More than 200 vendors and exhibitors will be at the Official Venues during the week. There is free live entertainment and contests across the beach, from a Bike Parade, Beauty Pageants and Poker Runs to Motorcycle Stunt Shows, Tattoo Contests and Bike Shows with category judging.

Official Thunder Beach Merchandise tents are at each venue. The venues are Boar's Head, Club La Vela, Frank Brown Park, Pier Park, Pineapple Willy's and Pier Bar, Sharky's Beachfront Restaurant and Tiki Bar, The Shoppes at Edgewater and The Wicked Wheel. All venues are open from 9 a.m. 9 p.m. (unless otherwise noted in the Schedule of Events at ThunderBeachProductions.com). There are no gates, no admission fees and free parking. Local sponsors have daily specials on food and drink and special rates on rooms.

If you think you've seen all Thunder Beach has to offer, then you should take a hint from the safety bumper sticker and "look twice." The Thunder Beach 2012 Spring Rally has rolled into town with more concerts, vendors, contests, stunt shows, group rides and more than ever before.

A new contest for the Spring Rally, "CRUZ4CA$H," encourages participants to visit 20 of the official sponsors. Purchase your CRUZ4CA$H card for only $20 from one of the many charities located at each of the official Thunder Beach venues. Then visit the other venues, look for the tents with the CRUZ4CA$H banner, and get their special stamp on your card. For each stop you make, you get a chance to win cash (20 stops means 20 chances to win). The winner will be announced Sunday and contacted by phone or email. First prize is $3,500.

As usual, the Welcome Center and Vendor Villages will be open at Shoppes at Edgewater, Boar's Head, Pineapple Willy's, Wicked Wheel and Sharky's Beach Club from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday (Villages at Club LaVela and Frank Brown Park close at 7 p.m.), and 9 a.m. to noon Sunday. Grab demo rides from vendors Yamaha, Can-Am and Boss Hoss 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Pier Park.

Music is a huge part of the Thunder Beach experience, with concerts throughout the weekend at official locations. (See below for places, bands and times.)

You will also find some community fundraising associated with the event, both officially and otherwise. (For official charity events see the "Poker Runs and Parade" section below.) One of the unofficial fundraisers is a bike wash 10 a.m.-until Thursday at Keefe & Sons Electric, 2431 U.S. 231 Unit A, in Panama City; the wash will raise money for The STARR Center, a non-profit club house for individuals with disabilities.

The weekend will finish with two Blessing of the Bikes events: Join Woodlawn Church for blessing of the bikes at 8:30 a.m. at Sharky's Beach Club, or the Christian Motorcycle Association at 10 a.m. Sunday at Edgewater, followed by a scenic ride around the beaches departing from Edgewater at 10:30 a.m.

Stunts and Shows

The Ives Bros. will repeat their Wall of Death show every 90 minutes Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Wicked Wheel, and will perform their Ramp to Ramp jump show at Frank Brown Park three times a day.

Aficionados of vintage rides won't want to miss the Old Skool Road Show Traveling Antique Motorcycle Experience all day every day at Wicked Wheel, or the Old School Bike Show at 3 p.m. Friday at Ms. Newby's.

The Official Thunder Beach Best of the Beach Custom Bike Show will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Pier Park. Sponsored by Steel Horse Law and presented by USRiderNews, bikes will be judged in 16 classes with $10,000 in cash and prizes on the line. Proceeds will benefit local Shriner charities. Awards will be given out at 4 p.m.

Beauty Contests

Daric "The Hitman" Daniels will emcee the Official Miss Thunder Beach Pageant rounds at 7 p.m. Thursday at Hammerhead Fred's and 7 p.m. Friday at Wicked Wheel, as well as the finale at 7 p.m. Saturday at Hooters on Front Beach Road. Daniels will also emcee the Ms. Thunder Beach pageant at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Shoppes at Edgewater main stage; this contest is limited to women age 35 and older.

Also at 2 p.m. Saturday, Club LaVela will have a Thunder Beach Bikini Contest.

Full Throttle Magazine will be looking for a new model with contests in the pavilion at Boardwalk Beach Resort. A pre-contest photo shoot for Miss Full Throttle Panama City Beach will be Saturday 4 to 6 p.m., and for the Real Women of Full Throttle ("for biker babes that don't want to compete against teen swimsuit models") from 1 to 3 p.m.

A cover girl photo contest will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily Thursday-Sunday at Sharky's on Panama City Beach. Aspiring models are invited come out for your chance to win the cover of Thunder Road NFL/AL edition.

Poker Runs and Parade

Thursday, the Poker Run is sponsored by the Shaddai Shriners and starts with registration at Reggae J's at noon. Stops are at Sharky's, Barefoot Beach Club, Red Door Saloon, Sugar Sands Inn & Suites and Hammerhead Fred's, ending at 5 p.m. with prizes.

Friday, the Defenders LE will sponsor a poker run from 12:30 to 5. Registration is noon at Pineapple Willy's, with card stops at Boar's Head, Hooters on Thomas Drive, the Plaza Motel/Banana Peel, Coyote Ugly and Wicked Wheel. First bike out is 12:30 p.m., last bike in at final stop at 4:30 p.m. and prizes awarded at 5 p.m.

Line-up for the annual Sgt. Kevin Kight Memorial Bike Parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday on the southwest corner of Richard Jackson Boulevard at Middle Beach Road, with kickstands up and parade commencing at 11 a.m. sharp. Sponsored by the Panama City Beach Police Department and White Sands Riders, the parade benefits Cops for Kids.

Saturday's poker run will follow from noon to 5 p.m., starting with registration at Rock'It Lanes and card stops at Newby's Too, Ritz Store, Dirty Dick's and Whiskey's Saloon. The event is sponsored by Red Knights MC and Fire & Iron MC.

Thunder Beach Concerts

THURSDAY

Sandpiper Beacon Tiki Bar: Body painting, 345 Express from noon to 4 p.m., Big Engine from 4-8 p.m. and 11 p.m.-until, Mustang Sally from 8-11 p.m. Free entry, front row parking, drink specials, beach stage. Details: 234-2150 or SandpiperBeacon.com/ThunderBeach.

Shoppes at Edgewater: Noon to 4 p.m., Sticky Tea performs; 4 to 8 p.m., The Dan Lawson Band; 8 p.m. Wall of Echoes (a tribute to Pink Floyd);

Others: Horizon at Ms. Newby's at 8 p.m.; Kevin Jacobs and Terry Brock at Wicked Wheel, 8:30 p.m.; ZZ Top Tribute band Velcro Fly at Pineapple Willy's, 8:30 p.m.; Buckcherry with James Durbin and Redlight King at Club LaVela, 9 p.m.; Geneva at the Sharky's Tiki Bar, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

FRIDAY

Pineapple Willy's: Sin Seven, 5 to 8 p.m.; Kevin Jacobs & Terry Brock, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Sandpiper Beacon Tiki Bar: Body painting, 345 Express noon to 4 p.m., Big Engine 4 to 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.-until, Eli 8 to 11 p.m.

Sharky's Beach Club: Clay Musgrave, 4 to 8 p.m.; Geneva, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Shoppes at Edgewater: Sammy & The Slammerz from noon to 4 p.m.; King Cotton 4 to 8 p.m.; Highway to Hell (tribute to AC/DC ) 8 to 10 p.m.

Wicked Wheel: Velcro Fly, 5 to 8 p.m.; The Dan Lawson Band, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Others: Todd Simpson & Mojo Child at Ms. Newby's, 8 p.m.; Jackyl with Nigel Dupree Band at Club LaVela, 9 p.m.

SATURDAY

Pineapple Willy's: Sin Seven , 5 p.m.; The Dan Lawson Band , 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Sandpiper Beacon Tiki Bar: Body painting, 345 Express noon to 4 p.m., Joe Santana's Kingfish 4 to 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.-until, Eli 8 to 11 p.m.

Sharky's Beach Club: Clay Musgrave, 4 to 8 p.m.; Geneva, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Shoppes at Edgewater: The Ayers, noon to 4 p.m.; Kelly & The Healers, 4 to 8 p.m.; Highway to Hell, 8 to 10 p.m.

Wicked Wheel: Tombstone Beltbuckle, 7 p.m.; Kevin Jacobs &Terry Brock, 8:30 p.m.

Others: Set The Control (Pink Floyd Tribute) 7-9 p.m. at Club La Vela; Todd Simpson & Mojo Child , 8 p.m. to midnight at Ms. Newby's.

SUNDAY

Sharky's Beach Club: Clay Musgrave 4 to 8 p.m.; Geneva 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Others: Sterling Silver, 3 to 7 p.m. at Sandpiper Beacon; 345 Express, 8 p.m. to midnight at Ms. Newby's