This Florida City Welcomes Beach Season With Annual Sock Burning Festival

Meghan Overdeep
·1 min read

Residents of Panama City, Florida, have a uniquely appropriate way of ushering in warmer weather.

For 24 years running, this maritime community located on one of the largest deep-water bays on the Gulf Coast officially welcomes beach season with a festival called "Blessing of the Fleet and Burning of the Socks." Yes, you read that right.

Sock Burning Panama City
Sock Burning Panama City

Doug Dobos for Destination Panama City

For this quirky event, residents gather at a local marina and join in a prayer for local fishermen and their families while a processional of boats passes. Then, for the main event, they ring in the start of flip-flop season by tossing their socks into a porcelain bathtub and watching them go up in flames!

Sock Burning Panama City
Sock Burning Panama City

Destination Panama City

It's a festive atmosphere, with socks lining the windows of local businesses, a fish fry benefiting a local nonprofit, and live entertainment at the marina.

This year's Blessing of the Fleet and Burning of the Socks will be held at the St. Andrews Marina on Saturday, May 15 beginning at 10 a.m. CST.

As they say in Panama City, "bless the fleet and free the feet!"

For more information, visit DestinationPanamaCity.com.