Thunder rumbles into Panama City Beach

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL — Thunder Beach bikers are rumbling into Bay County this week and will kick off the festivities with an official party tonight.
   
The popular show band Eli will provide entertainment at the party, which will be from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Shores of Panama Resort, next door to Pineapple Willy’s on South Thomas Drive. The Miss Thunder Beach Pageant also will hold its first preliminary round.
   
After the kickoff, Pineapple Willy’s, which is a new official venue this year, will continue the party with the Twice Daily Band from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Pineapple Willy’s Pier Bar also will host a raffle Saturday at 8p.m.whereBlackJackCustom Cycles will give away a 2009 Harley-Davidson Sportster to benefit Sponsors of Hope, a local charity for underprivileged children.
   
Along Panama City Beach this week, thousands of biker and their families will be joining in the ninth annual Thunder Beach Autumn Rally. This is actually the 20th rally, counting both autumn and spring events, said Jenifer Norby, sales and marketing director for Thunder Beach Productions.
   
The event just keeps growing. New this year will be Saturday’s Bikers Bash Ball at Newby’s Too from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., with proceeds going to benefit breast cancer prevention, Norby said.
   
All week long, visitors and locals can go to venues such as Pier Park, The Shoppes at Edgewater, Club La Vela and Frank Brown Park to enjoy the many exhibitions by vendors, builders and manufacturers.
   
The Thunder Beach Welcome Center will be at the Boardwalk Beach Resort, where the convention center will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily and more than 20,000 square feet of floor space will be devoted to vendors and exhibits. The resort’s pavilion will feature the Full Throttle Bike Show on Thursday and the Miss Thunder Beach Finals on Friday.