Summer 2027 in Panama City: Science and Discovery Center camps, where to swim on the bay, the nearest public pool and splash pad, and free concerts in the park.
Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: the Science and Discovery Center’s camps page, the City of Panama City’s parks and facilities, MLK Jr. Recreation Center and Summer Safety Series pages, Bay County’s 2026 Concerts in the Park announcement and the Bay District Schools academic calendar.
School lets out Wednesday, May 26, 2027. Panama City’s summer is built around the bay: the city has waterfront parks, not public pools. Camps, the nearest pool and summer events are below. Most 2027 programs post in the spring; until then we show 2026 details with the year marked.
Good to know
- Science and Discovery Center camps: 850-769-6128; 2027 details in mid-March
- City parks and rentals: Parks, Culture and Recreation, 850-872-3199
- MLK Jr. Recreation Center: 850-832-5821, 705 E. 14th Ct.
- Hurricane season starts June 1: hurricane prep
Camps
Science and Discovery Center of Northwest Florida, 308 Airport Road. The children’s science museum runs a weekly themed day camp. In 2026, the weeks ran June 1-5, 8-12, 15-19 and 22-26, and July 6-10, 13-17, 20-24 and 27-31, with themes from farm animals and slime chemistry to dinosaurs, art, fairy tales and pirates. The center says 2027 camp information will be released in mid-March 2027; the 2026 registration form is on its camps page. Phone: 850-769-6128.
City programs. The city’s Parks, Culture and Recreation Department runs year-round programs at the MLK Jr. Recreation Center, which has a gym, a STEM lab, a teaching kitchen and an arts and crafts studio. It is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. The city had not posted a 2027 summer camp when we checked; its programs page will list one.
Running a summer camp in Panama City? Send dates, ages and the registration link to hello@panamacitydaily.com.
Pools, swimming and splash pads
- No city pool or splash pad. The City of Panama City’s parks and facilities list does not include a public swimming pool or splash pad.
- Swim on the bay. Carl Gray Park, Collegiate Drive, just north of Gulf Coast State College on North Bay, lists swimming with a waterfront playground, covered picnic tables, restrooms and a boat ramp. Destination Panama City lists the bayside beaches where children can wade in calm water.
- Nearest public pool and splash park. The Panama City Beach Aquatic Center at Frank Brown Park, 16200 Panama City Beach Parkway, is run by the City of Panama City Beach. Check its official page for the 2027 summer schedule and fees.
Before you swim, read the city’s Summer Safety Series tips on heat and water safety, made with the Police and Fire departments.
Free summer events
Bay County’s Concerts in the Park series ran from April to September in 2026, with free concerts and food trucks. The one inside Panama City was June 20, 2026, at Zollie Young Park, 3829 E. 43rd St., from 6 to 9 p.m.; others were at Under the Oaks Park in Parker and the M.B. Miller County Pier in Panama City Beach. The 2027 schedule is not out yet; the county’s parks office is at 850-248-8730.
Every Saturday, the Panama City Farmers’ Market on Harrison Avenue and the Market at St. Andrews at Oaks by the Bay Park run all summer. See farmers markets.
Holidays this summer
- Memorial Day, May 31: Memorial Day in Panama City
- Father’s Day, June 20: Father’s Day in Panama City
- Juneteenth, June 19, and Independence Day: no city garbage or yard trash pickup, under the holiday schedule; fireworks on Fourth of July fireworks
More ideas: kids’ activities, free things to do and parks and trails.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last day of school in Bay County in 2027?
Wednesday, May 26, 2027, an early-release day, on Bay District Schools’ 2026-27 calendar.
Are there summer camps in Panama City?
The Science and Discovery Center of Northwest Florida, 308 Airport Road, runs weekly themed summer camps; in 2026 they ran from June 1 to July 31. It says 2027 camp details will be released in mid-March 2027.
Is there a public pool in Panama City, Florida?
The City of Panama City’s facility list does not include a public pool or splash pad. The nearest public pool is the Panama City Beach Aquatic Center at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach.
Where can kids swim in Panama City?
Carl Gray Park on Collegiate Drive, on North Bay, lists swimming among its amenities, along with a playground, restrooms and a boat ramp.
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