As a local (born and raised in Pensacola), I’ve seen this place go through many a change when it comes to holiday offerings.
My husband and I sat down and decided to do something daily in the twenty days leading up to Christmas. These activities range from checking out lights to doing something for someone else. Our little family has created some old staples as well as some newer traditions.
So I invite you to check out our Christmas Bucket List with twenty days of fun!
Ten Things to Be Done Locally:
1. A Downtown Stroll with Warm Beverages and Sweet Treats
Park anywhere on Palafox downtown to see the lights and walk by the Winterfest festivities to take in the view. (Even if you’re not participating, you can see lights, Santa, and the Grinch). Grab a coffee from Maker’s Cafe (we love a seasonal latte). Indulge in a heavenly doughnut from Parlor Doughnuts (we love minis with coconut creme or seasonals, and they even make keto doughnuts)! Pick up treats for the whole family at Kilwin’s or Peterbroke Chocolatier. Stop by Corals Closet for some indoor play for the kids and to check out the toy selection. Head to Fosko for a sweet or savory crepe and a special hot cocoa.
You can walk up and down Palafox, and you’ve got all these options and more!
2. Visit Santa
My family personally tries to avoid the line for the Cordova Mall Santa, but you do you!
Jeweler’s Trade Shop is my absolute favorite shop to look at during the holiday season. It is always decorated so beautifully! Check out their Instagram for dates of Santa appearances.
Coral’s Closet – A Magical Christmas Experience – Listen to a story read by Santa himself and get professional pictures afterward! Enjoy some hot chocolate and cookies while taking in the festive environment all around. (This is a ticketed event on 12/7/24 from 3:00-5:00pm.)
3. Attend a Christmas Show
Personally, I’m partial to the Pensacola Children’s Chorus ‘Christmas on the Coast’ (December 13-15) and Ballet Pensacola’s The Nutcracker (December 20-22), both at the Saenger Theatre. The Ballet is even hosting a children’s event, The Land of Sweets, to attend prior to the Saturday matinee performance and an adult-only even Solstice Soiree to attend prior to the Saturday evening performance!
Multiple churches do their own special shows if that’s more your speed.
Bonus: I love the New Year’s Eve concert put on by the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra at the Saenger.
4. Wales West Light Railway: The Arctic Express
13670 Smiley St., Silverhill, AL 36576
Drive over (just an hour) to Wales West for a Christmas Train ride amidst a large light spectacle. The little ones will love riding two different trains, getting to meet Santa, and seeing all the lights. We’ve taken our little ones for the past three years, and they have LOVED it. We’re going back again.
Bonus: If you timed it right, you could make a whole day of it and go to Bellingrath Gardens, too. It’s an extraordinary walk-through light display.
5. Holiday Markets
Tis the season! Here are some (but not all)!
Holiday Market at Community Maritime Park (Holiday Market at Community Maritime Park | Facebook) December 4th from 10am-2pm
Hot Glass Cold Brew: Christmas Pajama Party (Hot Glass, Cold Brew: Holiday Pajama Party | Facebook) at First City Art Center on December 6th at 5pm. (This is a ticketed event.)
German Winter Market at Gary’s Biergarten (German Winter Market | Facebook ) December 6th, starting at 4pm, and Sunday, December 15th, starting at 3pm.
Pancakes with Santa & Holiday Market | Facebook Pancakes with Santa Holiday Market at Gulf Coast Kids’ House, Saturday, December 7th, from 8-11am
Santa Paws & Winter Wonderland Market | Facebook at Perfect Plain Brewery. Saturday, December 14th, from 11am-4pm
Brunch with Santa and Holiday Market at The Burrow Brunch with Santa & a Holiday Market at The Burrow | Facebook Sunday, December 2,2 from 12-4pm
6. Start a Christmas Tradition
Start a tradition, and maybe involve a local small business!
Example: For some reason, we always eat Nachos on Christmas Eve. It started when I was in medical training and always had to work on Christmas, so we would celebrate on Christmas Eve at around 8pm when I got off work. The only restaurant that was open near us was a Mexican restaurant, and so began our tradition. More recently, we’ve been making nachos at home and going for a quick drink at Odd Colony Brewery for their Holiday Ramble on 12/23/24 starting at 5pm or for Christmas Eve.
The Burrow is now doing a weekly Holiday Movie showing on December 5, 12 & 19 to view a classic Christmas movie in their Biergarten! Bring a blanket to sit on or some chairs to get cozy.
7. Attend a Christmas Eve Service
There are so many options.
8. Winterfest
Attend Winterfest downtown. Take the trolley ride. Some local youth do a great job acting out stories as you ride through. Plus you can see the “snow” and enjoy a walk around.
9. East Hill Sleigh Ride
2000 E Lloyd St., Pensacola, FL 32503
Bring your camping chairs and post up for the annual East Hill Sleigh Ride. This local favorite is in its fifth year and is basically a parade put on by locals. They also raise money for Gulf Coast Kid’s House. They start at Bayview Community Center and are scheduled for Saturday, December 21, at 5:30pm.
10. The Elbow Room
2213 W Cervantes St., Pensacola, FL 32505
Hear me out — Take your family to The Elbow Room. This pub is one of my favorite hidden gems in Pensacola, and for the holidays, they go ALL OUT with the decorations. Your kids will love them. Plus, they’ve got a wall of board games to go along with the old-school pinball and bowling games. And a jukebox! May I recommend the Abita Bacon Dip and making your own pizza?
Ten Things to Be Done Anytime:
1. Bake Cookies
Bake cookies and give them to neighbors. What a good way to meet them if you don’t know them.
2. Build a Gingerbread House
There are now so many different kits, from houses to trains!
Want to avoid a mess? Make one out of cardboard and have little kids decorate it with markers, stickers, and more (non-edible) things!
3. Send Holiday Cheer to Servicemembers
Write Christmas cards to our servicemen and women who are deployed this holiday season. Just mail the cards (no envelopes) and be sure they are mailed by December 5th.
4. Send Letters or Gifts to Nursing Homes
Call and ask in advance, but most will take at least cards. There’s also an ‘adopt a resident’ type sponsorship through Be Santa to a Senior (beasantatoasenior.com), with cards with heartbreakingly simple requests available for pickup at :
-Downtown YMCA (165 E Intendencia St)
-First United Methodist Church (6 E Wright St)
-Walmart Supercenter Gulf Breeze (3767 Gulf Breeze Parkway)
-Escambia County Sherriff’s Office (1100 E Cervantes St)
The requests are for things like blankets, socks, perfume, sugar-free candy, and small space heaters.
5. Sponsor a Child in Need
Gulf Coast Kids House has an Angel Tree, and Guardian ad Litem has ‘Hope for the Holidays,’ to name a few.
6. Have a Hot Chocolate Party With Friends
Make a crockpot of hot chocolate and have everyone bring over a topping.
7. Have a “Fancy Party”
We love an excuse to dress up, so invite some friends over and tell them to dress nice! Have some appetizers or divvy up the menu amongst yourselves.
8. See the Christmas Lights
Jump in your vehicle and ride around to see lights. Check out PMC’s favorite spots. We love to just ride around Cordova Park, East Hill, and North Hill areas.
9. Letter to Santa
Write a letter to Santa. If you want a return letter, it needs to be sent now!
10. Watch All the Movies!
My husband is quite partial to “Die Hard,” but we always end up watching the hokey movies. Our favorite is “The 12 Dates of Christmas,” starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar (aka Zach Morris). With our kids, we like “Home Alone,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” and “A Mickey Christmas Carol.”
Hi Tristan,,
I am a lonely single 63 year old man in love with the coast of Alabama and Florida. Thinking about driving from Louisiana to the Perdido/Pensacola area from the 22nd or 23rd through Christmas and looking for a safe place to stay near the coast that isn’t too pricey (ie, $80 to 100/night). Being a local lady, I was wondering if you had any insider information regarding clean, safe, reasonable and convenient lodging that would allow enjoying Pensacola and Perdido at Christmas time? I know this is an unusual request but I thought I’d ask. Enjoyed your Christmas article.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Durock Hebert Jr