Pensacola's 2008 Calendar of Events
Jan 4, 2008
Mark your calendar for a year of unique festivals and cultural happenings in the City of Five Flags. Distant travelers and Pensacola locals will delight in the variety of events throughout the year celebrating nature, fitness, food, culture and history. Whether you are interested in wading in the pristine waters of the Gulf of Mexico in January for the Polar Bear Dip or sampling some of the Gulf's freshest and most delicious seafood during Pensacola"s Seafood Festival, there is surely something for everyone. Most festivals are family-friendly, so bring the entire group and have a blast.

Polar Bear Dip. Jan. 1. 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 (whoever finds a dime in their peas has good luck for the year) and warms up with good music and beverages. (850) 492-0611.

Pensacola Beach Run. Jan. 5. Presented by Pensacola Runners Association and hosted by Hilton Garden Inn. The race starts at 8 a.m. and proceeds along the waterfront on beautiful Pensacola Beach. The run includes a 5K, 10K and half-marathon course. The first 800 registered people are guaranteed a microfiber wind shirt. The post race party is in Flounder’s Chowder House. www.pensacolarunners.com.

Mardi Gras. Feb. 1-3. 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. www.pensacolamardigras.com.

Pensacola Double Bridge Run. Feb. 2. A 15K course takes runners over two bridges crossing Pensacola Bay and Santa Rosa Sound, from downtown Pensacola to Pensacola Beach. A 5K course welcomes both runners and walkers, and a Kids Fun Run wraps up the action along the Gulf of Mexico. Entry fees range from $16-$25. Race starts at 8 a.m. (850) 434-2800, www.pensacolasports.com.

Pensacola Marathon. Feb. 17. The race will begin at 6:30 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park near the corner of 9th Ave. and Bayfront Pkwy. The 26.2-mile scenic USATF-certified course is one of the last Boston Marathon Qualifiers in the Southeast. The course begins and ends in Historic Downtown Pensacola and winds along Pensacola Bay and through neighborhoods crowned with oaks. (850) 435-9222, www.pensacolamarathon.com.

Black History Month. Throughout February. Celebrate African-American history at several area events including the Black History Recital and Concert at the University of West Florida with music performed by the UWF Gospel Choir. (850) 469-1299, www.africanamericanheritagesociety.org.

Gulf Coast Renaissance Fair. March 1-2. Step back to the days of old with jousting exhibitions, falconry, medieval musicians, jesters, jugglers, fire breathers, belly dancers and bagpipers. Renaissance food and beverages abound, so eat, drink and be merry! (877) 429-8426, www.gcrf.net.

Gallery Night Spring Fling. March 7. Enjoy an evening of arts and culture by touring downtown art galleries open late for this exciting event offered several times a year, sponsored by the Arts Council of Northwest Florida. Courtesy trolley stops along the way. Free admission. (850) 432-9906, www.artsnwfl.org.

McGuire’s Irish Pub St Patty’s Day 5K Prediction Run. March 8. This is not only Pensacola’s largest run with more than 8,000 participants, it is the nation’s largest prediction run. Awards go to the fastest as well as the most accurate in predicting the time it will take them to walk or run the 3.1-mile course. A post-race party features music by Rich McDuff, beer, Irish wakes, Irish coffee, soft drinks, water and Irish fare. Race begins at 9 a.m., (registration 6-8 a.m.). (850) 433-6789, www.mcguiresrunners.com.

Beulah Sausage Festival. April 4-6. This three-day music festival features some of Nashville’s hottest country music stars, more than 100 arts and crafts booths, carnival-style rides for the kids, games, and of course, great sausage. Admission is $5 per day or $10 for a three-day pass. Children 11 and under get in free. (850) 944-3167, www.BeulahSausageFest.com.

Festival on the Green. April 4-5. Annual celebration of community, art, education and family at the University of West Florida’s main campus. The fest promises to excite and engage guests of all ages. An arts and crafts show and sale, sports tournaments, music, Native American heritage theatrical performances and crafts, children’s fair, dog agility show, a variety of food vendors, and more await guests. (850) 474-3000, www.uwf.edu/festival.

Pensacola JazzFest. April 5-6. Pensacola’s historic Seville Square hosts this event filled with great jazz music performed by local and national talents. Free admission. (850) 433-8382, www.jazzpensacola.com.

Pace Presbyterian Church Scottish Festival. April 5. Annual Scottish Festival with traditional food, highland games, Scottish battle demonstrations, dog and sheep demonstrations and live Celtic music and dances. Moon walk, competition and dancing for children. (850) 995-4553.

5th Annual White Sands Music Festival. April 17-19. Chumuckla’s Farmers’ Opry hosts this annual event featuring three days of world-class blue grass music. Jump into a jam session taking place in the campground or sit down to the table for some genuine southern cookin’ featuring fresh-from-the farm produce from local vendors. This event attracts thousands of music fans so be sure to get tickets early. $20 per person per day or $50 per person for a three-day pass in advance and $55 per person for three-day pass at the door. (850) 994-6000, www.farmersopry.com.

Pensacola Community Soulfest. April 19. Enjoy great soul music at this annual event held 10 a.m. to dusk in the West Pensacola Ballpark, 600 N. "W” Street. Tickets are $3 for adults and free for children 12 and under. (850) 438-4882.

Crawfish Festival on Portofino Boardwalk. April 18-20. Have fun in the sun with a ton of crawfish and live music throughout the weekend. (850) 932-1500, www.visitpensacolabeach.com.

The 23rd Annual Interstate Mullet Toss. April 25-27. 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. (850) 492-0611, www.florabama.com.

Goombay Gulf Coast. April 26. Feel the rhythm of some of the best regional and international reggae, calypso, steel drum bands and Caribbean music around. Stilt-walkers, African dance and drum presentations, and a variety of activities will celebrate grassroots ties to the local African American community. (850) 207-0206, goombaygulfcoast.com.

Bands on the Beach. May-September. During the summer season, enjoy the free Bands on the Beach (formerly known as Blues on the Beach) concert series featuring an exciting line-up of bands performing each Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. at the Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. Concerts are provided by the Santa Rosa Island Authority. (850) 932-1500, www.visitpensacolabeach.com.

5th Annual Outside Art Fair. May 17-18. The Arts Council of Northwest Florida celebrates the warm spring weather with nearly 100 local artists, live entertainment, good food and children’s activities at Bartram Park. Free admission. (850) 432-9906, www.artsnwfl.org.

24th Annual Pensacola Crawfish Creole Fiesta. May 2-4. Held in Historic Bartram Park, the Crawfish Creole Fiesta is an annual celebration of the Cajun influence in the Northwest Florida Community. The event is one of the largest crawfish boils in state, with authentic bayou country entertainment and an expanded children and families’ activities area. (850) 433-6512, www.fiestaoffiveflags.org.

Evenings in Olde Seville Square. May-August. This summer concert series fills historic Seville Square Thursdays in downtown Pensacola with thousands of music fans and every type of music from big band to jazz to rock-n-roll. Bring a blanket or chairs. Free admission. (850) 438-6505.

Fiesta Days Celebration and Boat Parade. June 5-13. The 59th annual Fiesta of Five Flags Celebration starts with a light-hearted reenactment of the surrender of the city to Spanish explorer Don Tristan de Luna, who first landed in Pensacola in 1559. Immediately following is an evening of outdoor musical entertainment. Free admission. (850) 433-6512, www.fiestaoffiveflags.org.

Bud Light King Mackerel/Cobia Tournament. June 21-22. Come see the best fishermen in the area catch some of the largest king mackerel and cobia in the gulf. This is one of the largest two-day boat events in the Gulf of Mexico with more than 1,000 anglers. Take-off and weigh-in will be at Flounder’s Chowder House on Pensacola Beach. (850) 393-1602, www.pensacolakingmack.com.

Boater’s World Inshore Classic. June 21-22. Redfish, flounder and speckled trout are the game in this tournament. Fish this one alone or register for the King Mackerel/Cobia Tournament at the same time. Take-off and weigh-in will be at Flounder’s Chowder House on Pensacola Beach. (850) 393-1602, www.pensacolakingmack.com.

38th annual Pensacola International Billfish Tournament. July 3-6. The Pensacola Big Game Fishing Club hosts one of the country’s largest billfish tournaments at NAS Pensacola, which attracts around 600 anglers from all over the Southeast. (850) 453-4638, www.pbgfc.com.

Pensacola Beach Air Show. July. With Pensacola as its home base, the Navy’s world-famous Blue Angels perform two shows in Pensacola each year. Supported by civilian and other military performers, the Pensacola Beach Air Show is a must-see event. Free admission. (850) 932-1500, www.visitpensacolabeach.com.

Sertoma’s Fourth of July Celebration. July 4. This family-oriented, patriotic celebration is the largest Fourth of July celebration on the Gulf Coast. The day-long activities begin at 10 a.m. and culminate in a huge fireworks display over Pensacola Bay. (850) 433-9866, www.pensacolasertomajuly4th.org.

Thunder on the Gulf Power Boat Races. Aug. 14-17. More than 40 boats compete at speeds up to 170 mph at this annual event in the Perdido Key area. (251) 980-7223, www.thunderonthegulf.net.

Jamaican Fest. Aug. 29-31. Featuring live music, The Kids Zone, sidewalk sale and the "Anything that Floats” race in the Santa Rosa Sound. Portofino Boardwalk. (850) 932-1500, www.visitpensacolabeach.com.

Pensacola Seafood Festival. Sept. 26-28. Sample a variety of mouth-watering seafood dishes, enjoy continuous live entertainment in Fountain Park and start your holiday shopping early at more than 185 arts and crafts vendors. (850) 433-6512, www.fiestaoffiveflags.org.

Pensacola Interstate Fair. Oct. 16-26. The Pensacola Interstate Fair features big-name entertainment in addition to games, rides, agricultural and education-oriented exhibits and displays. General admission: $8 for ages 12 and older, $2 ages 4-11, free for ages 3 and under. Admission price includes entertainment. 6655 Mobile Highway. (850) 944-4500, www.pensacolafair.com.

Pensacola Bay International Film Festival. Oct. 31–Nov. 2. Three days of great films, awards and celebrity appearances. Submissions include feature films, documentaries, animations and shorts. (850) 456-3333, www.pensacolafilmfestival.com.

18th Annual Historic Haunted House Walking Tours. Oct. 18-19, 25-26. A family favorite for Halloween, the narrated tours are led by costumed guides, visiting more than 50 different sites around the Seville and North Hill historic districts. Tickets are $9 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Make reservations early by calling the Pensacola Historical Society. (850) 433-1559, www.pensacolahistory.org/ghostwalk.htm.

Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival. November. Musicians from across the globe bring magical music to the Gulf Coast. Participating venues range from Pensacola to Magnolia Springs, Ala. Music of all genres will be performed throughout the festival, which serves as a time for hit writers, aspiring newcomers and an audience that appreciates great music to come together. (850) 492-7664, www.fbisf.com.

Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival. Nov. 7-9. Hosting more than 200 fine art and handmade craft exhibitors from around the country, this festival attracts 150,000 art fans to Pensacola’s historic Seville Square in Downtown Pensacola. Also features a children’s arts festival and exceptional food and drink. Consistently ranked in the top 100 fine art and craft shows in the Art Fair Source Book. Free admission. www.ggaf.org.

16th Annual Old Farmhouse Christmas Arts, Crafts and Antiques Show! Oct. 31–Nov 2. Enjoy live music and holiday shopping with more than 100 vendors featuring everything from pottery to water fountains to antiques and baked goods. Families love the cow tour on hayrides available each day. Pony rides available Saturday and Sunday. Parking and admission are free. 9615 N. Loop Road (off Blue Angel Pkwy). (850) 492-7502.

Blue Angels Air Show. November. With Pensacola as its home base, the Navy’s precision flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, performs its final show of the season at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Free admission. (850) 452-BLUE (2583), www.blueangels.navy.mil.

Greek Festival. Nov. 14-16. One of Pensacola’s largest and most popular outdoor events celebrates its 48th anniversary this year. Traditional Greek dances, gifts, entertainment and dishes such as baklava, gyros and spanakopeta. Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, 1720 W. Garden Street. (850) 433-2662, www.annunciationgoc.org.

Marketbasket. Nov. 20-23. It’s a holiday shopping extravaganza at the Pensacola Civic Center. The Junior League of Pensacola’s Marketbasket fund-raiser has selected 45 merchants from throughout the Southeast to provide holiday shopping for specialty items. Adults $5, Children 7-12 years $3, 6 years and under are admitted free. (850) 433-4421.

Gallery Night. November. Enjoy an evening of arts and culture by touring downtown arts galleries open late for this event offered several times a year, sponsored by the Arts Council of Northwest Florida. Courtesy trolley stops along the way. Free admission. (850) 432-9906, www.artsnwfl.org.

Creek Indian Tribe Indian Day Celebration. Nov. 22-23. An annual Creek pow-wow in Pace featuring Native American dances, traditional food dishes and Native American vendors with authentic crafts. (850) 994-4882.

Winterfest Trolley Tours. Nov. 28-29, Dec. 5-6, 12-13, 19-24. Trolleys and double-decker buses act as theaters taking passengers to a series of interactive performances at 22 locations along a 2-mile route in historic Downtown Pensacola. Dozens of local businesses and residents bring to life favorite characters of the season. Tours available from 5–8:30 p.m. www.pensacolawinterfest.org.

ZOOLights. Weekends beginning after Thanksgiving through Christmas week. Enjoy more than a million spectacular lights in animated displays, view animals in their nighttime setting and have fun with special activities for the entire family at The ZOO in Gulf Breeze. Open 6–9 p.m. (850) 932-2229, www.thezoonorthwestflorida.org.

Holiday Evening in Olde Seville Square. November. An all-holiday music concert featuring the Pensacola Civic Band, McGuire’s Bagpipe Band, Clark & Company, caroling by candlelight and a special reading of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Hot chocolate and chili available. Presented by the Pensacola Heritage Foundation and the City of Pensacola. (850) 438-6505.

41st Annual Snowball Derby. December 4-7. The Five Flags Speedway Snowball Derby is a race drivers and fans mark on their calendars each year. As one of the nation’s premier short track events, more than 30,000 race fans gather to see some of the biggest names in motorsports competing in a 300-lap race. (850) 994-8400, www.5flagsspeedway.com.

Getting here is now easier than ever. Pensacola Regional Airport offers more than 100 daily flights to major cities in the United States, and many nonstop flights recently have been added. Pensacola is easily accessible from 1-10, 1-65 and Highway 98. For more information, visit www.flypensacola.com.


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