Horse Show & Music Festival Brings Best-of-Breed Entertainment to Panama City Beach

One of America's Largest Equestrian Celebrations:


PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (April 16, 2008) - One of America's largest equestrian celebrations, the Tenth Annual Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show and Music Festival, will be held on sunny Panama City Beach, Fla., Wed., April 23 - Sat., April 26. Now a four-day event, equestrian lovers will be in for an experience of music, arts, crafts, food and fun during this notable charity event.

The award-winning festival draws thousands of travelers and locals annually. This year's event returns to Frank Brown Park, 16200 Panama City Beach Parkway (Back Beach Road). General admission is $12.00/adult day pass, with children ages six and under free. Parking is free.

National and regional entertainers perform daily from the main stage before and after equestrian shows. Live musical performances are among the festival highlights, and on this year's bill is headliner Jeff Cook & The Allstar Goodtime Band, Kenny Kidd, and back by popular demand, the Ivey Brothers promise crowd-pleasing performances of classic beach hits.

Also featured throughout the festival: an array of artwork displays, handicrafts, saddle gear, special games and prizes for family members of all ages. Children enjoy pony rides, face painting and amusement rides as part of the festival.

The main attraction is the horse showmanship. The Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show and Music Festival has earned multiple national awards, including the 2005 Reserve Champion Best Multi-Night Horse Show by the National Walking Horse Trainers' Association. This year's festival features more than 500 horses and exhibitors from around the country. Competitors are judged in roughly 60 equestrian event categories for a grand prize of $50,000.

In addition to attending shows, visitors can sample the local cuisine, and see why Panama City Beach is called the "Seafood Capital of the South." Enjoy grilled shrimp, seafood gumbo, grilled pompano, fried grouper, scallops, crab and lobster. Barbecue, Chinese cuisine, funnel cakes, ice cream, apple dumplings and more are also part of the savory selection.

The Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show & Music Festival is committed to raising funds for worthy causes in the surrounding communities. Since its inception in 1999, the organization has contributed more than $640,000 to aid regional charities, civic organizations and parks. This year, the Gulf Coast Charity Celebration partners with Anchorage Children's Home to be the home's largest fundraiser of the year.

For more information on the 2008 Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show and Music Festival, call (850) 914-9030 or visit http://www.gulfcoasthorseshow.com.

About Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach boasts 27 miles of sugar, white-sand beaches bordering the clear, emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay. The Northwest Florida destination was cited as one of America's Most Beautiful Beaches by Condé Nast Traveler, 2006. Additional recognition as a top beach destination comes from The Travel Channel, USA Today, Southern Living, Dr. Beach and the Clean Beaches Council. Family attractions, championship golf courses, sporting events, delectable dining, predictably sunny weather and a vast number of recreational activities draw visitors to this seaside destination annually. For more information, call 1-800-PCBEACH (850-233-6503) or visit http://www.thebeachloversbeach.com.

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