Panama City Ballet's Nutcracker is Dec. 11-13 at Arnold High's auditorium, with free previews in November, a free beach concert Nov. 28 and the symphony Dec. 5.

Is the Nutcracker on this year? Yes. Panama City Ballet performs The Nutcracker on Friday to Sunday, Dec. 11-13, 2026, at the Helen Blackburn Arnold Auditorium, 550 Alf Coleman Road, Panama City Beach, and tickets are on sale now, according to the ballet’s performance page. This year’s poster bills it as the “Stahlbaum Party.”

Last checked Oct. 14, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: Panama City Ballet’s performance and upcoming events pages, the Panama City Symphony, the Bay County Public Library’s event listing, the Bay Arts Alliance and Gulf Coast State College’s fall arts schedule.

Who to call

  • Panama City Ballet: panamacityballetinc@gmail.com
  • Panama City Symphony: Patron Services, 850-785-7677
  • Bay Arts Alliance: 850-640-3670

The Nutcracker: Dec. 11-13

  • Where: Helen Blackburn Arnold Auditorium, at Arnold High School, 550 Alf Coleman Road, Panama City Beach, about 13 miles west of Panama City.
  • Tickets: sold online through the ballet’s ticket page, which lists performance times and prices. The ballet’s own pages do not print them.
  • Age: recommended for ages 5 and up. Every attendee must have a ticket.
  • School shows: 9:45 and 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, for school groups that book through the ballet’s reservation forms.
  • Who dances: the nonprofit company says its mission is to bring The Nutcracker to the community with local talent; its site lists the participating dance studios.

Free Nutcracker previews in November

Panama City Ballet dancers take excerpts on the road before the full show. The ones in Panama City and the free public stops, from the ballet’s upcoming events page:

  • Saturday, Nov. 14, 2 to 3 p.m.: Bay County Public Library, 898 W. 11th St., in Youth Services. Free; open to all ages. Library listing.
  • Saturday, Nov. 7: free stops at Barnes and Noble at 10:30 a.m. and Books-a-Million at 2 p.m., the ballet lists.
  • Saturday, Nov. 21, 1 p.m.: the ballet’s ticketed Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party. Tickets.

Holiday concerts

  • Beach Home for the Holidays: 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, Aaron Bessant Park, Panama City Beach. A free concert by the Panama City Symphony with Panama City Ballet dancers, presented by Visit Panama City Beach. Symphony listing.
  • A Grand Symphony Christmas: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, Barbara W. Nelson Fine Arts Center at Bay High School, Panama City. The symphony with adult and children’s choruses. It is not in the season subscription; the symphony says single tickets go on sale soon. Concert page.
  • Gulf Coast State College winter student concerts, all free, donations support scholarships: Percussion Ensemble, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, Amelia Center Theatre Lab; Vocal Studios in Recital, 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3; Jazz Band and Singing Commodores, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4; and the Concert Chorale, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, all in the Amelia Center Theatre unless noted, 5230 W. U.S. Highway 98.

Holiday shopping with the arts

Holiday Bazaar: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, Panama City Center for the Arts, 19 E. Fourth St. Local artisans’ work for holiday gifts, the Bay Arts Alliance’s exhibitions page says.

Parking

  • Arnold High School: the auditorium is on the school campus at 550 Alf Coleman Road. The ballet does not publish parking details, so ask when you buy tickets.
  • Downtown Panama City: street parking around the arts center; see our getting around page, and check road construction and closures before you drive.

What this means for you

  • Buy Nutcracker tickets early for Dec. 11-13; every child needs one.
  • For a free taste, take children to the library on Nov. 14 or the beach concert on Nov. 28.
  • The symphony’s Christmas concert on Dec. 5 is sold separately from season tickets.

Related: holiday lights and Christmas events, Christmas parade and tree lighting, Boat Parade of Lights and arts and exhibitions this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Nutcracker in Panama City in 2026?

Panama City Ballet performs The Nutcracker Friday to Sunday, Dec. 11-13, 2026, at the Helen Blackburn Arnold Auditorium, 550 Alf Coleman Road, Panama City Beach. Tickets are on sale now through the ballet’s website.

Is the Panama City Ballet Nutcracker suitable for young children?

The ballet recommends it for ages 5 and up, and every attendee, including children, must have a ticket.

Can I see the Nutcracker for free?

Panama City Ballet dancers perform excerpts free at the Bay County Public Library, 898 W. 11th St., from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, and with the Panama City Symphony at the free Beach Home for the Holidays concert at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at Aaron Bessant Park.

When is the Panama City Symphony’s Christmas concert?

A Grand Symphony Christmas, with adult and children’s choruses, is at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Barbara W. Nelson Fine Arts Center at Bay High School. It is not part of the season subscription, and the symphony says single tickets go on sale soon.