Year round fun on the beach!
The beach is the setting for a calendar of events full of diverse and inviting things to do: from the Pensacola Beach Air Show, to Bands On The Beach live concerts every Tuesday night at the Gulfside Pavilion, to stargazing on clear nights, to signature sporting events and festivals like the Crawfish Festival, Taste of the Beach and Art & Wine Festival. There’s always something going on, so check out our full calendar of events below.
JANUARY
POLAR BEAR PLUNGE
New Year’s Day, January 1, 2020 at 2 p.m. Brave the cold and start the New Year with a dip in the Sound.
SNOWBIRDS BEACH BASH
January 23, 2020 from 9-11am Join us at Our Lady of Assumption Church on Pensacola Beach for a fun winter event. Enjoy a light breakfast, BINGO, Elvis Tribute performance, and the Pensacola Beach Elementary School Soundpipers Chorus.
FEBRUARY
DOUBLE BRIDGE RUN
Saturday, Feb.1st, 2020. Pensacola Sports Association presents the Double Bridge run. Run over both bridges or just one all the way to beach.
KREWE OF WRECKS MARDI GRAS PARADE
February 23, 2020 at 2pm Line up down Via de Luna and get ready to catch those beads!
MARCH
GO IRISH ON THE ISLAND!
March 17, 2019 St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl 10:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Make your way through dozens of beach bars, restaurants and hotels serving up Irish drink specials, music and mischief.
APRIL
BANDS ON THE BEACH
2020 TBA – Pensacola Beach’s popular outdoor summer concert series, Bands on the Beach, features a lineup of performers sure to please every musical taste. Located in the beautiful Gulfside Pavilion overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the series features regional artists performing a wide variety of music. Bring your lawn chair and join us every summer for hot music, smooth grooves and a whole lot of good times. Bands on the Beach takes place every Tuesday night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Complete Bands & Dates listing
PENSACOLA BEACH CRAWFISH FESTIVAL
April 17-19, 2020 Mudbugs take over the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk for the annual Pensacola Beach Crawfish Festival, hosted by Bamboo Willies.
STARGAZING NIGHTS
2020 TBA – Held on the first quarter moon weekend, beginning at sunset at the Gulfside Pavilion.
JULY
FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS
July 4, Sound side 8:30 p.m. Celebrate your independence with fireworks on the sound side of the Island.
PENSACOLA BEACH AIR SHOW
July 11, 2020 It’s all eyes to the skies as the U.S. Navy’s flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, civilian and other military aircraft perform acrobatics over the Gulf of Mexico. The Pensacola Beach Air Show presented by the Santa Rosa Island Authority. Complete Air Show details
AUGUST
SEA TURTLE BABY SHOWER
2020 TBA – Landshark Landing (165 Fort Pickens Road, Pensacola Beach, on the Margaritaville Beach Hotel property). A family friendly afternoon of games, activities, entertainment to educate and celebrate Sea Turtles. Take the Sea Turtle Friendly Oath, Meet Meg the Mermaid. Touch a real turtle shell. Lots of giveaways. Event is free to public.
SEPTEMBER
VETTES AT THE BEACH CAR SHOW
September 19, 2020 Corvette show with vettes of all ages to admire at Casino Beach parking lot.
OCTOBER
TASTE OF THE BEACH
October 10, 2020 Pensacola Beach’s biggest culinary event now takes place in October! It starts with a VIP dinner on Friday night followed by cooking demonstrations, cooking challenges, and food tastings from beach restaurants.
SANTA ROSA ISLAND TRIATHLON
October 3, 2020 This sprint distance triathlon features a flat and fast course: a 600 yard swim along the pristine shores of the Gulf of Mexico, followed by an out-and-back bike course that traverses along the shores of the Pensacola Beach, and, lastly, a 5K run takes you through an idyllic beach neighborhood. Then spend the rest of your afternoon enjoying the beautiful Pensacola Beach.
SEA TURTLE TRIATHLON
October 4, 2020 Held at Park East, this event features a full triathlon experience for children from seven to 15 years old.
BEACH-O-WEEN
October 23, 2020 Bring the family out to the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk to enjoy a free night of fun! Bounce houses, games, face painting, candy, food, and more.
NOVEMBER
ART & WINE FEST
2020 TBA – A weekend of art and wine on Pensacola Beach Boardwalk. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
VETERAN’S DAY PARADE
November 11, 2019 A salute to our nation’s veterans
DECEMBER
SEASON YOUR HOLIDAYS
Looking for a unique winter wonderland this holiday season without the frigid temperatures? Pensacola Beach, with its sugary-white sand, offers guests a guaranteed white Christmas and is jam-packed with “island style” holiday activities guaranteed to get even the worst Scrooges in the spirit. This annual holiday event is presented by the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce. For more information, click here.
LIGHTED BOAT PARADE
December 7, 2019 6:30 p.m. 4 p.m. Pre-show party for kids. Lighted Boat Parade from Sabine Marina to the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk – View parade procession in Little Sabine at 6:30 pm. View from Quietwater Beach area at 7:30 p.m. Look for Santa on the lead boat! Fireworks with Santa- Soundside- 8 p.m.
SURFING SANTA BEACH PARADE
December 8, 2019 2 p.m.- 3 p.m. Thousands of children, parents and other spectators make their way to Pensacola Beach on Sunday to see Santa Claus making his way down Via De Luna Drive atop a Pensacola Beach fire truck at the annual Surfing Santa Beach Parade. Starting at 2 p.m. from Avenida 10, the parade will make its way down Via De Luna toward Casino Beach and end at the Gulfside Pavilion.
NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS
December 31, 2019 Midnight Keep your eyes focused on the Pensacola Beach skies this New Year’s Eve for a free firework displays along the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk. At midnight a dazzling light display, provided by the beach chamber, will take place overlooking the Santa Rosa Sound from the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk.
NEW YEAR’S DAY POLAR BEAR PLUNGE
January 1, 2020 2 p.m. Need an exhilarating rush to help kick off your new year? Head to Pensacola Beach and plunge headfirst into the Santa Rosa Sound at the annual Polar Bear Plunge. Hosted by the Paradise Bar & Grill, hundreds of dippers and spectators – many dressed in costume – flock to the beach to participate in this long-established tradition.