Downtown Holiday Guide
Celebrate Your Favorite Holiday Traditions in Downtown Pensacola
Holiday sights, sounds, and smells turn Downtown Pensacola into a magical wonderland of festivities from November through the end of the year.
Winterfest 2010 – November 24th through December 22th
Through the magic of Winterfest, the moment you enter Christmas Town at the Courthouse on Palafox Street, the snow begins to fall. A cup of hot chocolate and the sound of a trolley bell brings back memories of the Polar Express. The conductor calls your name. All aboard for the most wonderful journey you'll take this Christmas season.
More information at www.pensacolawinterfest.com
Christmas in DeVilliers - December 3rd
Take a stroll down memory lane. As the holiday season rolls in, the Historic Belmont and DeVilliers community would like to take you on a stroll back in time. This historical African American community was Pensacola's one-time black thriving business and entertainment district during most of the last century. This historic community will celebrate the holiday season by hosting "Christmas in DeVilliers" beginning Friday, December 3, 2010.
More information at www.devilliersmuseum.com
2nd Annual Palafox Christmas Market - December 3rd & 10th - 10am-5pm
The 2010 Downtown Pensacola Christmas Market will be held the first and second Saturdays of December and admission is FREE. Christmas Market features an outdoor European marketplace with handcrafted gifts in addition to Pensacola's charming year-round shopping experience. Beautiful and unique shops showcase Christmas ornaments and decorations, Items for the home, art, wine, rare books, jewelry, exquisite clothing, antiques, and gifts. The Market will also feature our fabulous local restaurants.
More information at www.downtownpensacola.com.
Belmont Christmas Market - Saturday, December 4th - 10am-6pm
Special lighting of the Belmont Devilliers Christmas Tree located in the Belmont Building Parking Lot at dusk with local choirs performing 4:00-6:00. Artisans, vendors, performers, walk abouts all day. Special stocking stuffing hosted by the Belmont Devilliers Historical Neighborhood merchants, organizations, and supporters.
More information at www.truthforyouth.org
Christmas on the Coast - December 9th through December 11th
The 300+ members of the Pensacola Children's Chorus will entertain audiences during Christmas on the Coast. Sparkling lights, colorful costumes, exciting choreography and heart-warming music will once again be expected during this annual Gulf Coast tradition
More information at www.pensacolachildrenschorus.com
Cox Christmas Parade - Saturday, December 10th - 5:15
The annual parade, which draws over 50,000 people to downtown Pensacola, begins at 5:15 pm. The Christmas Parade includes local bands from every high school in Escambia County, the nationally renowned Blue Angels flight team, groups from around the region, and as far away as Houston and New Orleans.
More information at www.coxpensacolachristmasparade.org
Holiday Cabaret - December 19th through December 21st
On Christmas Eve, the adventure begins when there is a knock at the front door. Expecting to see Santa, Madeline meets the Rug Merchant who has brought twelve very special rugs. He reminds Madeline that Christmas is the time of miracles, and that these are magic carpets they can fly home on to be with their families for Christmas!
More information at www.pensacolalittletheatre.com
The Nutcracker - December 16th & 18th
Audiences will be enthralled during this annual classic as the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky accompanies the story of Clara and her dream of the Nutcracker Prince.
More information at www.balletpensacola.com
Pensacola Mardi Gras Planning Meeting - December 28th
Pensacola Mardi Gras has a City Wide planning meeting next Tuesday, December 28th at Seville Quarter. Doors open at 5:00p and full City Wide Mardi Gras discussion starts at 5:30p. All Krewes, businesses, press and revelers are welcome. Attendance is FREE, cash bar.
More information contact executivedirector@pensacolamardigras.com
Downtown Countdown & Pelican Drop - December 31st
The Pensacola Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is proud to offer Gulf Coast residents an exciting and unique celebration to ring in the new year. Pensacola's Pelican Drop™ Celebration is a new event designed to entertain spectators of all ages with a uniquely gulf-coast experience. While New York has their ball drop and Atlanta has the peach drop, Pensacola is proud to stake claim to the one-and-only Pelican Drop. Throughout the evening the giant illuminated Pelican will be perched above the celebration on a 100-foot platform at the intersection of Palafox and Government Streets. The celebration's high point will be the giant illuminated pelican descending at the stroke of midnight amidst fireworks and confetti.
More information at www.pensacolapelicandrop.com
Celebrate the New Year! - December 31st
Join in the celebration with a mix of popular jazz, classical and movie hits! Trumpeter Ryan Anthony has performed with top orchestras around the nation and is bringing his world-class musicianship to the stage of the Saenger to help us ring in the new year!
More information at www.pensacolasymphony.com
Wind Creek Pensacola Mardi Gras Kick Off Celebration on the 12th Night
- January 6th
This annual event happens every January 6th, which is the twelfth night of Christmas (the Epiphany) and the official beginning of the Mardi Gras season. This is the night that we eat King Cake and bind our spirit for a
wonderful Mardi Gras season. It's also the last celebration of last years Mardi Gras royalty, and they need a great send off like the one we're going to have.
TIMELINE (Times are approximate):
- 5:00p - Palafox is closed to thru traffic between Garden and Government
- 5:30p - Floats and all media will be lined up and parked on Palafox
- 7:00p - Krewe's and revelers show up and party starts
- 8:00p - Kick Off and Blessing Ceremony Starts at Palafox and Government
- 8:20p - 2nd Line Procession begins
- 9:30p - Incoming Mayor to perform official toast
- 9:35p - Presiding Mayor to slice into seasons first King Cake
- 9:40p - Father Gray and both Mayors declare Pensacola's Mardi Gras season has begun
More information at www.pensacolamardigras.com
