Attention Lobster Lovers!
Satisfy your crustacean cravings in Panama City Beach with Schooners 30th annual Lobster Festival! Starting Monday October 14th, Schooners will be celebrating everything lobster for 7 days straight! There will be live music, special lobster themed menu items designed just for the festival, nightly raffle prizes, giant professional sandcastles and so much more.
Traditionally, this festival takes place in September, but due to weather cancellations in the past, Schooner’s has decided to move the event to October when the weather is milder and more predictable. As predictable as Florida can be that is. If all goes well, this could be a permanent change in the decade’s long tradition.
The festivities begin daily at 11am Monday and Saturday and 10am on Sunday. This is a popular event, said to be the largest seven day festival in the South East, so make sure to come early to avoid the long lines.
Special Lobster Menu
Lobster for lunch. Lobster for dinner. Lobster all day long!
If you love lobster, you will love this specialty menu. The Lunch menu will feature Lobster Rolls, Lobster Po’boy’s, and Lobster Club Sandwich’s all made with Schooner’s very own Lobster Salad. Dinner items consist of Lobster Bisque, Lobster Salad, Lobster Au Gratin, Smoked Lobster Dip, Grilled Lobster Tails, and of course ever popular Lobster Mac & Cheese that has been highly reviewed by people all over the country.
On Saturday and Sunday there will be a buffet of lobster tail, corn, red potatoes and more available for only $30. Lines are usually shorter on Sunday’s than Saturday’s, so if you’re looking for a smaller crowd, Sunday is going to be your best bet.
Contests
One of the most famous featured events is the Lobster Diving Tournament, where participants travel 25 miles offshore and dive for the largest lobsters they can find. The contest is split into 3 categories: Spiny Lobster, Shovel Head Lobster, and “The Big 6”-the six heaviest lobsters of the tournament. Registration for this contest is Friday, October 18th at 5pm at Spinnaker Beach Club. Participants will then have both Saturday and Sunday to find their prize winning lobster.
Sandcastle and Sand Sculpting contests will take place on Saturday with two separate categories: one for Youth and Adult/Family and another for Advanced artists. Registration begins at 8:30am. Advanced Sandcastle and Sand Sculpting will begin at 9am, and the Youth/Family contest will begin at 10am. Both divisions end at 2pm and winners will be announced by 3pm.
Festival Itinerary
If you aren’t available to attend the entire event and want to pick the best day(s), or even if you just want to know what is going on ahead of time, here’s a breakdown of all seven days of the festival.
Monday, October 14th
- 7pm-10pm Jamah Terry on the Main Stage
- 9pm Raffle Drawing for $200
Tuesday, October 15th
- 7pm-10pm Barry & Greg on the Inside Stage
- 9pm Raffle Drawing for $200
Wednesday, October 16th
- -Professional Sand Sculpture begins by Sand Odyssey
- 7pm-10pm Cline Street on the Inside Stage
- 9pm Raffle Drawing for $200
Thursday, October 17th
- 5pm-7pm DJ Capo on the Beach Stage
- 7pm-10pm Sticky Tea on the Beach Stage
- 9pm Raffle Drawing for $500
- 10pm-til DJ Capo on the Beach Stage
Friday, October 18th
- Professional Sand Sculpture by Sand Odyssey is completed
- 5:00pm Diver registration & safety meeting begins at Spinnaker Beach Club
- 5pm-7pm DJ Capo on the Beach Stage
- 4pm-8pm 1 lb Sunset Shrimp Boil on the beach
- 7pm-10pm Will Thompson Band on the Beach Stage
- 9pm Raffle Drawing for $500
- 10pm-til DJ Capo on the Inside Stage
Saturday, October 19th
- Dive Tournament begins
- 8:30am Registration for Sandcastle & Sand Sculpting Contests begins
- 9am Open Division for advanced Sandcastle & Sand Sculpting begins
- 10am Sandcastle & Sand Sculpting Contest for Youth and Adult/Family begins
- 10am Restaurant Opens with Lobster Specialty Items available
- 10am-2pm Beach Stage goes live with DJ Capo, Music & Contests
- 11am-til Lobster Feast on the Beach begins
- 2pm Sandcastle & Sand Sculpting competition ends – All divisions
- 2pm-5pm Will Thompson Trio on the Beach Stage
- 3pm Sand Sculpting Awards Presentation on the Beach Stage
- 3pm Weigh-Ins start. Scales close at 5pm
- 5pm-7pm DJ Capo on the Beach Stage
- 7pm-10pm Chris LeBlanc on the Beach Stage
- 9pm Raffle Drawing for $500
- 10pm-til DJ Capo on the Beach Stage
Sunday, October 20th
- 10am-Noon Beach Stage goes live with DJ Capo, Music & Contests
- 11am-6pm Lobster Feast on the Beach & Beach Party
- Noon-3pm Barry Fish Band on the Beach Stage
- Noon-3pm Weigh-Ins Resume. Scales close at 3pm
- 3pm-4pm DJ Capo on the Beach Stage
- 4pm-7pm Chris LeBlanc on the Beach Stage
- 4:30pm Lobster Auction & Diver Awards on the Main Stage
- 5pm End of Raffle Ticket Sales
- 6pm GRAND PRIZE DRAWING!
- 7pm-til DJ Capo on the Beach Stage
The Best Resorts for the Best Lobster Fest Experience
When searching for a place to stay in Panama City Beach, you really should consider booking a condo at Regency Towers or Treasure Island Resort Condominiums. Both Resorts are a short walk away from Schooner’s so you can enjoy every day of the Lobster Festival without the hassle of finding a parking spot. As a matter of fact you can walk along the beach from the back of your resort right up to the event!
Regency Towers
For over 40 years, Regency Towers has been providing million dollar views at affordable rates. If you’re looking for something to do when you’re not at the Schooner’s Lobster Fest, check out one of their pools located just 50 feet from the Gulf. There is also an amazing restaurant located on site as well as an open air Tiki Bar right outside.
Treasure Island Resort Condos
If you are truly looking for the ultimate experience for the Lobster Festival, look no further than Treasure Island! This is a popular choice for Schooner’s patrons as not only is mere steps away from the “Last Local Beach Club”, but all the festivities can be seen and heard from the beachside balcony, making it feel like the party never ends!
