"Fall" In Love With Pensacola in 2024 With Can't-Miss Festivals, Milestone Events, Fresh Cuisine, & More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Erica Benken, Giant Noise | erica.benken@giantnoise.com
Nicole Stacey, Visit Pensacola | nstacey@visitpensacola.com
Lindsey Steck, Visit Pensacola | lsteck@visitpensacola.com

Pensacola, Fla. (July 2, 2024) – This Fall, Pensacola, Fla. is a must-visit destination for foodies, adventure seekers, and sunshine lovers. With can’t-miss festivals, exciting new and refreshed dining options, endless outdoor adventure, and anniversary celebrations, there’s something for everyone in Pensacola this season.

Freshly-Launched Travel Options
As of last week, travelers can now enjoy the addition of Breeze Airways to Pensacola International Airport’s airline offerings. The airline brings new nonstop flights from Pensacola to Tampa, Florida, and one-stop/no change of plane service to Norfolk, Virginia.

As of May 2024, Frontier Airlines now also offers nonstop flights to and from Pensacola, with service to Cleveland, Cincinnati, Denver, and Philadelphia year-round. Direct flights on Delta Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and others will remain available from other major hubs such as New York, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Nashville.

For those living in neighboring states such as Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana, the destination can be traversed via road trip in five hours or less - making a memorable beach trip easier.

Momentous Milestone Events
As summer draws to a close, this August the legendary Flora-Bama – located on Perdido Key and straddling the Florida/Alabama line – will celebrate its momentous 60th Anniversary. With iconic headline-making performances by Country music stars like Kenny Chesney and others, the Flora-Bama has been a staple for unforgettable annual events and live performances since opening its doors in 1964. This November also marks the 40th Anniversary of the Annual Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival, taking place Nov. 7-17, 2024; this will be a must-attend event for Country music lovers far and wide. With public beach access throughout Perdido Key, visitors can complement their visit to the Flora-Bama by taking in the sights from their spot in the sand, or snorkeling, rent a jet ski, kayak, or paddleboard from the nearby Flora-Bama Marina and Watersports for a sun-filled day on the water.

Currently on display at the Pensacola Museum of Art in Historic Downtown Pensacola, visitors can enjoy the museum’s 70th Annual Members Show – an annual juried exhibition open to members of the Pensacola Museum of Art. Honoring and celebrating the relationship between local artists and the institution over the last 70 years, the 2024 exhibition showcases nearly 90 local and regional artists working in a diverse range of media.

Experience the Festival City of the South & Signature Annual Events
Known as the Festival City of the South, Pensacola welcomes several signature festivals that promote community and attract visitors from all parts of the U.S. every Fall.

For seafood lovers, the Annual Pensacola Seafood Festival (Sept. 27-29, 2024) hosts one of the largest food festivals and crafts fairs in Northwest Florida. With seafood ranging from Lowcountry boil to sampler platters with shrimp, crawfish, scallops, gumbo, paella, and more – there’s something for every seafood lover. For crafts lovers, the festival hosts over 150 partisans and craftsmen from all over the country in this vibrant celebration, selling and showcasing their wares throughout the three-day event.

Come October, the Northeast Pensacola Sertoma Club will bring back the 10th Annual 2024 Dragon Boat Festival. On October 12, 2024, up to 40 teams will compete for bragging rights in front of thousands of spectators. Originating in Hong Kong, boaters typically paddle in sync along a 250-meter or 500-meter racecourse toward a finish line. The special event raises money for local Pensacola charities including Gulf Coast Kid’s House, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, and the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation.

On Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, Pensacola’s Taste of the Beach Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring Pensacola Beach restaurants showcasing their signature dishes, crab racing, kids’ cooking classes, a frozen zone, dining and hospitality tents, t-shirt sales and a free concert by Horseshoe Kitty. The free festival will be held at the Casino Beach Gulfside Pavilion, offering panoramic views of the sugar-white sands and emerald green waters of Pensacola Beach.

On the heels of spooky season, Pensacola’s annual Foo Foo Festival will return for its eleventh iteration from Oct. 31, 2024, through Nov. 11, 2024. The 12-day series of events celebrates arts & culture, promoting creative happenings and moments Pensacola has to offer coupled with a heavy dose of Southern sophistication. For more information on this year’s events, visit FooFooFest.com.

On Nov. 1-2, 2024, Pensacola’s Blue Angels will return to their home base for the NAS Pensacola Homecoming Airshow with a special theme – “Celebrating One Small Step.” Marking the 55th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission’s lunar landing (July 20, 1969) – one of the most significant events in aviation history – the homecoming airshow will pay tribute to the men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces’ aviation communities. NAS Pensacola will also commend NASA’s commitment to making air and space available to all during their unforgettable celebration. The free event is a highly-anticipated annual happening that welcomes an average of 250,000 visitors over the two days, so visitors are encouraged to arrive early to reserve their spot on base or in the sand. Fans of the Blue Angels can now experience them on-screen, too, following the recent release of The Blue Angels documentary on Amazon Prime.

As a premiere arts destination, it is no surprise that Pensacola is the centerpiece of the annual Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival. From Nov. 1-3, 2024, hundreds of artists will take over Seville Square, to compete in one of the nation’s most prestigious juried art shows that celebrates all forms of art.

Taking place on Nov. 10, 2024, Pensacola Eggfest will return to its home at the Blue Wahoos Stadium to showcase BBQ teams and backyard cooks from all over the U.S. who share a love for cooking and the joy of giving back to their communities.

On Nov. 12, 2024, visitors are invited to sip, stroll, and shop their way around the Pensacola Beach Art & Wine Festival held along the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk. The festival features more than 20 local artists and more than 30 wine selections all in one place.

Experience a Winter Wonderland on Florida’s Gulf Coast
As the holidays come into view, Pensacola offers ample experiences to choose from, like the local favorite Winterfest, which brings “snow” to Plaza Wonderland during a magical festival complete with holiday music, live performances, holiday treats and so much more starting in November. After the Thanksgiving holiday, visitors can venture to the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk to experience the annual Christmas tree lighting.

Leading into December, annual immersive experiences also return to Pensacola like the Polar Express Tour where tap-dancing servers lead visitors through a trolley ride of the classic Christmas tale. In addition, The Cajun Christmas Experience is a great choice for those who like a little history with their Christmas cookies. During this open-air trolley ride, a guide shares stories of how they celebrate Christmas in the bayou as guests travel to Pensacola’s Historic Village.

Indulge in Delectable Dining
This Fall, Pensacola will remain home to locally sourced chefs, tastemakers, and restaurants that are owned and operated by Chefs and mixologists who hail from the Pensacola area. Pensacola is proud to offer a variety of new restaurants and opportunities to enjoy beloved local eateries.

A Mediterranean favorite, Agapi Bistro + Garden, offers unique bites, an impressive drink menu, and wine flights. Nearby, Scenic 90 Cafe, also helmed by Chef Gus Silivos, will continue its 25th Anniversary celebrations throughout 2024. For beloved homemade favorites and snappy service, the diner is a must-stop for visitors looking for casual fare.

For some southern flair, steps away from Historic Seville Square and overlooking Pensacola Bay and Seville Harbor, the award-winning Fish House offers daily seafood selections, house-smoked steaks, sushi, and over 300 wines. Their world-famous Grits a Ya Ya, a southern plate of smoked Gouda cheese grits smothered in fresh cream with sauteed Gulf shrimp, spinach, portobello mushrooms, smoked applewood bacon, garlic, and shallots are enough to have over half a million visitors a year.

The perfect blend of land and sea, Pearl & Horn draws inspiration from Chef George Lazi’s homeland, the Republic of Georgia. Matched with creative cocktails, a curated wine list, and a one-of-a-kind fusion that’ll satisfy anyone’s taste for something fresh and new, this restaurant is a must-try for new and returning visitors to Pensacola.

Pensacola’s newly opened artisanal sandwich shop, A Mano Panino, is known for its Tuscan-inspired paninis with schiacciata bread that is made in-house daily. Guests can walk up to the all-new sandwich counter to order a freshly prepared sandwich of their choice, featuring Italian imported and locally sourced ingredients. There’s no better sandwich option for a perfect day on the beach!

Those looking to relive classic ‘80s Floridian nostalgia can visit Alga Beer Co.’s newest space, The Florida Room. With the retro Miami vibes and made-in-house drinks with 18% hard seltzer, mocktails, Jell-O shots, and more, it’s the perfect spot to cool down during the summer heat.

“Fall” in Love in Pensacola
Tying the knot in Pensacola is an idyllic scene with the help of new and beautiful event spaces. Culinary Productions is an all-inclusive and full-service catering company that recently opened its new 5,000-square-foot downtown venue. The alluring indoor space can be utilized for any event, including private nuptials, with tables, chairs, linens, and event set-up/breakdown provided. The Sanctuary offers both an indoor and outdoor venue with 14,000 square feet of event space. Featuring century-old oak trees and a customizable courtyard, it is the perfect destination for Fall wedding celebrations.


For more information on Pensacola or how to plan a visit this Fall, go to VisitPensacola.com.




About Visit Pensacola
Visit Pensacola is the destination organization for Escambia County which includes Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, and Perdido Key. With over 464 years of rich history and nearly 40 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordered by the emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, visitors from all over the world are lured to our pristine shores every year. Visit Pensacola supports the community vision of tourism by serving as the central body responsible for building tourism as an economic engine for our community through leadership, connection, collaboration, and communication.