What’s New in Pensacola for Spring 2011

   
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Laura Lee, director of communication, Pensacola Bay Area CVB,
(850) 434-1234; (800) 874-1234, llee@visitpensacola.com, or
Sara Surber, marketing and communications intern, Pensacola Bay Area CVB,
(850) 434-1234; (800) 874-1234, intern@pensacolachamber.com

What’s New in Pensacola for Spring 2011

Pensacola, Fla. – Jan. 6, 2011 – Everything visitors need to replenish their mind, body and soul this spring is right here in the Pensacola Bay Area with Mardi Gras, spring break and music festivals along with new hotels, restaurants and attractions. Travelers can escape cold, rainy weather and enjoy the most beautiful time of year on our white-sandy shores. Spring is a time to relax, let loose and have fun, and Pensacola is the perfect place to do it.

CVB News
  • Visit Pensacola has released its annual Visitor Guide, a 75-page comprehensive magazine designed to help visitors and group planners effectively plan their trip to Pensacola, Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. The guide includes itinerary ideas, a special downtown section, travel tips, a calendar of events, detailed area maps, 125 local photographs and QR codes that allow smart phone users to access videos.
Spring Travel Deals
Lodging, Dining and Attractions
  • The Holiday Inn Resort will open Feb. 25 on the famous sugar-white sands and emerald waters of Pensacola Beach. Amenities include a cascading waterfall, lazy river pool, game room, kid activities and suites. 14 Via De Luna Drive, (850) 932-5331, www.holidayinnresorts.com/pensacolabeach
  • The Pensacola Courtyard by Marriott is undergoing a full renovation which should be completed in March. A new bistro-style restaurant will feature Starbucks coffee along with a full breakfast and dinner daily. The lobby will also feature a station for printing boarding passes and getting directions to various attractions. 451 Creighton Road, (850) 857-7744, www.marriott.com/pnscy
  • Hangar Bay One, a 55,000 square-foot expansion at the National Naval Aviation Museum, showcases unique aircraft that flew during the post-World War II era. The addition houses a collection of U.S. Coast Guard aircraft such as the SP-5B Marlin, the last operational flying boat in the U.S. Navy. 1750 Radford Blvd., Suite B, (850) 452-3604 or (850) 452-3606, www.navalaviationmuseum.org.
  • The Pensacola Bay Brewery on historic Seville Square allows beer lovers to sample and learn as well as take home some of their favorite brew. 225 E. Zaragoza Street, (850) 434-3353, www.pbbrew.com.
  • Wine World Wine Bar, located in a historic brick building on Palafox Place, offers more than 350 types of wine available by the bottle, 40 wines by the glass, eight varieties of beer on tap and 50 gourmet cheeses. 16 Palafox Place, (850) 607-2089, www.chanswineworld.com.
  • Elise Coastal Dining opened downtown on Palafox Street, adding to the increasingly popular entertainment district. The open-kitchen style café allows diners to watch their dishes being prepared. 22 N. Palafox Street, (850) 332-7227, www.elisecoastaldining.com.
  • Bay Front Café's buffet serves Southern favorites along with salads, soups, sandwiches and po'boys. On-site catering and room for 177 guests make it the perfect place to hold meetings, banquets and receptions. 500 Bayfront Parkway, (850) 432-8811.
  • Play, a new sports bar on Palafox Place, features happy hour specials, skee ball leagues, games and is Pensacola's only "barcade." 16 Palafox Place, www.iplaypensacola.com
  • Jaco's Bayfront Bar & Grille serves flatbread pizzas, salads and small plates while offering beautiful views of Palafox Marina and Plaza de Luna Park. 997 Palafox Place, (850) 432-5226, www.jacosbayfrontbarandgrille.com.
  • Chow Tyme Grille & Buffet features nine buffets serving crab legs, barbecue ribs, grilled steak, sushi and traditional Chinese food. 6841 N. Ninth Ave., (850) 429-8001.
  • Indigeaux Denim Bar & Boutique offers premium denim brands such as Paige Denim and Miss Me as well as an organic cotton and silk blend line. 122 Palafox Place, (850) 607-2255.
  • Another boutique, Rococo, recently opened near Cordova Mall offering upscale, resale clothing. 4970 Bayou Blvd., (850) 607-6073.
Anniversaries in 2011
  • 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation – Pensacola will host numerous special events and exhibits to commemorate 100 years of naval aviation. www.celebrateflight.com.
  • 150th Anniversary of the Civil War – The Pensacola Bay Area played a significant role in the Civil War. Visitors can explore massive brick fortresses that once housed Union and Confederate troops and tour antebellum homes and the oldest church in Florida that survived the war.
Upcoming Events
  • Mardi Gras. March 4-8. 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 lively street party. (850) 434-1234, www.visitpensacola.com
  • Smokin' in the Square. March 4-5. Enjoy some of the South’s best barbecue in Seville Square. (850) 516-2622
  • Gulf Coast Renaissance Fair. March 5-6. Step back to the days of old with jousting exhibitions, falconry, medieval musicians, jesters, jugglers, fire breathers and belly dancers. (877) 429-8462, www.gcrf.net
  • McGuire's 5K Prediction Run. March 12. 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 the time it will take to complete the course. (850) 433-6789, www.mcguiresirishpub.com
  • Gallery Night. March 11. Enjoy an evening of arts and culture by touring downtown art galleries open 5-9 p.m. www.downtownpensacola.com
  • Go Irish on the Island. March 16-20. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a pub crawl, green bikini contest, jig dancing contest and leprechaun hunt. (850) 932-1500, www.pensacolabeachchamber.com
  • Beulahfest. March 18-20. 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. April 1-2. University of West Florida’s annual spring event features arts-and-crafts, dog show, live music, sporting events, food and a children’s fair. (850) 474-2610, www.uwf.edu/festival
  • Pensacola JazzFest. April 2-3. Pensacola’s historic Seville Square hosts an event filled with great jazz performed by local and national talents. (850) 433-8382, www.jazzpensacola.com
  • Reggae Festival. April 2-3. Enjoy a weekend of live reggae music at Seville Quarter. (850) 434-6211, www.sevillequarter.com
  • White Sands Music Festival. April 14-16. Featuring food, arts-and-crafts vendors and non-stop jam sessions in the Farmers' Opry House. (850) 994-6000, www.farmersopry.com
  • Pensacola Wine Festival. April 14-16. Sample a variety of wines from all over the world. (850) 434-5371, www.pensacolawinefestival.com
  • Pensacola Community Soulfest. April 16. Enjoy great soul music at this annual event. (850) 438-4882
  • Mullet Man Triathlon. April 16. Push yourself to the limit on this scenic and exhilarating course. (850) 429-0611, www.florabama.com
  • 27th Annual Pensacola Crawfish Festival. April 29-May 1. Held along the waterfront downtown, indulge at one of the largest crawfish boils in Florida. (850) 433-6512, www.fiestaoffiveflags.org
  • 27th Annual Interstate Mullet Toss. April 29-May 1. 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
  • 5th Annual Goombay Gulf Coast. April 30-May 1. Feel the rhythm of some of the best regional and international reggae, calypso, steel drum bands and Caribbean music around. (850) 748-1728, www.goombaygulfcoast.com
  • Wet and Wild. May 15. Celebrate nature at this four-day event in Perdido Key. (850) 492-4660, www.perdidochamber.com
  • Fiesta 5K. May 1. Get into shape this spring with this fun 5K downtown. www.pensacolarunners.com
  • Blue Angels Air Show. May 3-4. Especially for the Centennial of Naval Aviation, the world-famous Blue Angels perform an additional air show. (850) 452-2583, www.blueangels.navy.mil
  • Gallery Night. May 20. Enjoy an evening of arts and culture by touring downtown art galleries open 5-9 p.m. www.downtownpensacola.com
  • Perdido Key Wine and Art Festival. May 21. Enjoy samplings of wine paired with cheeses and fruits while perusing local arts-and-craft vendors. (850) 492-4660, www.visitperdido.com
  • Evenings in Olde Seville Square. Thursdays mid May-Aug. This well-attended summer concert series features a variety of musical styles from Broadway and jazz to modern dance. (850) 438-6505
  • Bands on the Beach. Tuesdays May-Oct. The beach’s favorite summer evening concert series features local favorites at the Gulfside Pavilion. (850) 932-2257, www.visitpensacolabeach.com

For more information on "What's New" in the Pensacola Bay Area, contact Visit Pensacola at (800) 874-1234 and (850) 434-1234. Or visit us online at www.VisitPensacola.com or VisitPensacola.Blogspot.com.