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, 2024, 2 p.m. Brave the cold and start the New Year with a dip in the Sound.
SNOWBIRDS BEACH BASH
January 18, 2024. Join us at Our Lady of Assumption Church on Pensacola Beach for a fun winter event.
KIDS AND KRITTERS PARADE
January 20, 2024, 2 p.m. The twelfth annual Kids and Kritters Parade is set for Saturday, January 20 at 2 p.m. in the Casino Beach parking lot across from Sidelines on Pensacola Beach.
FEBRUARY
DOUBLE BRIDGE RUN
February 3, 2024. Pensacola Sports Association presents the Double Bridge run.
KREWE OF WRECKS MARDI GRAS PARADE
February 11, 2024. The parade rolls at 2 p.m. from Via de Luna and Avenida 10 to the Gulfside Pavilion. The Krewe of Wrecks parade features approximately 50 units, oversized floats with generous riders, marching units and Wrecks royalty.
MARCH
GO IRISH ON THE ISLAND!
March 17, 2023. St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl. Make your way through dozens of beach bars, restaurants and hotels serving up Irish drink specials, music and mischief.
APRIL
BANDS ON THE BEACH
April 4 – October 31, 2023. Tuesdays at 7 p.m. 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 21 – 23, 2023. Mudbugs take over the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk for the annual Pensacola Beach Crawfish Festival, hosted by Bamboo Willies.
MAY
STARGAZING NIGHTS
May – October, 2023. Held on the first quarter moon weekend, beginning at sunset at Casino Beach. Click here for more info.
JUNE
SEA TURTLE BABY SHOWER & HOMECOMING
June 3, 2023. Gulfside Pavilion at Casino Beach. A family friendly event of games, crafts and hands-on exhibits to educate and celebrate Sea Turtles. Take the Sea Turtle Friendly Oath, meet a mermaid, and touch a real turtle shell. Event is free to public.
CINEMAS IN THE SAND
June 23, 2023, starting at sunset Pack up your beach chairs and a blanket, and dig your toes in the sugar-white sand while watching classic family movies on Pensacola Beach this fall. The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) invites families and kids, young and old, to its newest event – Cinemas in the Sand – movie nights on Pensacola Beach. Click here for more details.
- June 23: Finding Nemo
JULY
FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS
July 4, 2023. Sound side 8:30 p.m. Celebrate your independence with fireworks on the sound side of the Island.
PENSACOLA BEACH AIR SHOW
July 5-8, 2023. 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
CINEMAS IN THE SAND
July 14 and 28, 2023, starting at sunset Pack up your beach chairs and a blanket, and dig your toes in the sugar-white sand while watching classic family movies on Pensacola Beach this fall. The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) invites families and kids, young and old, to its newest event – Cinemas in the Sand – movie nights on Pensacola Beach. Click here for more details.
- July 14: The Sandlot
- July 28: Moana
AUGUST
CINEMAS IN THE SAND
August 4, starting at sunset Pack up your beach chairs and a blanket, and dig your toes in the sugar-white sand while watching classic family movies on Pensacola Beach this fall. The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) invites families and kids, young and old, to its newest event – Cinemas in the Sand – movie nights on Pensacola Beach. Click here for more details.
- August 4: The Sandlot
SEPTEMBER
VETTES AT THE BEACH CAR SHOW
September 16, 2023. Corvette show with vettes of all ages to admire at Casino Beach parking lot.
CINEMAS IN THE SAND
September 1, 15, 22 and 29, 2023, starting at sunset Pack up your beach chairs and a blanket, and dig your toes in the sugar-white sand while watching classic family movies on Pensacola Beach this fall. The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) invites families and kids, young and old, to its newest event – Cinemas in the Sand – movie nights on Pensacola Beach. Click here for more details.
- Sept 1: The Greatest Showman – Rescheduled to Sept. 22
- Sept 15: Wall-E
- Sept 22: The Greatest Showman
- Sept 29: Night at the Museum
OCTOBER
SANTA ROSA ISLAND TRIATHLON
October 7, 2023. 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 8, 2023. Held at Park East, this event features a full triathlon experience for children from seven to 15 years old.
CINEMAS IN THE SAND
October 13, 2023, starting at sunset Pack up your beach chairs and a blanket, and dig your toes in the sugar-white sand while watching classic family movies on Pensacola Beach this fall. The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) invites families and kids, young and old, to its newest event – Cinemas in the Sand – movie nights on Pensacola Beach. Click here for more details.
- Oct 13: Halloweentown
TASTE OF THE BEACH
October 13-14, 2023. Pensacola Beach’s biggest culinary event starts with a VIP dinner on Friday night followed by Saturday’s daylong event filled with cooking demonstrations, challenges and food tastings from more than a dozen beach restaurants.
BEACH-O-WEEN
October 20, 2023. 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
VETERAN’S DAY PARADE
November 11, 2023. A salute to our nation’s veterans.
ART & WINE FEST
November 12, 2023. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Wine Tastings from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.) Enjoy a Sunday afternoon sipping wine and browsing artwork on the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk.
DECEMBER
LIGHTED BOAT PARADE
December 2, 2023, 6:30 p.m. View the Lighted Boat Parade procession, starting from Sabine Marina in Little Sabine Bay to the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk on the Santa Rosa Sound. Look for Santa on the lead boat and then join him for meet and greet to follow on the boardwalk by 8 p.m.
SURFING SANTA BEACH PARADE
December 3, 2023. 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 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, 2023, 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.