Pensacola & Gulf Breeze
Events Calendar
Pensacola and Gulf Breeze, FL host events year-round: Mardi Gras parades in February, crawfish festivals in April, weekly summer concerts and the Blue Angels Air Show in July, and a run of festivals from October through the December holidays. Below is what’s happening month by month, plus the events that repeat every single week.
Weekly & Regular, Year-Round
🥕 Palafox Market
Every Saturday, 9am–2pm, year-round, rain or shine. Local produce, baked goods, and handmade art on historic Palafox Street.
🎨 Gallery Night
The third Friday of every month, 5–9pm. Free, family-friendly art, live music, and food trucks in Downtown Pensacola.
🎸 Bands on the Beach
Every Tuesday, 7–9pm, from the first Tuesday in April through the last Tuesday in October. Free live music at the Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach.
The Year, Month by Month
January
New Year’s Eve fireworks over the Gulf, followed by the Polar Bear Plunge at Paradise Bar & Grill on January 1st. Mardi Gras planning builds through the month.
February
Mardi Gras season — the Krewe of Lafitte Illuminated Parade, the Grand Mardi Gras Parade downtown, and the Krewe of Wrecks Parade on Pensacola Beach. The Double Bridge Run (15K/5K) crosses two bridges from downtown to Pensacola Beach, and Pensacon brings pop culture fans downtown.
March
The Blue Angels resume their Tuesday and Wednesday practice flights over Pensacola Beach, running through October. Spring weather brings the first comfortably warm beach days of the year.
April
Crawfish season, twice over: the Pensacola Crawfish Festival downtown at Seville Square and the Pensacola Beach Crawfish Festival at Bamboo Willie’s. Late in the month, thousands gather at the Flora-Bama Mullet Toss, and the Blue Wahoos start their home season.
May
The Fiesta of Five Flags 10K/5K, the Pensacola Beach Art & Wine Festival, and the Pickles & Wings Family Festival all land this month. Bands on the Beach kicks off its weekly Tuesday run.
June
Peak summer. Bands on the Beach continues weekly, the Blue Wahoos are in full swing, and the beaches are as warm as they get.
July
Fireworks for the 4th of July, then the biggest week of the summer: the Pensacola Beach Air Show, when the Blue Angels come home to fly over the beach they trained on, with practice sessions building up to the official show.
August
Bands on the Beach runs through the month, and the water is still warm even as the back-to-school rush thins out the crowds.
September
The Pensacola Seafood Festival takes over Seville Square at the end of the month — Gulf-to-table seafood, live music, and 100+ arts and crafts vendors.
October
Beach weather without the heat. The Pensacola Interstate Fair runs for over a week downtown, the Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival fills coastal venues with live music, Taste of Gulf Breeze takes over the Community Center on Shoreline Drive, and Foo Foo Fest — 12 days of arts and culture — kicks off at the very end of the month.
November
Foo Foo Fest wraps up its run in early November. Downtown’s First City Lights Festival switches on more than half a million lights along Palafox Street, and the Gulf Coast Arts Festival fills Seville Square with artisans and live music.
December
Winterfest takes over Downtown Pensacola through Christmas Eve. Boats decked out in lights cruise Santa Rosa Sound for the Boat Parade of Lights, the Pensacola Christmas Parade rolls down Palafox, and the Snowball Derby — one of the country’s premier short-track races — runs at Five Flags Speedway in early December.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Pensacola Beach Air Show?
The Pensacola Beach Air Show, featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, is held every July at Casino Beach, with practice flights and buildup events running for several days before the official show.
When is Mardi Gras in Pensacola?
Pensacola’s Mardi Gras season runs through January and February, timed to Fat Tuesday, with signature parades including the Krewe of Lafitte Illuminated Parade downtown and the Krewe of Wrecks Parade on Pensacola Beach.
What’s the best month to visit Pensacola for events?
October is hard to beat: comfortable weather, the Pensacola Interstate Fair, the Frank Brown Songwriters’ Festival, and Foo Foo Fest all overlap, without the summer heat or crowds.
Time Your Trip Right
Wherever the calendar lands, The Pelican House puts you 8 minutes from downtown and the beach.