Major Events - 2013
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Following are the special events for 2013:
January
Polar Bear Dip. The Flora-Bama Lounge hosts this popular, annual splash-around in the Gulf of Mexico. (850) 492-0611, www.florabama.com
Polar Bear Plunge. Wade, swim and scurry in Santa Rosa Sound at Paradise Bar & Grill to the finish line where black-eyed peas await. (850) 932-1500, www.pensacolabeachchamber.com
Pensacola Beach Run. Compete in your choice of a 5K, 10K or half-marathon race which takes you along the waterfront on beautiful Pensacola Beach. Be sure to stick around the finish line after you complete your run for the post-race party. www.pensacolarunners.com
Gallery Night. Enjoy an evening of arts and culture by touring downtown art galleries open 5-9 p.m. (850) 434-5371, www.downtownpensacola.com
February
Pensacola Double Bridge Run. A 15K course takes runners over two bridges crossing Pensacola Bay and Santa Rosa Sound, from downtown to Pensacola Beach. Runners and walkers are also welcome at the 5K course and Kids Fun Run. (850) 434-2800, www.pensacolasports.com
Mardi Gras. One of the country's original celebration sites, Pensacola and Pensacola Beach host family-oriented fun at numerous parades with lots of beads and moon pies. Perdido Key also hosts its version with a street party. (850) 434-1234, www.visitpensacola.com
Mardi Gras Kid and Kritter Krawl.This walking parade on Pensacola Beach is open to children and pets. (850) 932-1500, www.pensacolabeachchamber.com
March
3rd Annual Perdido Key Spring Wine & Art Festival. March. Sample wines from boutique, international and local vineyards as artists display their original paintings, jewelry and sculptures at the Villagio. (850) 492-4660, www.visitperdido.com
Smokin' in the Square. Enjoy some of the South's best barbecue in Seville Square. (850) 516-2622
Gulf Coast Renaissance Fair. Step back to the days of old with jousting exhibitions, falconry, medieval musicians, jesters, jugglers, fire breathers, belly dancers, bagpipers and more. (877) 429-8462, www.gcrf.us
McGuire's 5K Prediction Run. With more than 5,000 participants, it's the nation's largest prediction run. Awards go to the fastest as well as the most accurate in predicting completion time. MGuire's signature bean soup, Irish Wakes, home-brewed beer and authentic Irish tunes are available at the post-run party. (850) 433-6789, www.mcguiresirishpub.com
Gallery Night. Enjoy an evening of arts and culture by touring downtown art galleries open 5-9 p.m. (850) 434-5371, www.downtownpensacola.com
Go Irish on the Island. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a pub crawl, green bikini contest, jig dancing contest, leprechaun hunt and other activities. (850) 932-1500, www.pensacolabeachchamber.com
Beulahfest. Enjoy some of Nashville's hottest country music stars, arts-and-crafts, carnival-style rides and great sausage. (850) 944-3167, www.beulahfest.com
Festival on the Green. University of West Florida's annual spring event features a fine arts-and-crafts show, dog agility showcase, live music, sporting events, food and a children's fair. (850) 474-2610, uwf.edu/festival
April
Reggae Festival. Enjoy a weekend of live reggae music at Seville Quarter. (850) 434-6211, www.sevillequarter.com
Pensacola JazzFest. April 5-6. Pensacola's historic Seville Square hosts an event filled with great jazz performed by local and national talents. (850) 433-8382, www.jazzpensacola.com
Crawfish Festival on Portofino Boardwalk. April 12-14. Spend the weekend on the boardwalk with live music and spicy crawfish. (850) 932-1500, www.visitpensacolabeach.com
Mullet Man Triathlon. April 20. Push yourself to the limit on this scenic and exhilarating course. (850) 429-0611, www.florabama.com
Pensacola Community Soulfest. April 27. Enjoy great soul music at this annual event in the West Pensacola Ballpark. (850) 438-4882
28th Annual Interstate Mullet Toss. April 26-28. Perdido Key's Flora-Bama Lounge hosts this wacky annual tournament that has participants compete in tossing an actual mullet across state lines. (850) 492-0611, www.florabama.com
May
28th Annual Pensacola Crawfish Festival. May 3-5. Head downtown and treat yourself to spicy crawfish and authentic bayou country entertainment along the waterfront at one of the largest crawfish boils in Florida. (850) 433-6512, www.fiestaoffiveflags.org
Rosamond Johnson Day Ceremony. May 4. Share in a special remembrance of Korean War Hero and Purple Heart recipient, Rosamond Johnson, who was killed during war at the age of 15 while bravely attempting to save fellow soldiers. (850) 492-4660, www.visitperdido.com
Gallery Night. May 17. Enjoy an evening of arts and culture by touring downtown art galleries open 5-9 p.m. (850) 434-5371, www.downtownpensacola.com
Fiesta Sand Sculpture Contest. May 19. Sand-sculpting contest and more. (850) 433-6512, www.fiestaoffiveflags.org
Bands on the Beach. Tuesdays May-Oct. Attend this popular summer evening concert series with local musical favorites playing at Gulfside Pavilion. (850) 932-2257, www.visitpensacolabeach.com
June
Pensacola Fishing Rodeo. June 22 - 23. See some of the biggest king mackerel and cobia caught at the largest two-day boat event in the Gulf of Mexico. www.pensacolakingmack.com
42nd Annual Bill Hargreaves Fishing Rodeo. June 13 - 16. Enjoy great fishing from the Grand Lagoon Yacht Club, (850) 492-4660, www.visitperdido.com
42nd Annual Pensacola International Billfish Tournament. June 27 - 30. 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
July
4th of July Celebration. July 4. The family-oriented, patriotic event held downtown is the largest on the Gulf Coast. Fireworks displays are also on Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach. (850) 434-1234, www.visitpensacola.com
Red, White and Blues Week. This week-long celebration on Pensacola Beach kicks off with a huge fireworks extravaganza and ends with the Blue Angels show. (850) 932-1500, www.pensacolabeachchamber.com
Gallery Night. July 19. Enjoy an evening of arts and culture by touring downtown art galleries open 5-9 p.m. (850) 434-5371, www.downtownpensacola.com
August
Bushwacker Festival and 5K. Aug. 2-4. This festival is centered around Pensacola's favorite adult beverage: the milk chocolaty bushwacker. Enjoy a fun run and celebration on the boardwalk. (850) 434-1234, www.visitpensacola.com
Jamaican Fest. August 30 - September 1. Featuring live music, The Kids Zone, sidewalk sale and the “Anything that Floats” race and bathtub races in Santa Rosa Sound. (850) 932-1500, www.pensacolabeachchamber.com
September
5th Annual Taste of the Beach. Sept. 14-15. Get a sampling of island flavors from the area's best chefs. (850) 932-1500, www.pensacolabeachchamber.com
Gallery Night. Sept. 20. Enjoy an evening of arts and culture by touring downtown art galleries open 5-9 p.m. (850) 434-5371, www.downtownpensacola.com
35th Annual Pensacola Seafood Festival. Sept. 27-29. Sample a variety of mouth-watering seafood dishes, enjoy continuous live entertainment, shop at the many arts-and-crafts vendors and participate in a 5K. (850) 433-6512, www.fiestaoffiveflags.org
October
Oktoberfest. Oct. 5-6. This German-inspired festival is sure to bring fun, live music, good food and great beer. (850) 492-4660, www.visitperdido.com
Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival. Oct. 2 - 6. Original music comes to the island. (850) 341-0889, www.pensacolabeachsongwritersfestival.com
17th Annual Santa Rosa Island Triathlon. Oct. 5. A triathlon along Pensacola Beach is offered for seasoned athletes, while a sea turtle triathlon is offered for kids. (850) 380-0741, www.sritri.org
5th Annual Art and Wine Weekend. Oct. 5-6. Enjoy wine tastings and local art as you're transported by trolley across the island. (850) 932-1500, www.pensacolabeachchamber.com
Annual Historic Haunted House Walking Tours. Oct. 18-19. A family favorite for Halloween, the narrated tours are led by costumed guides, visiting more than 50 sites. (850) 595-5985, www.historicpensacola.org
78th Annual Pensacola Interstate Fair. Oct. 17-27. With big-name entertainment, games, rides and exhibits, the fair is fun for the whole family. (850) 944-4500, www.pensacolafair.com
Gallery Night. Oct. 18. Enjoy an evening of arts and culture by touring downtown art galleries open 5-9 p.m. (850) 434-5371, www.downtownpensacola.com
Greek Festival. Oct 11-13. Get festive with traditional Greek dances, gifts, entertainment and dishes such as baklava, gyros and spanakopeta. (850) 433-2662, www.pensacolagreekfestival.org
November
The Frank Brown Songwriters' Festival. Nov. 7-17 Musicians from across the world bring music to Perdido Key. (850) 492-7664, www.fbisf.com
Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival. Nov. 1-3. Browse more than 200 fine art and hand made craft exhibitors from around the country in Pensacola's historic Seville Square. www.ggaf.org
Pensacola Marathon. Nov 10. This 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 and winds along Pensacola Bay. (850) 434-2800, www.pensacolamarathon.com
Gallery Night. Nov. 15. Jump start the holiday season with an evening of arts and culture in the downtown art galleries, open 5-9 p.m. (850) 434-5371, www.downtownpensacola.com
Creek Indian Tribe Indian Day Celebration. Nov. 23-24. Attend this annual Creek pow-wow in Pace featuring Native American dances, traditional food dishes authentic crafts. (850) 994-9633
Elf Parade. Nov. 29. Kids dress up and parade five blocks from the T.T. Wentworth, Jr., Florida State Museum to the Saenger Theatre, caroling along the way.(850) 434-5371, www.downtownpensacola.com
45th Annual Snowball Derby. Nov. 28-Dec. 4-8. Auto racing fans delight in the action at Five Flags Speedway. (850) 944-8400, www.fiveflagsspeedway.com
Winterfest Trolley Tours. Nov. 29, Dec. 7, 13, 22-23. Trolleys act as theaters taking passengers to a series of interactive performances in historic downtown. (850) 435-0914, www.pensacolawinterfest.org
December
Lighted Boat Parade. Dec 6. The nautical parade officially delivers Santa Claus to the island. (850) 932-1500, www.visitpensacolabeach.com
Downtown Christmas Parade.Dec. 6.Downtown Pensacola comes alive with this lighted, family-friendly parade. (850) 450-3792, www.coxpensacolachristmasparade.org
Surfing Santa Parade. Dec. 8. Holiday floats wind their way down Santa Rosa Island's main street. Santa rides atop his a red fire engine and visits with children. (850) 932-1500, www.visitpensacolabeach.com
Big Lagoon's Christmas in the Park.Dec. Enjoy hot chocolate and Christmas lights in this natural, waterfront setting. (850) 492-4660, www.visitperdido.com
5th Annual Pelican Drop. Dec. 31. Families can enjoy a street-party atmosphere downtown with live music, a children's area and fireworks, along with a 10-foot, half-ton illuminated pelican that's dropped 100 feet at midnight. (850) 435-1603, www.pensacolapelicandrop.com
New Year's Eve Fireworks. Dec. 31. End the year with a bang with a fireworks display over the Gulf of Mexico. (850) 932-1500, www.pensacolabeachchamber.com
