PANAMA CITY BEACH — The thunder will continue to roll in Panama City Beach this week, even after the skies clear.
The 16th annual Thunder Beach Rally kicks off Wednesday night rain or shine, with about 50,000 motorcycle enthusiasts expected to ride into town through the weekend.
Joe Biggs, owner of Thunder Beach Productions, said the storms should subside before the rally gets into full swing Thursday, with the weekend forecast looking good for rally patrons.
“The rain is really not going to affect us,” Biggs said Tuesday. “Unless there’s a tropical storm or hurricane coming, it really doesn’t keep people from the event.”
More than 200 vendors will set up across 10 venues this year, the biggest at Frank Brown Park, with plenty of live music, bike demonstrations and even a high-wire motorcycle show through Sunday.
Biggs said the event has seen tremendous growth over the years, and it attracts a specific demographic of riders.
“This event is an event that attracts a higher-end rider,” he said. “I think our audience spends more per capita than any other that comes into this market.”
Biggs said the spring rally is the bigger of the two rallies Thunder Beach Productions hosts annually, with the second taking place in October.
“The reason we have the quality of vendors we bring in is because they do well here,” said Biggs, who is notoriously selective about vendors.
The official Thunder Beach Kickstart Party takes place at Hammerhead Fred’s beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, featuring live music and the first round of the Miss Thunder Beach Pageant.
Biggs said the rally is marketed as a resort town event, with a goal to put “heads in beds” at local hotels and condominiums.
Dan Rowe, director of the Bay County Tourist Development Council, said events like Thunder Beach help the destination boost visitor traffic before the busy summer season kicks off in Panama City Beach.
“It’s wonderful to have so much going on in the middle of April as we’re rolling into our summer tourist season,” Rowe said. “June and July are the two biggest months of the year that we have, so this really does help in the spring and the fall.”
Last weekend, the Seabreeze Jazz Festival brought substantial traffic to the beach.
“There was a wonderful crowd at the Seabreeze Jazz Festival,” Rowe said. “They sold out Saturday night and had very strong crowds for the rest of the festival.”
Wednesday's schedule
9 a.m.-6 p.m.: Giant used bike tent sale, Harley-Davidson of PCB
3 p.m.: Indoor/outdoor vendor village opens, Boardwalk Beach Resort
5 p.m.-9 p.m.: Live music by Clay Musgrave, Sharky’s Beach Club
6 p.m.-10 p.m.: Official Thunder Beach Kick-Start Party, Hammerhead Fred’s
7 p.m.: Official Miss Thunder Beach Pageant (first preliminary), Hammerhead Fred’s
Source: ThunderBeachProductions.com