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Crackdown on Spring Break Revelry Hits Christian Event

Private promoters canceled a series of scheduled Christian music concerts that locals hoped would bring business back to one of Florida's most popular beach hotspots — Panama City. The new concept was introduced as the Gulf Coast beach town tries to shed off the rowdiness associated with spring break.

Organizers for RoadTrip Spring Break 2017 promised three weekends in March that would create a "beach party for 18- to 25-year-olds, where Christians from coast-to-coast gather to redefine spring break." Tickets sales were low so the event didn't push through.

"Unfortunately, we put the words 'spring break' in our advertisements," said Clair Pease, who owns Laketown Wharf resort where the event was supposed to be held. "We should have never used those words. It could have been so good." She built a convention space for the event but is now saddened by the lost concert opportunity.

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Panama City put in place new restrictions on alcohol and stepped up law enforcement after troubles broke during last year's college spring break. Authorities banned alcohol on public beaches, cut bar hours and prohibited gatherings in parking lots of closed establishments.

Students of metro Atlanta schools got the message and went elsewhere like South Padre Island in Texas, Alabama's Orange Beach and Miami. The restrictions worked as arrests logged by the Bay County Sheriff's Office in beach zones fell by more than half, the Atlanta Journal reported.

But businesses were hit. Pease, who owns a number of condos that rely on out-of-town visitors said there were fewer bookings while rates fell by almost 55 percent compared to two years ago. Service workers also have lesser take-home pay. Waitress Heather Lopez worked double shifts but still ended up down $3,000 for the year.

Meanwhile, Premier Productions said it is still interested in bringing RoadTrip to Panama City Beach in the future.

"The timing was just not right at this point," said RoadTrip Director Michael Pugh. "We are still committed to redefining what spring break means in this fantastic resort location."

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