DISCOVER 🏡 P’COLA

Pensacola’s #1 Newsletter

If you're itching for some adventure, we're here to help you stumble upon the finest local festivities, those tucked-away treasures, and every bit of excitement stirring in our community. It’s the perfect way to truly get to know the heart of our home, Pensacola.

QUICK. FREE. INFORMATIVE. 

Morning P’Cola!

This coming week (April 10–16) is bursting with good times you simply must not miss. Kick off the weekend with the best sliders in town at the Burger Battle by the Bay on Saturday (all for a good cause!), then put on your dancing shoes and head out to Pensacola Beach on Tuesday for the Whitesands Panhandle Band at Bands on the Beach.

Something truly special about our hometown this time of year—it's that sweet scent of Jasmine blooming with the breeze so soft and cool. Let it remind you how lucky we are to call this place home. Grab your sunglasses and hat, and let get to enjoying it!

See ya out there.

COMMUNITY & COUNTY NEWS

• Closures: Starting Monday, April 13, the intersection of Government Street and B Street will be closed for utility work. Also, keep an eye out for temporary lane reductions on Barrancas Avenue .

• Fricker Resource Center: The city is moving forward with major renovations for the Fricker Center. Families using the center for after-school care are currently being surveyed to help plan for the 2026-2027 transition to alternate sites like Woodland Heights.

• The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners meeting originally scheduled for April 16 has been canceled. 

• The County Planning Board meets Tuesday, April 14, at 2:00 PM in the Hagler-Mason Conference Room.

• UWF Athletics: The University of West Florida just named Tanner Smith as the new men’s basketball head coach. He comes to the Argos with a strong defensive reputation from Appalachian State.

MARCH FORECAST  

With nothing but sunshine warming up our little corner of the world, you can expect highs to range from 72°F to 76°F, just about perfect for sitting out on the porch. The breeze will be coming up from the southeast at about 8 to 13 mph, just enough to keep things from getting too sticky despite that 60% to 74% humidity.

When the sun goes down, it'll settle into a comfortable range between 62°F and 67°F, making for a mighty fine evening everyday. It’s a beautiful week to be out and about!

SPONSORED BY OUR FOREVER FRIENDS

Finding a horse to call your own is a special kind of journey, and while our sandy shores in Pensacola don't have a stable full of horses to adopt out just a short trot up the road in Cantonment, the folks at Panhandle Equine Rescue or Tiny Acres are doing the good work of giving these gentle giants a second chance at life. LANA the pony is located at Alaqua Animal Rescue in Freeport.

THIS WEEK in P’COLA

Friday, April 10

• Networking: Greater Pensacola Chamber hosts "Good Morning Pensacola" from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM at The Wright Place at First United Methodist Church.

• Benefit Event: Fork Cancer Pensacola takes place at Supposey Warehouse and Garden, featuring food, cocktails, and entertainment to benefit the American Cancer Society.

• Theater/Musical: Pensacola Little Theatre presents "Junie B. Jones The Musical" at 7:00 PM (400 S. Jefferson St.).

Saturday, April 11

• Palafox Market 9:00 - 2:00 PM in MLK, Jr. Plaza (50 N. Palafox St.).

• Fiesta Children's Treasure Hunt: presented by International Paper, at 300 S. Tarragona St.

• 16th Annual Navy Federal 5K in Pensacola, starting at 130 E. Government St.

• Art Fair: "An Artful Home: a Home and Garden Art Fair" at 1060 N. Guillemard St.

• Pensacola Little Theatre presents a special sensory-friendly performance of "Junie B. Jones The Musical" at 10:30 AM, followed by a standard performance at 7:00 PM.

• The Dinner Theater Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show at 8 S. 9th Ave.

• Comedy: Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias performs at the Pensacola Bay Center (201 E. Gregory St.).

• Burger Battle by the Bay, Community Maritime Park (301 W. Main St.), set against the backdrop of Pensacola Bay.

  

Sunday, April 12

• Theater/Musical: Final performance of "Junie B. Jones The Musical" at Pensacola Little Theatre at 2:30 PM.

• Art Event: Pensacola Plein Air Paint Out 2026 Reception at 17 E. Zaragoza St.

• GULF COAST HALF MARATHON Pensacola Beach

Monday, April 13

• Comedy: BTB Comedy Open Mic at 270 N. Palafox St.

Tuesday, April 14

• Bands on the Beach features the Whitesands Panhandle Band from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach.

Wednesday, April 15

• Rosie O'Grady's Dueling Piano Show at Seville Quarter.

Thursday, April 16

• Ballet Pensacola presents "Romeo and Juliet" at the Pensacola Little Theatre (400 S. Jefferson St.).

• Comedy: Jim Gaffigan performs at the Pensacola Bay Center (201 E. Gregory St.).

CIVIL PARK & BUSINESS NEWS

CITY EVENTS - CALENDAR

Planning Board Meeting (April 14): For folks interested in how the city is growing, the board meets at 2:00 PM in the Hagler-Mason Conference Room.

New Store & Restaurant Openings

• Prime & Beyond (East Nine Mile Road): An upscale Wagyu steakhouse, Prime and Beyond has been the talk of P’Cola and is finally aiming for its grand opening this spring.

• Waldo’s Chicken & Beer (Davis Highway): Nashville-style crispy fried chicken and scratch-made sides are coming to the Davis Highway area. It’s expected to open its doors any day now in early 2026.

• Insomnia Cookies (Garden Street): For those late-night cravings downtown, this warm cookie shop is slated to start serving up treats this month. Perfect stop after a Gallery Night stroll.

• Mojo’s Famous Philly (East Nine Mile Road): They are expanding with a brand-new drive-thru location. Construction has been moving fast, and they are expected to start serving soon.

PENSACOLA REAL ESTATE

TINY HOME’s in Our Backyards?

A bit of a "good news, bad news". While folks were mighty hopeful about Senate Bill 48 this year, it actually hit a snag right at the finish line. The bill died in the House on March 13, 2026. Even though it passed the Senate with a perfect 38-0 vote, the two chambers couldn't agree on the final details—mostly over how to handle short-term rentals. If it had passed, it would have been a real game-changer for homeowners across the state:

• "By Right" Building: It would have forced every city and county (including Escambia) to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) also known as a tiny home, on any single-family lot. 

• No More "Live-In" Rules: Local governments wouldn't be allowed to require you to live in the main house, just to rent out the tiny home in the back.

• Parking Breaks: They couldn't force you to add new parking spots just because you built a tiny home or converted your garage.

• Homestead Protection: It explicitly protected your primary home’s tax exemption, though the tiny home portion would be taxed separately based on its own value.

Since the bill didn't pass, the power stays right where it’s always been: with the local county and city offices.

• Escambia County & Pensacola: You still have to follow the local rules already on the books. In many parts of our area, you can still build an "accessory suite," but you might have to jump through more hoops (like public hearings or specific size limits) than the state bill would have required.

• The Future: Given how much support this had (that 38-0 Senate vote is hard to ignore), lawmakers will almost certainly bring it back next year.

So, for now, if you're looking to build, you'll want to head down to the Escambia County Planning & Zoning office to see what they'll let you do under the current local rules.

Are you thinking about adding a rental Or investment property? Call me - I’ll be happy to assist you!

Haiden Shemer / Lokation Real Estate / 850.533.2914

APRIL’s EVENTS

April 10

• Firefighter's Challenge Pensacola Beach 10th & 11th

• Uncle Chuck's Legacy Car Show: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

• Cinemas in the Sand (The Parent Trap): Gulfside Pavilion, Sunset

• Candlelight Concert: First United Methodist, 6:30 PM & 9:00 PM

April 11

• Deluna's Open Water Swim

• Emerald Coast Spring Home Show -Convention Ctr. FWB

• Athletic Championships Okaloosa Island - Watch live HERE!

April 14

• Blue Angels Practice: NAS Pensacola, 10:30 AM

• Bands on the Beach (Whitesands Panhandle Band): Gulfside Pavilion, 7:00 PM

• Pensacola Blue Wahoos vs. Knoxville Smokies: Blue Wahoos Stadium, 6:05 PM

April 15

• Blue Angels Practice: NAS Pensacola, 10:30 AM (Autograph session follows)

• Pensacola Blue Wahoos vs. Knoxville Smokies: Blue Wahoos Stadium, 6:05 PM

April 16

• Blue Angels Practice: NAS Pensacola, 10:30 AM

• Pensacola Blue Wahoos vs. Knoxville Smokies: Blue Wahoos Stadium, 6:05 PM

• Blue Wahoos Baseball: The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are in full swing at Blue Wahoos Stadium. A featured "Baseball Social" with networking and a buffet is scheduled for April 16.

April 17

• Pensacola Beach Crawfish Festival: Bamboo Willie's, 1:00 PM

• Gallery Night (Vintage Vibes & Valor): Downtown Palafox, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

• Pensacola Blue Wahoos vs. Knoxville Smokies: Blue Wahoos Stadium, 6:05 PM

April 18

• Crawfish Fest 5K: Pensacola Beach, 8:00 AM

  

• Brandon Lake: Pensacola Bay Center, 7:00 PM

• Pensacola Blue Wahoos vs. Knoxville Smokies: Blue Wahoos Stadium, 6:05 PM

• CARE on the COAST TURTLEFEST; Gulfarium FWB

• Day Pensacola: Bayview Park, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

• PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET 

  

April 19

• Egga-Wahooza: Blue Wahoos Stadium, 11:00 AM

• Pensacola Blue Wahoos vs. Knoxville Smokies: Blue Wahoos Stadium, 4:05 PM

April 21

• Blue Angels Practice: NAS Pensacola, 10:30 AM

• Bands on the Beach (Smoke Stak): Gulfside Pavilion, 7:00 PM

April 22

• Blue Angels Practice: NAS Pensacola, 10:30 AM (Autograph session follows)

April 23

• Blue Angels Practice: NAS Pensacola, 10:30 AM

April 24

• Pensacola Crawfish Festival: Seville Square and Fountain Park, 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

• Interstate Mullet Toss Flora bama Lounge

April 25

• Pensacola Crawfish Festival: Seville Square and Fountain Park, 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM

• Pensacola Unplugged Songwriter Showcase: Studer Community Institute, 6:30 PM

• Pensacola Raqs Gala Show at the Fil-Am Philippine Cultural Center / 234 Oakfield Rd, Pensacola, FL 32503 / 7-9PM $20 General Admission

April 26

• Pensacola Crawfish Festival: Seville Square and Fountain Park, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

April 28

• Blue Angels Practice: NAS Pensacola, 10:30 AM

• Bands on the Beach (Chase Mitchell): Gulfside Pavilion, 7:00 PM

• Pensacola Blue Wahoos vs. Biloxi Shuckers: Blue Wahoos Stadium, 6:05 PM

April 29

• Blue Angels Practice: NAS Pensacola, 10:30 AM (Autograph session follows)

• Pensacola Blue Wahoos vs. Biloxi Shuckers: Blue Wahoos Stadium, 6:05 PM

April 30

• Blue Angels Practice: NAS Pensacola, 10:30 AM

• Pensacola Blue Wahoos vs. Biloxi Shuckers: Blue Wahoos Stadium, 6:05 PM

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

APRIL 2026

Fri, Apr 10 Hail The Sun, Vinyl Music Hall

Fri, Apr 10 Dueling Piano Show, Rosie O'Grady's (Seville Quarter)

Fri, Apr 10 Me & the Misfits, Five Sisters' Blues Café

Fri, Apr 10 Sandy Roots, Paradise Bar & Grill (Pensacola Beach)

Sat, Apr 11 Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons Tribute, First United Methodist Church

Sat, Apr 11 Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA Tribute First United Methodist Church

Sat, Apr 11 Palafox Market with Live Music, Dr. MLK Jr. Plaza / Plaza Ferdinand

Sat, Apr 11 Big Al & the Heavyweights, Paradise Bar & Grill (Pensacola Beach)

Sat, Apr 11 Dueling Piano Show, Rosie O'Grady's (Seville Quarter)

Sat, Apr 11 An Evening with Ryan Balthrop & Rick Hirsch, The Peoples Room of Mobile (Region)

Sun, Apr 12 Leonid & Friends - A Tribute To Chicago, Saenger Theatre - FL

Sun, Apr 12 Surfer Girl, Vinyl Music Hall

Sun, Apr 12 Island Ripples, Paradise Bar & Grill (Pensacola Beach)

Sun, Apr 12 Almost Skynard, American Legion Post 199

Tue, Apr 14 Bands on the Beach: Class X Gulfside Pavilion (Pensacola Beach)

Wed, Apr 15 Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country, Vinyl Music Hall

Wed, Apr 15 Uncle Kracker, Wild Greg's Saloon

Wed, Apr 15 Dueling Piano Show, Rosie O'Grady's (Seville Quarter)

Wed, Apr 15 Victor Wainwright, Paradise Bar & Grill (Pensacola Beach)

Thu, Apr 16 Stolen Faces (Grateful Dead Tribute), Paradise Bar & Grill (Pensacola Beach)

Thu, Apr 16 Dueling Piano Show, Rosie O'Grady's (Seville Quarter)

Thu, Apr 16 Michael J. McCartan Five Sisters' Blues Cafe

Fri, Apr 17 Gallery Night: Pensacola Navy Days (Live Music) Downtown Pensacola

Fri, Apr 17 Drivin' N' Cryin', Vinyl Music Hall

Fri, Apr 17 Stolen Faces (Grateful Dead Tribute) Paradise Bar & Grill (Pensacola Beach)

Fri, Apr 17 Dueling Piano Show, Rosie O'Grady's (Seville Quarter)

Fri, Apr 17 Charlie & The Hammerheads, Five Sisters' Blues Café

Fri, Apr 17 FTC Presents: Gulfcoast Underground Betty's

Sat, Apr 18 Brandon Lake, Pensacola Bay Center

Sat, Apr 18 The Happy Fits, Vinyl Music Hall

Sat, Apr 18 Palafox Market with Live Music Dr. MLK Jr. Plaza / Plaza Ferdinand

Sat, Apr 18 Tyron Benoit Band, Paradise Bar & Grill (Pensacola Beach)

Sun, Apr 19 Josh Garrett, Paradise Bar & Grill (Pensacola Beach)

Mon, Apr 20 Panchiko, Vinyl Music Hall

Mon, Apr 20 420 Reggae Fest, Court Of De Luna

Tue, Apr 21 Bands on the Beach: Disco Kiss Gulfside Pavilion (Pensacola Beach)

Tue, Apr 21 Josh Garrett, Paradise Bar & Grill (Pensacola Beach)

Thu, Apr 23 Selwyn Birchwood, Paradise Bar & Grill (Pensacola Beach)

Fri, Apr 24 Selwyn Birchwood ,Paradise Bar & Grill (Pensacola Beach)

Sat, Apr 25 Pensacola Symphony Orchestra: Anniversary Gala Saenger Theatre - FL

Sat, Apr 25 Candlelight: Tribute to The Beatles, First United Methodist Church

Sat, Apr 25 Candlelight: Tribute to Bad Bunny, First United Methodist Church

Sat, Apr 25 Fiesta Crawfish Festival (Live Music) Fountain Park

Sat, Apr 25 Palafox Market with Live Music, Dr. MLK Jr. Plaza / Plaza Ferdinand

Sun, Apr 26 John Hart Project, Paradise Bar & Grill (Pensacola Beach)

Sun, Apr 26 Earth Day Pensacola Festival (Live Music) Bayview Park

Sun, Apr 26 Fiesta Crawfish Festival (Live Music) Fountain Park

Tue, Apr 28 One Night of Queen - Gary Mullen & The Works, Saenger Theatre - FL

Tue, Apr 28 Bands on the Beach: Whitesands Panhandle Band Gulfside Pavilion (Pensacola Beach)

Tue, Apr 28 Barry Cuda Paradise Bar & Grill (Pensacola Beach) 4th White Tie Rock Ensemble Tribute to Americana Rock at the Pensacola Bay Center

• THE HANDLEBAR

• BAMBOO WILLIES

• LAGUNA’S

• VINYL MUSIC HALL

• SEVILLE QUARTER

• PENSACOLA OPERA

• THE SALTY ROSE

SPORTS

PENSACOLA- Calendar

TEAM SPORTS

• Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Double-A Baseball)

  • April 14–18, 19

  • April 28–30

• Youth Soccer League i9 Sports: Spring season kick off ages 3-12 Saturday, April 11 LEAD Academy

RUNNING & TRAIL EVENTS (RUN)

• MONDAYS MONDAY DOG RUN

• THURSDAYS FLEET FEET

• Apr 11 9th Annual Coon Hill Day 5K Run/Walk Jay, Florida

• Apr 19 Glow Run for Autism Acceptance NAVARRE

RUN, PICKLE BALL, HIKING, SWIM & SURF

• Knead 2 Run - 1 Mile or 5k (Saturday, April 4): A recurring weekly running/walking event held at 5:00 PM at Craft Gourmet Bakery & Cafe, featuring a 1-mile or 5k option, followed by drink discounts.

• Lost Bay Century (Saturday, April 4): A cycling event with multiple distances (30, 48, 75, 100 miles) starting at 6:30 AM from Bagelheads, traversing the bay area.

• Navy Point Park Trail (All Weekend): A popular 4-mile lighted, paved waterfront trail available for running and walking.

• Pensacola Pickles and Wings Fest Experience (All Weekend): Held at Seville Square, this event offers a high-energy pickle eating contest, food trucks, and live entertainment.

• Beach Volleyball (Friday, April 3): Evening games held at Juana's Pagodas or Bruce Beach Park.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.

Follow us on Instagram for even more local finds. This is DISCOVER P’COLA. Be in the know for where to go, local news, events, and things to do. Let’s get to it! If you haven’t already, please…