The Bay County Chamber of Commerce's new Shop Small Passport runs for 15 days, from Saturday, November 28, through Saturday, December 12, 2026. Downtown Panama City's three biggest holiday events all fall within about 28 hours of each other, in the middle of that window. The Holiday Bazaar opens at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 4. The Christmas Parade ends at 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 5. The tree lighting happens that same Friday at the same building as the bazaar.
So the 2026 season has three fixed points. It opens on Small Business Saturday, the December 4 and 5 weekend carries the big events, and the Boat Parade of Lights closes it on December 12. The passport runs from the first of those Saturdays to the last. The big events are already set, and the passport covers the quieter days in between.
The Calendar, Start to Finish
- Monday, Nov. 23 to Wednesday, Nov. 25: Free Shop Small Passports are available at the Bay County Chamber of Commerce office while supplies last. Pickup ends the day before Thanksgiving.
- Saturday, Nov. 28: The passport campaign starts on Small Business Saturday. Horse-drawn carriage rides return to Harrison Avenue the same day.
- Friday, Dec. 4: The Downtown Christmas Celebration and tree lighting at the Panama City Center for the Arts. The Holiday Bazaar opens inside the same building from 5 to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 5: The bazaar runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the Christmas Parade steps off at 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 12: The passport window closes, and the 40th Boat Parade of Lights takes over the bay.
Carriage rides keep running on weekends all through December, so they cover both Saturdays that bookend the busy weekend.
November 28 Opens Quietly, and on Purpose
Small Business Saturday starts the season with two things that spread out instead of gathering in one place: carriage rides along Harrison Avenue and a passport that sends shoppers to participating businesses across Bay County.
The Chamber is running the passport for the first time this year. The Chamber's 2026 Shop Small Passport page says it works like this:
- Pick up a free passport at the Chamber office, November 23 to 25.
- Use it to find participating shops, restaurants and other small businesses around Bay County.
- Collect stamps as you go.
- Collect the required number of stamps and follow the passport's instructions to enter the prize drawing.
The Chamber's Shop Small Bay County page says you get a stamp when you make a qualifying purchase and that you return the completed passport to the Chamber to enter the drawing. The event listing says no purchase is needed to enter the drawing, a free alternative way to enter will be available, and official rules apply. The Shop Small page adds that the final rules govern.
Businesses had to register by November 6 to be listed in the printed passport. The fee was $100 for Chamber members and $150 for nonmembers. That deadline came before passport pickup starts, so the printed passport is the place to find the participating businesses.
For downtown gift stops, the Destination Panama City holiday guide names four:
- Gallery of Art 850 for local artwork
- Jute & Palm for unique finds
- Accents Home Decor & Gifts for home and gift pieces
- Hoyden Hat Co for custom hats made to order
Friday Night and Saturday Morning Happen at One Building
From Friday evening to Saturday afternoon, almost everything happens at the Panama City Center for the Arts.
The 2026 holiday guide puts the Downtown Christmas Celebration there on Friday, December 4, with a tall Christmas tree and a synchronized light show. The Bay Arts Alliance Holiday Bazaar opens inside that evening from 5 to 8 p.m. It reopens Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The bazaar's vendor rules show what to expect inside. Each artist or maker gets one six-foot table and two chairs. Tables are set up throughout the building, and the main gallery fills first. Vendors can leave their tables up overnight because the building is secured between sessions. Wall space isn't available, so banners stand on their own. A table cost $50, plus $10 for electricity if needed, and vendor applications closed November 1.
Because tables stay up overnight, Saturday morning has the same vendors as Friday night. Friday has the tree lighting and the evening crowd. Saturday has daylight and five hours to browse, and it's done well before the parade. If you only need one session, choose by when you'd rather shop.
Saturday Night, the Parade Covers Harrison Avenue End to End
The City of Panama City's Parks, Culture & Recreation department announced the parade in July. It runs Saturday, December 5, at 6 p.m. on Harrison Avenue, with floats, marching groups and decorated vehicles. The 2026 event listing gives the details:
- Theme: "Christmas Movies"
- Start: Downtown Panama City Marina, 1 Harrison Avenue
- Direction: North along Harrison through historic downtown
- Finish: Near Tommy Oliver Stadium
- Window: 6 to 9 p.m.
The route starts at the bay and runs north along the whole street. That leaves room to choose where you watch. Near the marina you see the entries as they step off. Farther north, the same parade passes later in the evening. The holiday guide suggests coming early, eating downtown and finding a good viewing spot.
The "Christmas Movies" theme means floats, walking groups and decorated vehicles from local businesses, nonprofits, schools and community groups, which the city invited when registration opened September 1. Nonprofits enter free, walking groups pay $25 and floats pay $75.
One Way to Spend Saturday, December 5
December 5 can be spent entirely downtown, between the Center for the Arts, the shops and the parade route.
- 10 a.m.: Start at the Holiday Bazaar while the tables are still full.
- Late morning into afternoon: Shop downtown at Gallery of Art 850, Jute & Palm, Accents Home Decor & Gifts and Hoyden Hat Co, getting passport stamps at any participating stops.
- Afternoon: Take a carriage ride, since the rides run on December weekends.
- 3 p.m.: The bazaar closes, and you have three hours before the parade.
- Early evening: Have dinner downtown, then find a spot along the route.
- 6 p.m.: The parade leaves the marina and heads north.
This schedule depends on the Saturday times. Friday's tree lighting is a separate evening downtown, and going both nights makes for a full weekend.
A Week Later the Season Moves to the Bay, and the Passport Closes
On December 12, the season ends on the water. According to Destination Panama City, the 40th Annual Boat Parade of Lights starts with a Holiday Village at the Panama City Marina from 4 to 7 p.m., with local vendors, holiday music and Santa. A drone show starts at 5 p.m., and the boat parade at 5:30 p.m. Watching is free.
The same Saturday is the last day of the Shop Small Passport. If you still need stamps, the afternoon before the Holiday Village is your last chance to collect them.
St. Andrews runs its own set of holiday traditions along Beck Avenue. Light Up the Park is the annual tree lighting at Oaks by the Bay Park, with lights in the heritage oaks, holiday music, hot cocoa and the Old Sentry Oak for photos. After the lights, the guide points to Beck Avenue for Little Village, The Trendy Side and handmade gifts at the Publishing Museum, and it names the Market at St. Andrews as a holiday market.
Carly grew up in Panama City, so the parade down Harrison Avenue is part of her own December too. If you're downtown on December 5 and want to talk about life near the parade route, from historic downtown to the waterfront near the marina, The Sostheim Group is happy to meet over coffee before the floats roll. Contact Us, and we'll suggest a good spot to watch.
