Do you love the sounds of jazz? Do you enjoy the sun on your face and a cool drink in your hand? Are you going to be in Panama City Beach this April (or interested in traveling there?) Well then, let us excitedly introduce you to the 2024 Seabreeze Jazz Festival that’s happening at the end of the month!
Everything You Need to Know About the 2024 Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Panama City Beach
What is it?
The Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Panama City Beach is a massive smooth jazz event that is the brainchild of a husband and wife duo. That husband and wife team is Mark and Renee Carter. The Carters are big-time jazz fans who, in fact, own the popular local radio station of 106.3 which prioritizes smooth jazz. They were initially inspired to host a big concert in order to promote that radio station and, as such, held the very first Seabreeze Jazz Festival in March 1999. This first festival was a two-day event with just two acts each day and about 350 people in attendance. Suffice to say it was a major hit and what was initially going to be just a one-off promotional event became a highly-lauded annual festival.
Today, the Seabreeze Jazz Festival is lauded as one of the best jazz events in the country. Various jazz outlets have placed it within the top best such events in the world, and the Oasis Smooth Jazz has even nominated it as the Best Jazz Festival. Instead of a couple hundred attendees, this Panhandle event attracts tens of thousands of attendees. It’s expected over 20,000 jazz fans are going to be in attendance this year, with ticket holders hailing from as far as Canada and even Europe. And certainly, there are going to be more than just two acts a day! This year, over a dozen performers are taking the stage, including big name headliners of Kool and the Gang and Kenny G.
When is it?
April 25 – 27, 2024
The Seabreeze Jazz Festival in PCB will take place over four days. Events kick off on Thursday, April 25, 2024, and continue on to Sunday, April 27. Each day, music begins at the event itself at noon and continues on until 10 or 11 pm (depending upon the day).
Now, while those are the general dates and times for the main event, you should be aware there are some special pre-party and after-party events that guests of the Seabreeze Jazz Festival can enjoy as separate ticketed events.
Such extra festivities include:
A Wednesday Dinner Cruise
Leaving the dock at 7 pm on Wednesday, April 24th, this special pre-event dinner cruise takes place aboard the Solaris Dinner Yacht as it sails about St. Andrews Bay. Tickets include a reserved table where you’ll be served dinner and enjoy the live music by Candy Duffler playing on the boat’s top open-air deck.
A Thursday Morning Jazzy Brunch Cruise
Not a night owl? Then you’ll appreciate this other big pre-party boating event. Taking place on the same boat crushing the same bay, only this is a brunch-styled meal and the highlight performer is Eric Darius. Boarding for the Jazzy Brunch Cruise begins at 8:30 am with the boat leaving at 9 am and expected to return to dock at 11 am.
After-parties
On Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, there will also be after-parties happening as separate ticketed events. These after-parties will begin at 11 pm on Thursday, 11:30 pm on Friday and Saturday, and 10 pm on Sunday. All are happening at Pompano Joe’s at Pier Park and each evening will feature different jazz musicians and musical acts.
The Who of the Main Events
To enjoy the main events at the Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Panama City Beach, you will need to purchase a four-day General Admission ticket. This ticket is $360 and will offer admission for each day of the big jazz event. That big event is happening at the Aaron Bessant Amphitheater, which is a massive outdoor amphitheater that is located at 500 Pier Park Drive.
The full line-up for those main events is as follows:
Thursday – Gates Open at 10:30 am
12 noon – 1:15 pm Ragan Whiteside
1:45 pm – 3 pm Peter White and Vincent Ingala
3:30 pm – 4:45 pm Spyro Gyra
5:15 pm – 6:30 pm Marcus Miller
7 pm – 8:15 pm Jeffrey Osborne
8:45 pm -10 pm Candy Dulfer
Friday – Gates Open at 10:30 am
12 noon – 1 pm Adam Hawley
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Jonathon Butler
3:00 pm – 4:15 pm Rick Braun and Richard Elliot
4:45 pm – 6:00 pm Eric Darius and Rebecca Jade
6:30 pm – 7:15 pm Seabreeze Rising Star – LeMek
7:45 pm – 9 pm Damien Escobar
9:30 pm -10:45 pm Kool and the Gang
Saturday – Gates Open at 10:30 am
12 noon – 1 pm JJ Sansaverino
1:30 pm- 2:30 pm Bobby Lyle
3:00 pm- 4:15 pm Cindy Bradley
4:45 pm- 6:00 pm Ken Ford
6:30 pm-7:15 pm Seabreeze Rising Star — Erin Stevenson
7:45 pm – 9:00 pm Nathan Mitchell
9:30 pm -10:45 pm Kenny G
Sunday – Gates Open at 10:30 am
12 noon – 1 pm Roman Street
1:30 pm – 2:35 pm Althea Rene and Jeanette Harris
3:05 pm – 4:20 pm Down To The Bone
4:50 pm – 6 pm Sister Sledge
6:30 pm -7:45 pm Boney James
8:15 pm – 9:30 pm Brian Culbertson
Learn More About Panama City Beach Lodgings and Dining Options for Your Music-filled Weekend
Tickets to the Seabreeze Jazz Festival certainly include plenty of entertainment, but not lodgings and food (unless you do opt for one of the cruises). The good news is there is plenty of both in Panama City Beach! Be sure to check out our other pages to learn more about the best lodging for your traveling needs, as well as foodie reviews of some of our favorite restaurants in the area.
