A Grand Symphony Christmas with adult and children’s choruses at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Barbara W. Nelson Fine Arts Center at Bay High School.