Florida Jeep Jam at Hammerhead Fred’s Panama City Beach – Courtesy: Hammerhead Fred’s
PANAMA CITY BEACH – The Southeast’s most famous Jeep rally cruises back to the Gulf Coast this week.
The Florida Jeep Jam returns with approximately 2,000 Jeep drivers, 10,000 Jeep enthusiasts, and loads of Jeep-related activities along one of the “World’s Most Beautiful Beaches.”
Held at various venues along Panama City Beach, the event kicked off at 7 p.m. on Tuesday with family-friendly entertainment specially tailored for Jeep lovers.
“It’s just an intense week with so many cool things going on at Jeep Jam,” said Mark Hess, executive director of the event. “Most of the event is family-oriented so we will have something fun there for everybody.”
The seventh annual event features a lineup of fun activities each day, with the party offering giveaways and live music at Hammerhead Fred’s. On Wednesday, the celebration continues with Dunes Day off-road three-hour excursions and a Sunset Beach Party featuring Frank Fletcher playing live music at The Sandpiper Beacon Beach Resort.
On Thursday, the events will start with the Day at the Beach Party held at Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant, followed by a poker game in the afternoon to benefit the Toys For Kids Foundation of Bay County. The evening activities on Thursday include the Under the Lights obstacle course, a Jeep Jam welcome party, and a concert featuring the Velcro Pygmies.
The vendor village, which takes place on Friday and Saturday and features over 90 vendors from across the country selling anything Jeep-related, is also part of the event’s itinerary. The vendor village will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days, and admission will be $15 for two days, $10 for one day, and free for children under the age of 12.
Also on Friday is the Topless for Turtles Jeep Beach Krawl with proceeds going directly to the protection and preservation of Florida’s natural habitat for sea turtles. There will also be a corn hole tournament and a celebration at Barracuda Beach Bar and Grill.
The events end on Saturday with a Jeep Wash fundraiser, Jeep On Paint and Tasting party, live music with Bad Decisions on the vendor village main stage, and the Bon Voyage Sound Competition and Glow Off at Aaron Bessant Park.
Jeep Jam will close out 2022’s event early Sunday morning with a beachside church service at Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant. The Jeeps will then be given an official blessing.
More than $20,000 in charitable donations were made to local and national charities from last year’s Florida Jeep Jam earnings. Hess expressed his hopes that the sum raised in 2022 will be more than in prior years.
“We’re growing every year at least 25% in attendees, and Bay County’s Tourist Development Council and the local community have been behind us the whole way,” Hess said.
Jeep registration begins at $85. For a complete schedule of events and costs, visit FloridaJeepJam.com.
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.