Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11. Bay County's parade runs from St. Andrews to the Government Center; 2026 times are not out yet. Offices and schools close.

Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. Panama City’s main observance is Bay County’s annual Veterans Day Parade and wreath-laying ceremony, run by the Bay County Board of County Commissioners with the Bay County Veterans Council. The county had not announced the 2026 times when we checked on Oct. 14. It announced the 2025 parade on Oct. 20, so expect details in late October; we will update this page when they are out.

Last checked Oct. 14, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: Bay County’s 2025 parade announcement and news page, the City of Panama City’s holiday closures and solid waste pages, and Bay District Schools’ academic calendar.

Who to call

  • Parade entries and information: Bay County Veterans Services, 850-248-8280
  • City offices and trash: City Hall, 850-872-3000

The parade: what the 2025 edition looked like

Bay County’s 2025 announcement gives the pattern the county follows each year:

  • Start time: 8:30 a.m. on Veterans Day itself (Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025).
  • Route: the parade’s traditional route, from Frankford Avenue and 12th Street in St. Andrews, east along 11th Street to the Bay County Government Center, 840 W. 11th St.
  • Ceremony: a wreath-laying at 10 a.m. at the Government Center’s main entrance, with patriotic music from the Bay High School Choir and a guest speaker.
  • Taking part: veterans and groups who want to march call Veterans Services at 850-248-8280.

Until the county confirms 2026, treat these as a guide, not this year’s schedule. In 2026, Veterans Day falls on a Wednesday.

Where to watch

Spectators line 11th Street between St. Andrews and the Government Center, and the ceremony is at the Government Center’s main entrance at the end of the route. The county has not published road closures for 2026; when it does, they will be on our road construction and closures page. For parking downtown, see getting around.

What is open and closed on Nov. 11

Service Wednesday, Nov. 11
City of Panama City offices Closed (Veterans Day is a city holiday)
Garbage pickup Normal
Yard trash pickup None; served on your next scheduled day
Bay District Schools Closed, a holiday for all

Sources: the city’s holiday closures and solid waste pages and Bay District Schools’ 2026-27 calendar. More on our trash and recycling page and schools page.

Ceremonies nearby

Callaway, about eight miles east, and Panama City Beach, about 13 miles west, have held their own Veterans Day events in past years. Neither city had posted 2026 plans when we checked. We will add them here when they do.

What this means for you

  • Veterans Day is a Wednesday this year; schools and city offices are closed.
  • Put your garbage out as usual, but hold yard trash until your next pickup day.
  • Watch this page in late October for the parade time and road closures.

Related: Thanksgiving in Panama City, things to do this month, Memorial Day and voting.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Veterans Day parade in Panama City in 2026?

Bay County holds its annual Veterans Day Parade in Panama City each year with the Bay County Veterans Council. The county had not announced 2026 times when we checked on Oct. 14; it announced the 2025 parade on Oct. 20, so details are expected in late October.

What is the Bay County Veterans Day parade route?

The parade’s traditional route starts at Frankford Avenue and 12th Street in St. Andrews and travels east along 11th Street to the Bay County Government Center, 840 W. 11th St., the county said in 2025.

Is trash picked up on Veterans Day in Panama City?

Garbage is picked up as normal on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Yard trash is not collected that day, according to the city’s holiday schedule.

Are schools and city offices closed on Veterans Day?

Yes. Bay District Schools lists Wednesday, Nov. 11, as a holiday for all, and Veterans Day is on the City of Panama City’s list of holiday closures.