PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – Panama City Beach’s Oktoberfest is back at Aaron Besant Park for the first time since 2019.
“We had over 1,000 kids 12-and-under here, so it was a great family-fun event,” said Grant Wittstrack, the event’s marketing coordinator.
According to the representatives of the event, the local economy is also written positively.
“The economic impact of the destination is hundreds of thousands of dollars in people coming to town like this,” Whitsterk said.
Small business owners said the arrangement has been good for them after dealing with the Covid outbreak for the past two years.
“I think it helps promote your local business owners, especially the smaller ones,” said Elizabeth Parker, a local small business owner. “I mean post-Covid, as a small business owner it’s hurt all of us.”
Musicians had a similar story.
“It’s good for the community,” said musician Derol Fulghum. “I think it’s really troubling to see the turnout here, especially after Hurricane Michael and the pandemic.
People travel long distances for Oktoberfest.
“[We had] Five different countries, including Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands,” Wittstruck said.
Event officials said the goal is to expand the event every year.
“There’s no reason to think next year won’t be bigger,” Wittstock said.
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