Music, Mystery, And Local Magic: Panama City Songwriters Festival Returns With A Twist This Weekend

Panama City, FL. — Downtown Panama City will come alive this weekend as the Panama City Songwriters Festival celebrates its seventh year, bringing with it a new interactive twist and a spotlight on undiscovered talent.

Running Thursday, November 6th through Saturday, November 8th, this year’s event introduces “4 Rooms: A Time Traveler’s Jukebox,” an immersive experience that takes festivalgoers on a musical and venue scavenger hunt through the heart of downtown. Each clue leads to a different location, blending live music, art, and surprise elements for a one-of-a-kind community adventure.

The two-day festival features 65 artists performing across eight venues, all within walking distance of one another. “What I love most is that you can park your car and stay,” said Will Thompson, the event’s organizer. “The town swells with people having fun, smiling, eating, supporting local businesses, and hearing music bouncing off the walls.”

What makes this grassroots event stand out is its homegrown spirit: locally sponsored, community-driven, and intentionally kept small enough to maintain a personal feel. “It’s not too big or too corporate,” Thompson said. “It’s about undiscovered talent.”

Unlike larger music festivals that rely on big-name headliners, the Panama City Songwriters Festival prides itself on finding hidden gems. “We look for amazing new musicians no one’s ever heard of before,” Thompson explained. “This is their platform to play their music and sing their songs.”

Nearly 85% of the artists are chosen through a submission-based process on the festival’s website. A rotating listening board reviews each anonymous entry purely on performance and songwriting quality, ensuring fairness and fresh discovery every year.

Two-day tickets are $50 for general admission or $125 for VIP access, which includes two complimentary drinks per day and entry to nightly after parties. Saturday’s after-party is open to all attendees. Festival check-in takes place at the Panama City Center for the Arts, and tickets can be purchased in advance or on the day of the event.

For tickets and full lineup details, visit www.pcsongwriters.com.