Schooner's Lobster Feast and Sand Sculpting Contest

The annual Schooner's Lobster Festival and Tournament returns for its 17th year. If your near Panama City Beach, Florida around the second weekend in September, any year, you need to go to this event. All activities mentioned in this review except; the lobster tournament, explained later, and the Sunday Feast, where you get to eat the tournaments catch, are free of charge.

This years event began September 15th at Schooner's on the Beach. Their sand sculpting contest became a part of this annual event 8 years ago. This year September 16th is the day to watch these masterpieces come to life. The contest is for the entire family with several age categories; 12 years and younger, 13 to 17 years of age, 18 years and older, and families. Families category is for those that want to compete with a team effort. Children, Parents, Grandparents, Cousins, Uncles and Aunts. Finally, for professionals and aspiring professionals, the Open contest. Sanding Ovations will create this years centerpiece. They produce works of art all over the world. It is my understanding that Suzanne Altmare and Meredith Carson will be constructing this years masterpiece.

The Lobster Tournament is the main event, especially for the entered divers. The tournament rules are strict. Registration for the divers is $85.00 and they are responsible for their own transportation and dive gear. All lobsters must be caught by hand only between the end of the safety briefing on September 15th and 3 P.M. September 17th, 2006. Only lobsters caught between longitude 84.5 degrees and 86.5 degrees west qualify. All catches are subject to autopsy, must be caught legally, and brought to the boat without assistance. The safety briefing ends late Friday so most contestants will be navigating to the tournament grounds in the dark and staying until mid Sunday before returning. Not for the feint of heart.