DISCOVER 🦪 P’COLA

Pensacola’s #1 Newsletter

DISCOVER THE BEST EVENTS, HIDDEN GEMS, AND LOCAL STORIES.

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Morning P’Cola,

The azaleas are fixin’ to burst wide open and the Bay Center is humming with "March Madness" energy. Between the squeak of sneakers and the quiet peace of the UWF trails, there’s a little something to stir every soul. So, grab a glass of something cold and let’s dive into what’s happening right here at home IN P’COLA.

We are Discover P’COLA, Pensacola’s #1 newsletter. We’ve got local insights, local events, local news & weather; we’ve got it all! Take your time, read and enjoy.

See ya out there.

THE POST & PLANK

Want to spread the word? High Tides & Good Vibes.

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FIVE FLAGS FEBRUARY FORECAST

P’Cola is a legacy, known as “The City of Five Flags”; French, British, Confederate, and United States - symbolize the five nations that have ruled Pensacola.  

Sponsored by our Forever Friends:

Doesn’t every home need a bunny named GRUMPY?

Pensacola Pup: ANNABELLE / Kitty: RUDY / Bunny: GRUMPY

THIS WEEK IN P’COLA

Sports & Outdoors

• Sun Belt Basketball Championships * Date: Mar 3 – 9

  Pensacola Bay Center / 11:30 AM (Women's) and 5:00 PM (Men's).

• Bay to Breakfast 8K Trail Run / Feb 28 / 7:30 AM / Big Lagoon State Park

• Beginning Birding Hike / Feb 28 / 9:00 AM / Big Lagoon State Park

  A ranger-guided walk through the park to identify local and migratory shorebirds.

Theatre & Performing Arts

• "The Sleeping Beauty" – International Ballet Stars / Feb 27 / 7:00 PM / Saenger Theatre

• "A Night of Four Seasons" – Ballet Pensacola / Mar 1 / 2:30 PM / Saenger Theatre

Live Music & Nightlife

• R&B ONLY LIVE / Feb 27 / 8:00 PM / Vinyl Music Hall

• Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue: Shorty Gras Tour / Mar 3 / 7:00 PM / Saenger Theatre

• Christopher Cross / Mar 4 / 7:30 PM / Saenger Theatre / 5-time Grammy winner brings his "Sailing" tour to Saenger stage.

• Monday Night Blues / Mar 2 / 7:00 PM / Seville Quarter (Lili Marlene’s)

Beach & Community

• Navarre Beach Science Station Open House / Feb 28 / 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM / Navarre Beach Marine Science Station / Family-friendly educational event featuring touch tanks and marine life exhibits.

• Sunset Coastal Cleanup / Feb 28 / 9:00 AM / Gulfside Pavilion, Pensacola Beach / JOIN local volunteers for a post-season beach sweep to keep our beach pristine.

STATE OF THE BAYS  

The recent "State of the Bays" report shows us that while seagrass remains stable, the oyster populations in Pensacola Bay are at critical lows (down 90–95% from historical levels), sparking new calls for restoration.

Oysters In Crisis - A Bitter Pill for the Bay

I hate to bring a dark cloud to the bay on a sunny day, but the news on our oysters is about as tough as a summer drought. The latest word from the water just confirms our oyster beds are in a real bad way, in a critical state. To give you the long view, the Pensacola Bay System has watched 90–95% of its historical reefs vanish into memory. And it hasn't slowed any, between 2010 and 2021, they lost another 500 acres of that good bottom ground. Here is the plain truth of where we stand:

• Empty Buckets: The reality is the bay can’t support a commercial harvest anymore. We’re looking toward farm-raised 'boutique' oysters and restoration just to keep our oyster seafood traditions from fadin' away entirely.

• Thin on the Ground: The few remaining reef left are "patchy" at best.

• Losing the Ground: The reefs have lost their vertical height, meaning they're sitting too low. Without that height, they’re getting choked out by silt and sediment, unable to keep their heads above the mud.

Seagrass: "Steady" and a Comfort in Contrast

Seagrass is the "good news" of the report, but with a major asterisk*. Current mapping shows that seagrass levels have leveled off. In some areas, like Lower Perdido Bay, there have even been slight increases. *While stable now, we are still at less than 50% of the historic seagrass coverage found the mid-20th century.

2026 Bay Restoration

The $10.9 Million Initiative: The Pensacola Bay Oyster Restoration Initiative. The goal is to restore 1,500 acres of habitat over the next decade.

Water Quality Collaborative: A $750,000 EPA grant was awarded to create a "Water Quality Monitoring Collaborative." This will place 30 sentinel monitoring sites across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to provide real-time data.

Legislative Push: There are active requests in the Florida Senate (e.g., Senate Bill 3308) for nearly $1 million in additional state funds to support these estuary restoration efforts.

Shell Recycling Expansion: The EscaRosa Oyster Shell Recycling Program asked local restaurants to contribute and record amounts of shucked shells poured in. They will be cured and placed back into the bay as "cultch" (the foundation new oysters need to grow). We’ve been blessed with some truly fine folks stepping up to lend a hand: The Grand Marlin, Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar, Red Fish Blue Fish and Peg Leg Pete’s, to name a few.

CIVIL PARK & BUSINESS NEWS

CITY EVENTS - CALENDAR

Beulah’s Transformation of OLF-8; Outlying Fields

The 540-acre site known as OLF-8 (the old Navy field) is finally moving toward a "village" feel bringing a mix of shops, restaurants, and "residential over retail" spaces. The developer, Catalyst Healthcare Real Estate (partnering with Jim Wilson & Associates), has officially branded the project "Outlying Fields." 

SUN TRAIL - Waterfront Connectivity 

A public workshop was held this week at the Saenger Theatre to discuss the "SunTrail," a proposed biking and walking path designed to connect the Downtown Pensacola Waterfront. It’s a vision for a 12-foot-wide paved path that’ll let folks bike or stroll all the way from the west side through to our beautiful downtown waterfront.

SUN BELT BASKETBALL TAKES CENTER STAGE

The Sun Belt Conference basketball tournament has officially returned to Pensacola! This is a major economic driver for the city, with games taking place at the Pensacola Bay Center.

It’s a real blessing for our local shops and cafes to see so many new faces visiting from all over the Southeast. Between the excitement on the court and the folks filling up downtown, it’s a fine week and compliment to our city’s heart and soul.

Men's Tournament Schedule

2026 Sun Belt Women’s Championship Schedule

Key Promotions & Events

March 4 / Youth Night: Kids 13 and under get in free for evening games.

March 5 / Education Night: Free entry for Escambia County students/staff; 50% off for college students.

March 6 / Military Appreciation: $6 tickets for active duty and veterans.

March 7 / Fan Fest: A free festival in front of the Bay Center from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM featuring live music and food.

FESTIVALS, PARADES & EVENTS

Between late February and the end of March 2026, we’re trading in the purple and gold beads for some shamrock green and a whole lot of community spirit.

February 2026

• February 27 Winter Cider Fest / Coastal County Brewing.

  They transform their tap wall into a "Cider Lover’s Paradise" for the weekend. It’s a cozy, family-friendly vibe with specialty ciders you won't find the rest of the year.

• February 28 Orange Beach Seafood Festival & Car Show / The Wharf (Orange Beach– just a short hop over the line). This is a huge regional favorite. It’s got all the Gulf seafood you can eat, a massive car show for the gear-heads, and plenty of arts and crafts vendors.

MARCH 2026

• March 7 McGuire’s Prediction 5K Post-Race Party / McGuire’s Irish Pub / 9:00 AM. It’s the closest thing to a parade you’ll find this month, with thousands of folks in costume and an epic street party afterward.

• March 14 St. Paddy's Weekend Bar Crawl / Vinyl Music Hall / 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM. A lively trek through our downtown shops and taps.

• March 17 39th Annual St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl / Pensacola Beach / (Starts at Crabs) 9:00 AM with Irish Breakfast. This is the island’s signature event—just follow the sea of green along the boardwalk.

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

February 2026

• Feb 27 Live Music at Bounce Beach Pensacola Beach / 7:00 PM

• Feb 28 The Emo Night Tour Vinyl Music Hall / 8:00 PM

• Feb 28 Tape B Community Maritime Park / 7:00 PM

• Feb 28 Eddie 9V The Handlebar / 9:00 PM

• February 28: American Rock Odyssey – White Tie Rock Ensemble tribute show / OWA Theater.

• February 28: Tape B at Maritime Park – Outdoor music performance

MARCH 2026

• March 3 Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave. Saenger Theatre / 7:00 PM

• March 4 Christopher Cross Saenger Theatre / 8:00 PM

• March 5 Bangarang Peter Bamboo Willie's / 7:00 PM

• March 6 The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Vinyl Music Hall / 8:00 PM

• March 6 LetdownThe Handlebar / 6:00 PM

• March 7 PSO: Mahler Symphony No. 2 Saenger Theatre / 7:30 PM

• March 10 Shwayze The Handlebar / 7:00 PM

• March 13 Pop Fiction Live Bamboo Willie's / 8:00 PM

• March 13 Pensacola Opera: Oklahoma! Saenger Theatre / 7:30 PM

• March 14 Mersiv Laguna’s Beach Bar

• March 15 Jarred McConnell & The High Aces Bamboo Willie's / 3:00 PM

• March 15 Pensacola Opera: Oklahoma! Saenger Theatre / 1:00 PM

• March 17 The High Aces (St. Paddy's Day)Bamboo Willie's / 12:00 PM

• March 20 Rakim Vinyl Music Hall / 7:00 PM

• March 20 The Magic of Motown Saenger Theatre / 7:30 PM

• March 21 Third Day & Zach Williams Pensacola Bay Center / 7:00 PM

• March 21 Hotel California (Eagles Tribute) Saenger Theatre / 8:00 PM

• March 22 Swan Lake (World Ballet) Saenger Theatre / 7:00 PM

• March 28 PSO: Symphonic Spectacular Saenger Theatre / 7:30 PM

• March 28 Robert Lester Folsom The Handlebar / 7:00 PM

• March 31 Varials & UnityTX The Handlebar / 7:00 PM

• THE HANDLEBAR

• BAMBOO WILLIES

• LAGUNA’S

• VINYL MUSIC HALL

• SEVILLE QUARTER

• PENSACOLA OPERA

SPORTS

PENSACOLA- Calendar

• MONDAYS MONDAY DOG RUN

• THURSDAYS FLEET FEET

  TEAM SPORTS

• Feb 27–28 Pensacola Ice Flyers Bay Center

• March 3–9 Sun Belt Basketball Championships Bay Center / men’s and women’s teams compete for March Madness bid.

• March 4 Youth Night (Sun Belt) Bay CenterFree entry for kids 13 & under (5:00 PM & 7:30 PM games).

• March 7 Sun Belt Dribble Drive Bay CenterYouth ages 3–12 dribble through downtown (2:00 PM)

• March 28 Ice Flyers vs. Birmingham Bay Center

  RUNNING & TRAIL EVENTS

• Feb 28 Bay to Breakfast 8K Big Lagoon State Park / A scenic trail run through the coastal pines (7:30 AM).

• Feb 28 I Pink I Can Run 5K Fleet Feet Pensacola / A community run/walk for breast cancer awareness.

• March 7 McGuire’s Prediction 5K McGuire’s Irish Pub / The nation’s largest prediction run—come for the race, stay for the party.

• March 19 Gulf Coast Series (Day 4) Big Lagoon State Park / Marathon, Half, 10K, and 5K options on park trails.

• March 28 Bayou Hills Run Bayview Park / The City of Pensacola 5K & 10K Championships.

  PICKLE BALL, HIKING, SWIM & SURF…

• March 3, 2026 (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM): Full Moon Paddle. Edward Ball Nature Trail (right behind Buildings 10 & 11). It’s a peaceful way to see the bayou as the sun goes down and the moon starts to peek through the cypress trees.

• March 5–8 Young Life Tournament Portside Pickle / A major downtown pickleball tourney (Women’s, Men’s, & Mixed).

• March 7 Open Water Swim Clinic / TriChix Multisport Open Water Swim Clinic is a highly anticipated annual event designed to take the "scary" out of swimming in the open water.

• March 9, 2026 (4:30 PM – 6:30 PM): Intro to Backpacking. Rec Plex North Gazebo. It’s a perfect "gentle start" where they’ll show you how to pack your gear and then take you for a hike along the trails to get the feel of it.

• March 14–15 Luck o' the Paddle Navarre (Hidden Creek) / A St. Paddy’s themed pickleball tournament.

• Weekend Surf Lessons Pensacola Beach / Early spring swells start picking up; check with Innerlight surf shop for clinics.

• Daily Hiking the Loop UWF Main Campus 20+ miles of trails for all skill levels (Nature Trail & West Campus). Best accessed from the Pate Street Trailhead (11969 Pate St.). It’s free to park there, and you can pick up the trail right from the lot.

MORE GOOD READS

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