HORIZONS: A SEASON SHARED ACROSS BAY COUNTY
We are thrilled to expand our performances across Bay County this season!
Join us for a memorable season at the Barbara W. Nelson Fine Arts Center (Bay High School), St. Andrews Baptist Church, and the Helen Blackburn Auditorium (J.R. Arnold High School).
Each location offers convenient parking and full accessibility, making it easier than ever to share the music with friends and family.
BARBARA W. NELSON FINE ARTS CENTER
Experience Panama City Symphony in a contemporary venue designed for the ultimate guest experience. Featuring a generous seating capacity of 700 and an elegant foyer, the venue blends modern style with comfort. The hall is thoughtfully designed for all guests, including dedicated seating for guests with disabilities.
Golf cart shuttles will be available from the parking areas.
Please contact the PCS Office to make additional accessibility accommodations (850) 785‐7677
PARKING AND DIRECTIONS
To Barbara W. Nelson Fine Arts Center at Bay High School
Convenient parking is available at the Barbara W. Nelson Fine Arts Center. You may access parking on Harrison Avenue directly across from the Fine Arts Center, as well as a parking lot located at the corner of 13th Street and Magnolia Avenue. Additional parking is located along Magnolia Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets, and a small parking area behind the Cobb Gymnasium.
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE AT BARBARA W. NELSON FINE ARTS CENTER
Convenient to Historic Downtown Panama City, our location offers you access to accommodations and a variety of local dining choices to enjoy. Whether dinner before arriving for the concert, or relaxing after the performance, you can make it a memorable evening with family and friends. Learn more at the links below.
PANAMA CITY RESTAURANTSPANAMA CITY ACCOMMODATIONS
ST. ANDREW BAPTIST CHURCH
Experience the symphony in the beautifully renovated and acoustically outstanding environment of St. Andrew Baptist Church. This contemporary venue features state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems managed by expert personnel to ensure a flawless performance. Guests will enjoy comfortable, individual seating with ample legroom—including 420 seats on the main floor and 333 in the balcony (753 seats)—while the spacious, elegant foyer offers the perfect setting to visit with friends before the concert or during intermission.
PARKING AND DIRECTIONS
To St Andrew Baptist Church
Located at 3010 W. 15th Street on the corner of 15th Street and Beck Avenue, St. Andrew Baptist Church is easily accessible from all points in Bay County. Guests will find extensive, well-lit parking lots conveniently located directly on the church campus. For the easiest entry to the foyer and concert, enter on the doors closest to Beck and 15th street.
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE AT THE ST ANDREW BAPTIST CHURCH VENUE
Historic St. Andrews has history as a former fishing village and an early site for mining salt. Today, it’s a quaint bayside area bustling with marina activity and boasting some of Panama City’s best places to eat, drink, listen to live music, and stroll through a weekend farmer’s market, all with breathtaking bay views in the background. Explore historic buildings, grab a drink or just wander around the bayside park.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HISTORIC ST ANDREWS
HELEN BLACKBURN AUDITORIUM
At J. R. Arnold High School
Building on the unforgettable success of our February 2026 Andrew Lloyd Webber Symphonic Suites concert—where patrons raved about the venue’s magnificent sound—we are excited to include Helen Blackburn Auditorium as one of our 2026-27 venues. To further elevate your experience, this premier 1,000-seat venue will undergo a significant renovation starting in the summer of 2026. Updates will include a refreshed interior, fresh paint, and a modernized foyer featuring a built-in box office to welcome our guests in style.
We are particularly thrilled to leverage the venue’s expansive space between the audience and the stage to bring the orchestra closer to you. The seating, combined with the wonderful acoustics our audience has already come to love, will make this revitalized space the perfect, intimate backdrop for some of our 2027 concert performances.
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE AT HELEN BLACKBURN AUDITORIUM
Make your night with the Symphony the centerpiece of a perfect day out. The auditorium is ideally located just steps away from local restaurants, shopping, and entertainment, as well as miles of beautiful beaches. Elevate your concert experience by pairing the performance with a pre-show dinner, a stroll along the shore, or a post-concert drink. Whether you are a local resident or visiting from out of town, it is easy to build an unforgettable day around an exceptional evening of live symphony music.
DISCOVER RESTAURANTS IN PANAMA CITY BEACH DISCOVER ACCOMMODATIONS IN PANAMA CITY BEACH
PARKING AND DIRECTIONS
To Helen Blackburn Auditorium at J. R. Arnold High School
Helen Blackburn Arnold Auditorium is located at 550 N Alf Coleman Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32407, within J.R. Arnold High School. It is accessible via Panama City Beach Parkway (Back Beach Road), and plentiful parking is available on the school campus. The auditorium is the building to the left of the Marlin statue.
A FEW HELPFUL HINTS FOR OUR PERFORMANCES
- Please silence any cell phones, watches, or other electronic devices during the performance.
- We ask that photos and videos not be taken during the performance. Feel free to take photos/video at any time other than when the orchestra is playing and tag us on social media!
- Arrive late? Ushers can assist you to your seat during a pause in the program.
- Can’t make the concert? Contact us to surrender your tickets so that we may open those seats to others.
For questions and additional information, please contact us at 850-785-7677 or by email at patronservices@panamacitysymphony.org
