Pensacola Events and Festivals

(Pensacola, Florida - FL, USA)

Although Pensacola's events calendar is perhaps not as action packed as some of Florida's other major centers, the city does boast a number of very worthwhile festivals throughout the course of the year, with things to do most months.

There are certainly a few highlights here that simply should not be missed, including the Crawfish Creole Festival at the beginning of May, where you can sample a range of seafood delights.

Also very much of note is the Fiesta of Five Flags each June, which commemorates the founding of the city, while the following month sees the arrival of the summer Pensacola Beach Air Show, where onlookers will be treated to some of the most impressive aerial acrobatics around. August is when the Bushwacker Music Fest comes along, with September being the month when both the Symphony Ball and the Seafood Festival are staged.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - New Year's Day
• Third Monday in January - Martin Luther King Day
• 12th February - Lincoln's Birthday
• Third Monday in February - Washington's Birthday
• Last Monday in May - Memorial Day
• 4th July - Independence Day
• First Monday in September - Labor Day
• Second Monday in October - Columbus Day
• 11th November - Veterans Day
• 4th Thursday in November - Thanksgiving
• 25th December - Christmas Day

Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Kids Expo - early January, this free annual event is hosted by the Treehouse Theater and provides children and parents with the opportunity to learn about locals arts organizations and facilities
• Freestyle Motocross - early June, Freestyle Motocross hits the Pensacola Civic Center

February

• Valentines Day - February 14th, Pensacola residents woo their partners with flowers, cards and chocolates, while special events go on around the city

March

• Symphony Guild Magnolias and White Linens - early March, the annual fundraising luncheon of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra
• St. Patrick's Day - March 17th, celebrate in Irish-style and enjoy a pint of Guinness and some traditional Irish dishes at selected venues across the city

April

• Symphony Showhouse - early April, Pensacola designers are challenged to transform a Pensacola home into a showcase of design. All proceeds go to the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra
• Calvary Baptist Easter Service - celebrate Easter by attending this special Easter service held at the Pensacola Civic Center

May

• Blue Angels Classic - held at the Moors Golf Club, this three-day event kicks off with a two-day Pro-Am and series of practice rounds before the main 54-hole competition for a cash prize
• Pensacola Crawfish Creole Festival - early May, one of the highlights of the year, the festival includes dozens of Creole delights, musical entertainment and other family-orientated activities

June

• Fiesta of Five Flags - early June, a ten-day event commemorating the founding of Pensacola in 1559 by Spanish Conquistador Don Tristan De Luna. Since its founding as the first European settlement in the US, five flags - Spanish, French, British, Confederate and American - have flown over the city. Festivities include a treasure hunt, competitions and a parade

July

• Pensacola Beach Air Show - early July, preceded by a rehearsal on July 1st, the real show includes impressive aerobatics from some of the hottest fighter jets around including performances by the US aerobatics team, the Blue Angels. Hundreds of spectators gather along the beach to enjoy the mind-blowing maneuvers
• Independence Day - July 4th, celebrating America's independence with fireworks, food and other festivities, with Pensacola Beach being one of the favorite spots to party

August

• Bushwacker Music Festival - early August, this event includes live music and entertainment and draws thousands of people annually

September

• Pensacola Symphony Ball - early September, this annual event consists of performances by the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, dinner and an auction
• Pensacola Seafood Festival - late September, having been running for nearly three decades, the festival is held in the Seville Square area in downtown. Food vendors serving up seafood delights and an entertainment stage are provided

October

• Stage Fright - last week of October, to honor the tradition of Halloween, the Pensacola's Little Theater puts on some spooky performances that are guaranteed to have you jumping out of your seat
• Pensacola Ice Pilots - October sees the start of the hockey season, which runs all the way through to May. Enjoy the thrill of the game and watch the professional East Coast Hockey League battle the season out against other teams
• Halloween - October 31st sees all the usual Halloween celebrations, where children and adults alike dress up and hit the streets. Expect many a carved pumpkin to be on display
• Pensacola State Fair - late October, the largest event on the Gulf coast, the fair includes fairground rides, entertainment, games and exhibits ranging from educational and agricultural to scientific and cultural

November

• Gallery Nights - mid-November, this thrice-annual event is one of the most popular evenings in Pensacola, where downtown galleries open their doors to the public for an evening of free viewing, refreshments and entertainment
• Veterans Day - November 11th, honoring those who fought and lost their lives in both WWI and WWII, services are held at various places in the city including the naval base

December

• St. Anne's Christmas Lights - this free event marks the start of the advent countdown with the illumination of more than a million lights at St. Anne's church
• Zoo Lights - the zoo gets into the Christmas spirit with the illumination of Christmas lights and other festive entertainment