Conch Shells & Community: Little Village Festival Makes Historic Splash in St. Andrews

Little Village Conch Shell Festival Returns to Historic St. Andrews September 19

Live music, conch shell blowing, island-inspired food and family fun come together for one of St. Andrews’ quirkiest coastal celebrations.

Frank Gotaas

Sep 12, 2026

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Historic St. Andrews will be sounding a little more tropical on Saturday, September 19, when the Little Village Conch Shell Festival 2026 returns to Panama City for its fifth year.

The all-day celebration runs from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Little Village, 2808 W. 12th Street in Panama City, bringing together live local music, food, children’s activities and, of course, plenty of conch shell blowing. The festival is held in honor of Cap’n Scuba and celebrates the fun, laid-back coastal community that has long defined Little Village and St. Andrews.

The Cap’n Scuba Memorial Conch Shell Blowing Contest

The centerpiece of the festival is the Cap’n Scuba Memorial Conch Shell Blowing Contest, scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

The contest is open to all ages, giving festivalgoers the chance to put their conch-blowing skills to the test for prizes and bragging rights. For anyone who has never tried blowing a conch shell before, organizers are also planning on-the-spot conch shell blowing lessons during the event.

Adding to the festival tradition will be the return of the Queen of Conch and Conch Princess, helping give the event the kind of playful personality that fits right in with Little Village.

Live Music Throughout the Day

Music is a big part of the festival, with two local acts scheduled to perform beneath Little Village's Palapa.

Jeffery Bouet & The Barefoot Gimlets will perform from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., providing the afternoon soundtrack leading into the conch shell contest.

Later in the day, Nothing Short of Pure takes the stage from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for the festival’s sunset jam. The Panama City group is associated with a mix of reggae, indie rock and ska, making it a natural fit for the waterfront island atmosphere.

Food from FINNS and Activities for the Kids

Festivalgoers should plan to arrive hungry. FINNS Island Style Grub, located at Little Village, is preparing special Conch Festival food offerings created specifically for the celebration. Organizers describe the menu as featuring tropical and island-inspired flavors that won't normally be available on an everyday visit.

FINNS and Little Village have long shared the waterfront property.Little Village describes itself as a place to shop, snack, listen and relax, offering fair-trade goods, locally made art, live music and food from FINNS Island Style Grub.

Families will also find something for younger festivalgoers. Panama City arts organization Floriopolis will host kids' arts and crafts during the day.

The event is also promoted as pet-friendly, so four-legged family members are welcome to join the celebration. Little Village itself is listed as a family-friendly and pet-friendly destination with outdoor dining and live entertainment.

A Celebration That Fits St. Andrews

One of the things that makes the Conch Shell Festival stand out is its location. Little Village sits along the water in Historic St. Andrews, surrounded by trees, decks and the relaxed atmosphere for which the neighborhood is known.

Rather than feeling like a traditional large festival, this one embraces the personality of the venue: local musicians, creative activities, island food and a crowd gathered around the waterfront to see who can make the loudest sound from a conch shell.

Little Village Conch Shell Festival 2026

Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Little Village

Address: 2808 W. 12th St., Panama City, FL 32401
Conch Shell Blowing Contest: 3:00 p.m.
Jeffery Bouet & The Barefoot Gimlets: 12:00–3:00 p.m.
Nothing Short of Pure: 6:00–9:00 p.m.

Also: Kids' arts and crafts, conch shell lessons, Queen of Conch & Conch Princess, and FINNS festival food specials.

For Bay County residents looking for something a little different to do on a September Saturday, the Little Village Conch Shell Festival offers a distinctly St. Andrews combination of music, food, family fun and coastal character.

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