Pensacola Events
Pensacola Headlines
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 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
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
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)
Play at the University of West Florida
Season is from June through August
850-934-8444
The Pensacola Power is part of the National Women's Football Association. The Power have won multiple championships.
