DISCOVER🛍️P'COLA

FL DRIVER LICENSE - NEW REQUIREMENTS 🚘 FLORIDA’S BACK TO SCHOOL SALES TAX HOLIDAY 🛍️ 40th INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEAN UP 2025...

July 31, 2025

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Good morning, Pensacola!

You all recall the snow in January? Remember the COLD 🥶? And here we are, 6 months later, wrapping up a scorching HOT🔥 July. A month with heat advisories, thunderstorms and lawns that grew 12'‘ the day after they were cut. Gotta 🩵 NWFL🌴 

Friday, August 1st, kicks off a month long Back to School Tax Free Holiday Shopping! Get ‘er done before supplies are depleted! has become a thing of the past. Now the stores have ample time to restock, so that we can shop!

New FL Driver License Requirements as of July 2025 = new course, new paperwork and more training. Better to be SAFE. SORRY!

Just Another Day in Paradise, a.k.a FLORIDA: On a good summer day, American Airlines announced it will begin service from Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport to Miami International Airport starting Dec. 19, 2025.

Reply to this email if you’ve got something to say. 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!

Cheers!

DISCOVER ☀️  P’COLA Editorial Staff

Dog Day GIF by Bombay Softwares

HAPPY THURSDAY!

NATIONAL MUTT DAY

🗓️ JULY 31st, 2025

A day to honor our precious MUTT(s) and raise awareness for the awesome experience of adopting rescue breeds.

THE DIGEST

THIS WEEKS 🗓️ LINE UP:  

TODAY:  

  • DJ Jon Gosselin at Saenger Theatre Pensacola 8:00 PM

  • Dollar drinks from 8 pm-12 am at O'Riley's Irish Pub

  • Biloxi Shuckers / Blue Wahoos: Blue Wahoos Stadium 5:00pm

  • Live Music in The Ivy Room: John Ripley/ Pure Pilates

UPCOMING:

  • 1-3 Aug SOCCER SOUTH RUSH CUP

  • 2 Aug William Shatner: Live performance at the Saenger Theatre - FL at 7:30 PM

  • 2 Aug BUSHWACKER 5K ~ Pensacola Beach 🏖️

  • 3 Aug Mike Honore Comedy Show: Veteran comedian Mike Honore at Club 27 Comedy starting at 7 PM. Use code "dielaughing" for a discount.

  • 3 Aug "Show Me Reptiles" Reptile Show: Building 6 of the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds.

FLORIDA’S BACK to SCHOOL SALES TAX HOLIDAY 🛍️

SAVE THE DATE 🗓️ : ALL OF AUGUST, 2025

Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced the return of Florida's Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday but added an amazing extension turning a week to scramble and shop, to all shop all month long!

The sales tax holiday, typically limited to early August in past years, has been extended from Aug. 1 through Aug. 31 and will become an annual event. HB 7031 authorizes the exemption on sales taxes for specific types of products during that period.

WOOHOO!!!! Here’s the list of eligible items to purchase - the key is to keep the item price under the set values :

School supplies under $50:

  • Binders

  • Cellophane tape

  • Compasses

  • Composition books

  • Computer disks

  • Construction paper

  • Crayons

  • Erasers

  • Folders

  • Glue or paste

  • Legal pads

  • Lunch boxes

  • Markers

  • Notebooks

  • Notebook filler paper

  • Pencils

  • Pens

  • Poster board

  • Poster paper

  • Protractors

  • Rulers

  • Scissors

  • Staplers and staples used to secure paper products

Learning aids under $30:

  • Flashcards or other learning cards

  • Interactive or electronic books and toys intended to teach reading or math skills

  • Matching or other memory games

  • Puzzle books and search-and-find books

  • Stacking or nesting blocks or sets

  • Personal computers +accessories at/ or under $1,500

  • Clothing, footwear, accessories under $100:

    • Shirts, pants, dress, skirts, shorts

    • Shoes boots, sandal

    • Belts, hats, gloves scarve

    • Wallet

    • Backpacks

    • Diaper bags

    • Fanny packs

    • Hand-bags

Excluded Items include: cell phones, video game consoles, digital media receivers or devices that are not primarily designed to process data.

Included items are:

  • Calculators

  • Desktops

  • Electronic book readers

  • Handhelds

  • Laptops

  • Tablets

  • Tower computers

 

FL DRIVER LICENSE - NEW REQUIREMENTS 🚘

Student Driver GIF by mom culture®

Gif by themomculture on Giphy

Prior to July 1st, 2025, a new driver could take a 4-hour Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course and brave the learner’s permit exam. Quick and easy. But no more… FL Lawmakers passed a bill requiring new drivers to pass an entire driver’s education course, covering everything from road rules to safe driving habits, risk management, distracted driving dangers, and decision-making in stressful situations. Here’s the new process:

🚘 Age and ID requirements

  • You must be at least 15 years old.

  • Proof of identity, Social Security number, and residency. Usually a birth certificate or passport, Social Security card, and two mail items.

  • Under 18? You will need a signed and notarized Parental Consent Form.

🚘 Complete a Driver’s Ed Course

✅ This is NEW: Enroll in and complete a state-approved driver’s education course. Online or In-person course covering driving laws, risk avoidance, safe practices, and sometimes even some behind-the-wheel simulation.

✅ Still required: TLSAE requirement 

🚘 Pass the Knowledge Exam: The 50-question multiple choice Class E Knowledge Exam requires 40 questions correct (that’s 80%) to PASS. Online or in person—under 18, a parent has to fill out a supervision form. Free practice tests are there for you to study up: FLHSMV.gov or DMV-written-test.com.

🚘 Vision and Hearing Test at the TAX COLLECTORS OFFICE when you apply for your permit.

🚘 Learner’s Permit : Schedule an appointment at the TAX COLLECTORS OFFICE:

  • Course completion certificates

  • ID documents

  • Parental consent form if under 18

  • Test results

40th INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEAN UP 2025

Save the Date 🗓️: 20 September

Worldwide event! Join the Coastal Clean up and keep our beaches beautiful!

P’COLA WEATHER 

5 Day ACCUWEATHER Forecast powered by HomeStretch TC ~ Saving Home Buyers & Sellers $1000’s. HomestretchTC.com  

ACCUWEATHER.com

CIVIL, PARK & BUSINESS NEWS

CITY EVENTS - CALENDAR 

  • 11 AUG - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

  • Sanitation Pickup Changes: Residents are reminded of recent changes to sanitation pickup days as the city restarts its Opt-In Recycling program.

  • Fricker Resource Center: Public meeting scheduled for July 31st to gather input on the future of the Fricker Resource Center.

  • Hurricane Preparedness: Mayor Reeves joined Senator Rick Scott in urging residents to be prepared for the ongoing hurricane season.

  • Pensacola Motor Lodge: The city plans to sell the Pensacola Motor Lodge, with a provision that it be developed into affordable housing, or ownership reverts to the city.

  • HALLOVINE FEST 2025 Call for Vendors!

FESTIVALS, PARADES & EVENTS

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN 

  • August Schedule is Upcoming!

🎶 MORE LIVE MUSIC

🎶 EVEN MORE LIVE MUSIC

  • GULL POINT PICKERS 1st and the 3rd Thursday of the month at the GULL POINT RESOURCE CENTER. Bring your guitar or other musical instrument and play along, share a song or listen.

SPORTS

PLAY PENSACOLA- Calendar

MORE SPORTS

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Thanks for reading DISCOVER P’COLA today, Pensacola’s quick and informative feed for local news & events and published with a healthy dose of ☀️ Sunshine by Discover NWFL LLC*. 

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