If you are anything like me and my family, we are D-O-N-E with the hyperheat and counting down until we are in the BIG “R” months. We may even have Halloween decorations spooking the inner walls of the house.
Do not get me wrong. Summers on the Gulf Coast are beautiful and filled with lots of fun, but with the crisp, cooler weather comes a new type of fun- FESTIVALS!
This time of year, there seems to be some type of community event (or multiple events!) occurring every weekend, but below, we have your guide to the family-friendly festivals to round out your year.
Family-Friendly Fall Festivals
September Festivals
September 27th-29th Seafood Festival (Seville Square)
Yes, the food and music are always enjoyable, not to mention the fantastic vendors featuring their arts and crafts. The children’s tent is equally as fun for our littles, and there is even a 5K!
Start your Saturday by participating in the fun 3.1-mile event as a family, then celebrate with shopping and eating! The children’s area includes face painting, crafts, and giveaways.
While making your next purchase for that bare wall in your home, there are also vendors specifically for the children with superhero gear, local children’s authors, and more.
October Festivals
Boo at the Zoo (Gulf Breeze Zoo)
The Gulf Breeze Zoo’s “Boo at the Zoo” is full of Halloween entertainment and kid-friendly fun, including a trick-or-treat trail, bounce house, face painting and more! This fun event takes place on October 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27. Tickets are $27.95 for adults, $20.95 for children ages 2-12, and $10 for zoo members.
October 4th-5th First City Arts Center Annual Pumpkin Patch
The 18th Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch will be held at First City Arts Center (1040 N. Guillemard Street) on Saturday, October 5th, from 10 am to 2pm (general admission). The “First Pick” preview party is on Friday, October 4th (5-8pm). Tickets for the preview party are $35 for members (5pm admission) and $40 for non-members (5:30pm admission).
Thousands of gorgeous handmade pumpkins to choose from!
October 12th 10th Annual Pensacola Dragon Boat Festival (Bayview Park)
Benefitting Gulf Coast Kid’s House and The Escambia County Public Schools Foundation, this event is a huge team-builder for various companies and organizations throughout the community.
Teams begin racing at 9 AM, but the vendor booths and kids’ activities will begin an hour prior. There is a DJ, arts and crafts booths, face painting, and games for the kids. It is a great day in Bayview Park!
October 12th Taste of the Beach (Casino Beach)
This is an outdoor festival near the Gulfside Pavillion, with 20 of Pensacola Beach’s best restaurants serving up their signature dishes ($10 each). Crabs on the Beach is even hosting a kids’ cooking class where kids can learn how to make gourmet crab cakes ($15/child and limited to 20 tickets).
October 12th Milton’s Blackwater Food Truck Festival (Jernigan Landing)
This is the inaugural event year for this festival. The event will begin at 11 AM and is free admission. There will be food trucks, live music, and bounce houses.
October 13th Breeze-O-Ween (Gulf Breeze Parks and Recreation)
This 2nd annual event will feature costume contests, pumpkin carving, food trucks, and trick-or-treating stations. Anything and everything your family needs to get into the spooky spirit.
Festivities begin at 5:00 PM.
November Festivals
October 31st – November 11th Foo Foo Festival (Downtown Pensacola)
A 12-day art and culture celebration featuring theatre, music, and events in Downtown Pensacola!
November 3rd-5th Pensacola Greek Festival (Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church)
This weekend event is the perfect opportunity to eat, drink, and be merry- the Mediterranean way. I will be there with baklava in one hand and spanokopita in the other!
November 1st-3rd Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival (Seville Square)
Pensacola is home to this premier and well-regarded event each Fall. The three-day festival features hundreds of artists, live musicians, performing arts, food vendors, a student art exhibit, and its own Children’s Art Festival.
Bartram Park has free crafts for the kids, including masks, wands, capes, buttons, clay, flowers, and more.
I particularly enjoy this event because it focuses on emerging student artists and performers and is held on Friday, Very Special Arts Day, for special needs students in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.
Tip—This is primarily a daytime event, with the Children’s area operating from 10 to 4 and the event itself closing each evening at 5.
November 16th Food Fall Truck Festival (Vince Whibbs Sr Community Maritime Park)
What is better than another whole festival centered around food?
This food truck festival will have live music, bounce houses, and a culinary competition.
Tip- There is a $5 entry fee for anyone 13 and older.
[…] Guide to Family-Friendly Fall Festivals […]