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 is the week of the Pensacola Beach Brawl, a high-energy, bi-annual fitness competition that turns our beautiful beach into a world-class outdoor gym. Athletes from all over the country will test their strength & grit in the beach sand. You’ll see three different divisions; the seasoned 'Rx', the 'Masters' athletes and the 'Scaled' teams.

It’s a good time to amble along the beach, browse the vendors, and cheer on these folks as they give it their all under the Florida sun.

See ya out there.

COMMUNITY & COUNTY NEWS

• New Voting Rules (The Florida SAVE Act): Governor DeSantis plans to sign HB 991 requiring proof of citizenship for new and renewing voters. No more using student IDs at the polls. It’s already sparked some talk of legal challenges, so that’s one to watch.

• School Safety & Firearms: A new package is heading to the Governor’s desk that would make firing a gun near a school a felony and expands the 'guardian program' to allow trained staff to carry firearms on college campuses.

• Pensacola Beach Junior Lifeguard summer camp opens in April 2026. Take note! This little program is so popular, it fills up faster than the parking lot at Peg Leg Pete's on a holiday weekend!

• Beach Season has Begun! NOTE TO SELF: Full-time lifeguard staffing doesn’t begin until Memorial Day weekend. However, you may start seeing lifeguards at key locations like Quietwater Beach and Gulf Islands National Seashore (Opal Beach and Langdon Beach) part-time on the weekends starting mid-April.

  Be sure to keep an eye on the flag conditions at the beach entrances.

MARCH FORECAST  

Expect warm afternoons, climbing from the low 70s right on up into the low 80s by this coming weekend, perfect for a downtown stroll or a bit of sun-soaking on the island. Evenings will still have a gentle, cool touch—dropping into the 50s and low 60s—keep a sweater handy for those sunset walks.

We’ve got a whole lot of sunshine on the horizon, though don't be surprised if a stray spring shower wanders through early next week to keep the spring grass green.

SPONSORED BY OUR FOREVER FRIENDS

~ Eager hearts awaiting FOREVER homes ~

THIS WEEK IN P’COLA

Friday, March 20, 2026

• Pensacola Beach Brawl: three-day fitness competition kicks off on the sugar-white sands of Pensacola Beach.

• Gallery Night: "Dancin' in the Streets – Art in Motion": Palafox Street comes alive from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM with dancers, live music, and local artists.

• PLT Presents: "Little Shop of Horrors" Pensacola Little Theatre 7:00 PM.

• Magic of Motown: Saenger Theatre 7:30 PM.

• Gimme Gimme Disco: The Handlebar 8:00 PM ABBA-inspired disco party.

Saturday, March 21, 2026

• Pensacola Beach Brawl (Day 2): More high-energy competition out on the island all day long.

• Palafox Market: MLK Jr. Plaza (9:00 AM – 2:00 PM) fresh produce and local crafts.

• PYP Nonprofit Expo: Museum Plaza 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM local organizations making a difference.

• Third Day 30th Anniversary Tour: Pensacola Bay Center 7:00 PM.

• PLT Presents: "Little Shop of Horrors": 7:00 PM.

Sunday, March 22, 2026

• Pensacola Beach Brawl (Finals): The final day of competition on the beach!

• World Ballet Company: "Swan Lake": World-class ballet Saenger Theatre 2:00 PM.

• PLT Presents: "Little Shop of Horrors": Matinee performance 2:30 PM.

Monday, March 23, 2026

• BTB Comedy Open Mic: 270 N. Palafox St. at 7:00 PM.

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

• City Council Meeting: City Hall at 5:30 PM.

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

• Sunset Yoga at Laguna’s: $10 yoga session right on the water Pensacola Beach 6:00 PM.

• Chamber Connect: Laguna's Beach Bar & Grill 5:00 PM.

Thursday, March 26, 2026

• Family Business Empowerment Night: Free community gathering Woodland Resource Center 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

• Rosie O'Grady's Dueling Piano Show: 8:00 PM Seville Quarter.

_{Scroll down, keep going, a bit further, and browse by event type, instead of by the day.}

UPCOMING EVENTS   

CIVIL PARK & BUSINESS NEWS

CITY EVENTS - CALENDAR

NEW!! 

#1- Ribbon cutting March 20th, Hounds Town offers doggie daycare, boarding and spa services.

#2- Our very first Ever'man Cooperative Grocery & Cafe is fixing to open a brand-new location next week! The grand opening celebration is on Thursday, March 26th, 2026, 9:00 AM. on Nine Mile Road (by Pensacola State College). Offering all the fresh, organic, and locally-grown goodness they are famous for, plus a wonderful cafe for a tasty bite to eat.

#3- A brand-new Habitat for Humanity Restore is getting ready to open its doors on April 2nd, 2026! They have taken over that big old spot on W Street (near Mobile Highway), which is just a wonderful, accessible location. You’ll be able to find all sorts of treasures—from furniture and appliances to construction supplies—all to help build homes for those in need right here in our community.

PENSACOLA REAL ESTATE

~Taking Care of Our Pensacola Homeowner’s~

ESCAMBIA COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG)

Providing grant funding for low-income seniors. The CDBG Grants pay for what they refer to as “critical code-related repairs”. Think safety, health, and accessibility for owner occupied single family homes.

It’s truly heart-warming to see how funds are being sprinkled across our county like wildflower seeds, helping everything grow just a little bit better. If you’re curious about where that money has been landing lately, here are a few wonderful examples of how it’s been put to work:

• Housing Rehabilitation: This is a big one. The county has used these funds to help our neighbors with single-family home repairs and reconstruction, making sure folks have a safe and sturdy roof over their heads.

• Better Bus Stops: They’ve been working on a project to update 32 existing bus shelters and add 80 brand-new ones across the ECAT system. Making sure our neighbors can wait for their ride in the shade and out of the spring showers.

LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP)

If the cost of keeping your home cool this summer is weighing heavy on your heart, the LIHEAP program is lending a helping hand with energy bills. Eligible households may seek financial assistance with heating and cooling costs, emergency utility disconnection and repair/replacement of HVAC SYSTEMS may apply. It's a true blessing for our neighbors who need a little extra grace to stay comfortable through the shifting Florida seasons.

You can reach out to the Escambia County Neighborhood Human Services office at 850-595-3029 or visit MyEscambia.com/LIHEAP to see about getting an application started.

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 1

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

• Bands on the Beach (Cristi Dee & Bad JuJu): Gulfside Pavilion, 7:00 PM

• Registration Opens: Pensacola Beach Junior Lifeguard Summer Camp (Online)

April 2

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

• ZZ Top: Pensacola Bay Center, 7:30 PM

• Grand Opening: Habitat for Humanity Restore (W Street)

April 3

• Pensacola Blue Wahoos vs. Montgomery Biscuits: Blue Wahoos Stadium, 6:05 PM (Opening Night!)

• Fantasia & Anthony Hamilton: Pensacola Bay Center, 8:00 PM

• The Molly Ringwalds: Seville Quarter, 8:30 PM

April 4

• Pensacola Blue Wahoos vs. Montgomery Biscuits: Blue Wahoos Stadium, 6:05 PM

• Pensacola Ice Flyers vs. Evansville Thunderbolts: Pensacola Bay Center, 7:00 PM (Regular Season Home Finale!)

April 5

• Pensacola Blue Wahoos vs. Montgomery Biscuits: Blue Wahoos Stadium, 4:05 PM

• Fiesta Children's Treasure Hunt: Museum Plaza, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

April 7

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

• Bands on the Beach (The Calverts): Gulfside Pavilion, 7:00 PM

April 8

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

April 9

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

April 11

• 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 Church, 6:30 PM & 9:00 PM

April 12

• Gulf Coast Whale Festival & Puppet Parade: Casino Beach Pavilion, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

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

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

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

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

April 26

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

• 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

MARCH 2026

• 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 Ctr. / 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 & Unity TX The Handlebar / 7:00 PM

• THE HANDLEBAR

• BAMBOO WILLIES

• LAGUNA’S

• VINYL MUSIC HALL

• SEVILLE QUARTER

• PENSACOLA OPERA

SPORTS

PENSACOLA- Calendar

TEAM SPORTS

• Pensacola Beach Brawl (March 20–22)

• UWF Argos Softball (March 21–22)

• Ice Flyers at Pensacola Bay Center 

  • March 28

  • April 3

  • April 4 (Regular Season Home Finale!)

• Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Double-A Baseball)

  • April 3, 4, 5

  • April 14–18, 19

  • April 28–30

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

• Pensacola Catholic High ~Baseball & Softball:

  • Baseball: April 7 -8, 7:00 PM District Tournament April 14.

  • Softball: April 7, 6:00 PM, Escambia April 14, 6:30 PM

RUNNING & TRAIL EVENTS (RUN)

• MONDAYS MONDAY DOG RUN

• THURSDAYS FLEET FEET

• March 21st Blackwater 10-Mile & 5K Trail Run

• Mar 21st Rec Plex North parkrun: 5k UWF Rec Plex North 9:00 AM.

• Mar 28 Bayou Hills Run: Official Pensacola 5K and 10K City Championships. 7:00 AM.

• Mar 28 Rec Plex North parkrun: Weekly 5K UWF 9:00 AM.

• Apr 3 Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month 5K

• Apr 4 Jelly Bean 5k

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

• Apr 19 Glow Run for Autism Acceptance NAVARRE

PICKLE BALL, HIKING, SWIM & SURF…

• Mar 21 Beginning Birding Guided Hike: West Beach Parking Area (Big Lagoon State Park) from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM.

• Mar 28 Beginning Birding Guided Hike: Big Lagoon State Park (West Beach Parking Area) from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM.

• Mar 28 Evening Under the Stars: Join the Escambia Amateur Astronomer Association at Big Lagoon State Park 5:30 PM until Midnight

• 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.

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