Events

January

Polar Bear Dip

Held New Year’s Day

850-492-6838

The Flora-Bama Lounge on the Florida-Alabama state line on Perdido Key hosts this popular, annual splash-around in the Gulf of Mexico. Afterwards, everyone joins in a Southern tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day and warms up with good music and beverages.

Mardi Gras

Held early January until Fat Tuesday

850-434-6211 or 800-874-1299

Call for a complete schedule of events

One of the country’s original celebration sites, Pensacola hosts family-oriented Mardi Gras fun at numerous parades, where crowds catch beads and moon pies tossed from floats, as well as various contests and culinary festivals.

February

Black History Month

Held throughout February

850-474-2405

Celebrate the evolution of African-American history at several area events including a black history recital and concert at the University of West Florida with music performed by the UWF Gospel Choir.

March

Pensacola Bay International Film & Television Festival

Usually held mid-March

850-435-6851

Call for exact dates and schedule

Four days of great films, symposiums, parties, awards, and plenty of glitz and glamour.

Gallery Night

Usually held in mid-March

850-432-9906

Admission Free

Enjoy an evening of arts and culture by touring downtown art galleries open late for this quarterly event, sponsored by the Arts Council of Northwest Florida. Trolley stops along the way provide free transportation.

April

Pensacola JazzFest

Usually held in early April

850-433-8382

Admission Free

Pensacola’s historic Seville Square hosts this event filled with great jazz music performed by local and national talents.

Blue Angels Classic Senior PGA Tournament

Usually held in mid-April

850-995-3300

The best players on the senior tour congregate at The Moors, a par-70 Scottish links-style course in Milton, Fla., five minutes east of Pensacola on Interstate 10.

Interstate Mullet Toss

Usually held the third week of April

850-492-6838

Call for additional information

The Flora-Bama Lounge on the Florida-Alabama state line hosts this wacky annual tournament that has participants compete in an actual mullet toss. Live music, food, and drinks accompany this weekend.

June

The Florida Springfest

Usually held mid-June

800-874-1234

Call for additional information

This two-day musical celebration draws national headliner musical groups and thousands of people to downtown Pensacola.

Fiesta Days Celebration and Boat Parade

Usually held early June

850-433-6512

Admission Free

The Fiesta of Five Flags is an annual celebration of the founding of Pensacola, the first European settlement in the United States in 1559 by Spanish Conquistador, Don Tristan de Luna.

Bud Light King Mackeral/Cobia Tournament

Usually held the later part of June

850-932-5726

Catch some of the largest King Mackerel and Cobia in the gulf.  With over 1,200 anglers, this is a very large two-day boat event taking place in the Gulf of Mexico. Prize money and gifts are awarded.

July

Red, White, and Blues Week

Held around the 4th of July for one full week

850-932-1500

Admission Free

A big event held during Pensacola’s summer festivities; Red, White, and Blues week starts with a fireworks display on the Fourth of July. There is live music on the boardwalk each day and most nights. Festivities conclude with the world-famous Blue Angels flight show. Supported by civilian and military performers, the show is a must-see event.

Gallery Night

Usually held in mid-July

850-432-9906

Admission Free

Enjoy an evening of arts and culture by touring downtown art galleries open late for this quarterly event, sponsored by the Arts Council of Northwest Florida. Trolley stops along the way provide free transportation.

August

Thunder On the Gulf Power Boat Races

Usually held in mid-August

Annual Super Boat Grand Prix on the Gulf Coast is held in the Perdido Key area. See over 40 boats compete at speeds up to 170 mph.

September

Pensacola Seafood Festival

Usually held around the third week of September

850-434-6211

Held in the Seville Square area of historic downtown Pensacola, the festival features delicious fare and live entertainment.

October

Pensacola Interstate Fair

Pensacola Fairgrounds

U.S. Highway 90 West

Held each October

850-944-4500

Admission Charged

Pensacola Interstate Fair offers entertainment, rides, food and exhibits for 11 days every October.  Fun for the family.  The Pensacola Interstate Fair is a star-spangled parade of exhibits and features arranged and planned for everyone's supreme satisfaction!

Haunted House Walking Tours and Trolley Tours

Usually held in late October

850-433-1559

Admission Charged

Narrated tours led by costumed guides visit 39 sites around the Seville and North Hill historic districts where ghostly sightings are researched and documented by the Pensacola Historical Society.

November

Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show

Pensacola Naval Air Station

Usually held the second week of November

850-452-BLUE

Admission Free

With Pensacola as its home base, the Navy’s precision flight-demonstration team, the Blue Angels, performs two air shows in the area each year.

Gallery Night

Usually held in mid-November

850-432-9906

Admission Free

Enjoy an evening of arts and culture by touring downtown art galleries open late for this quarterly event, sponsored by the Arts Council of Northwest Florida. Trolley stops along the way provide free transportation.

Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival

Usually held in early November

850-432-9906

Admission Free

The Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival hosts more than 200 fine art and craft exhibitors from around the country and attracts 150,000 art fans to Pensacola’s historic Seville Square. Also features activity-packed children’s arts area and live entertainment on several stages.

The Frank Brown International Songwriter’s Festival

Usually held in mid-November

850-492-7664

This annual event held at several Perdido Key and Pensacola venues, features songwriters from throughout the country who showcase their talent in a competition atmosphere.

December

St. Anne’s Christmas Lights

Held Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day

850-456-5966

Admission Free, Donation for Parking

Over a million lights illuminate the church grounds in a spectacular display that also features free refreshments.

ZOOLights

Held Thanksgiving throughout New Year’s Day

850-932-2229

Admission Charged

The ZOO in Gulf Breeze hosts this event with holiday and animal scenes decorated with more than a million lights. Nightly entertainment rounds out the fun.

Christmas on the Island

Usually held early December

800-635-4803

Celebrate Pensacola Beach’s holiday spirit with a land parade followed by a boat parade along Santa Rosa Sound.

  Arts and Entertainment

The Pensacola Opera

75 South Tarragona Street

Pensacola, FL 32501

850-433-6737       Hours:  Mon - Fri    9 AM - 5 PM

The Pensacola Symphony

205 E. Zaragoza Street

Pensacola, FL 32502

850-435-2533

Season runs October – May, call for additional information

Theater

Center for the Fine and Performing Arts

University of West Florida

11000 University Parkway

Pensacola, FL 32514

850-474-2000

Season runs October – April, call for additional information

Pensacola Little Theatre

400 South Jefferson Street

Pensacola, Florida 32502

850-432-2042

Season begins in September, call for additional information

Saenger Theatre

118 South Palafox Place Pensacola, Florida 32501 850-444-7699

Call for additional information

Since 1925, the theatre has had a major presence in Pensacola.  From Vaudeville to Broadway, it has hosted it all.  Whether its music, a Broadway play or an individual performance, this “grand dame” has it all. 

Sports

Five Flags Speedway

7451 Pine Forest Road

Pensacola, FL 32526

850-944-8400

Pensacola Greyhound Track offers live racing excitement and simulcast horse racing events.

Catch the thrill of high-speed action-packed greyhound racing. Join the fun in the fully-enclosed, climate-controlled Kennel Club, Lounge, or Grandstand-- or enjoy rail side seating outdoors for a close-up look at the excitement!

The Pensacola Ice Pilots (East Coast Hockey League)

Play in the Pensacola Civic Center

Season is fall and winter

201 East Gregory Street - Rear Pensacola, FL 32502-4956

850-432-PUCK (7825)

The Pensacola Pelicans

Play at the University of West Florida

Season is from June through August

850-934-8444