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Good morning☀️Pensacola!

Local chatter: Pensacola’s Saenger Theatre’s is featuring The Music Man on February 4th . The current state of Palafox construction is incredibly similar to the lyrics within "Trouble in River City” - they feel a little too close to home for anyone trying to find a parking spot downtown. Crews are currently removing the old street surface and clearing existing structures between Garden Street and Main Street. All business storefronts remain open. Pedestrian "tunnels" and fenced pathways are in place to ensure you can still walk to your favorite shops and restaurants. The city has designated 412 free parking spaces in nearby lots and on Jefferson Street.

State chatter:The Florida State Fair kicks off February 5th in Tampa and a unusual food lineup is trending. This year’s must-try (or must-avoid) foods include:

• Pop Rocks Pickles 

• Bacon Ice Cream 

• Pizza Cones 

Just Another Day in Paradise: "Fire & Ice" Sunsets. A unique atmospheric setup in mid-January created what’s called "Fire & Ice" sunsets across the Gulf Coast, visible in broad stretches from Pensacola Beach and Siesta Key. The combination of high-altitude ice crystals from a passing cold front and the clean, salt-heavy air created sunsets that lasted nearly 40 minutes, fading from a brilliant molten orange into a deep, electric violet that made the white quartz sand glow purple.

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

THE DIGEST

THIS WEEKEND+ 🗓️ LINE UP:  

• Pawdi Gras (Sunday, Feb 1): A massive pet-friendly Mardi Gras celebration in Downtown Pensacola (Palafox and Government Streets) from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM. It features a dog parade, costume contests, and local animal shelter fundraisers.

• Bert Kreischer (Sunday, Feb 1): The comedian brings his tour to the Saenger Theatre with shows at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM.

• Gary Clark Jr. (Wednesday, Feb 4 & Thursday, Feb 5): A two-night stint at the Vinyl Music Hall starting at 7:00 PM.

• The Music Man (Wednesday, Feb 4): A live performance of the classic musical at the Saenger Theatre at 7:30 PM.

• Pensacola Symphony Orchestra (Saturday, Feb 7): Presenting "Icon - The Voices That Changed Music" at the Saenger Theatre at 7:30 PM

• Double Bridge Run (Saturday, Feb 7): A major 15K/5k race in the US starts in Downtown Pensacola and crosses both the Pensacola Bay Bridge and the Bob Sikes Bridge, finishing on Pensacola Beach.

• Star Monster Trucks (Sunday, Feb 1): Catch the high-flying action at the Five Flags Speedway starting at 2:00 PM.

  
  

NAVIGATING FL REAL ESTATE 🏠

NEW 2026 : AMENDMENT #5

Under a recently passed amendment (Amendment 5), the second $25,000 of your Homestead Exemption now adjusts annually for inflation. NEED TO KNOW ✅: This means your total exemption is no longer "stuck" at $50,000; it will gradually grow over time as the cost of living increases, providing an even larger buffer against rising taxes.

REAL ESTATE PROPERTY TAX “KNOCK OUT” 🥊

If you’ve lived in Florida for more than a minute, you know the Save Our Homes cap is our favorite beach umbrella 🏖️. It’s the only thing keeping us from getting scorched. The biggest benefit is a 3% cap on property taxes or the percent change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is lower. Even if your neighborhood’s market value jumps by 20% in a single year, your tax bill remains stable and predictable

But right now, Tallahassee is looking to trade that umbrella 🏖️ for a permanent spot in the shade. We’re talking about the potential total elimination of property taxes for your primary home. For decades, Florida has lured people here with "No State Income Tax." But as home values exploded, property taxes became the new "hidden" income tax.

Governor DeSantis and Republican leaders argue that you never truly own your home if you’re "renting" it from the government via a tax bill every November. With a massive state budget surplus in the bank, they feel now is the time to go for the "knockout 🥊 punch" to keep Florida affordable for locals. The BIG GOALS include:

1. Zeroing out property taxes so a paid-off home is actually paid off.

2. Making Florida the undisputed #1 state for retirees and families by removing the biggest recurring cost of living; real estate taxes.

3. Forcing cities and counties to "trim the fat" and live within their means rather than relying on rising property values to fund bigger budgets.

NEED TO KNOW ✅: In the House right now, instead of one (1) single plan to vote on, they’ve moved eight (8) different proposals forward. And, none of these currently touch School Board taxes. We will still pay for the kids edu, but our city/county bill could effectively vanish. The top three heavy hitters are:

• HJR 201: Deletes all non-school property taxes for homesteads.

• HJR 203: A 10-year phase-out that increases your exemption by $100k every year until it hits zero in 2037.

• HJR 205: Only eliminates taxes for those 65 and older.

For our tax bills to disappear, it has to survive a double-majority gauntlet. NEED TO KNOW ✅: If it passes with a win in the House and Senate, it lands on your ballot in November 2026. At that point, another 60% of Florida voters have to say "Yes" to change the State Constitution. The Florida Legislature is currently in its regular session, which began on January 13 and is scheduled to end on March 13, 2026

STAY 🥊 TUNED!

P’COLA WEATHER 

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CIVIL, PARK & BUSINESS NEWS

CITY EVENTS - CALENDAR 

• Good Morning Pensacola (Friday, Feb 6): The monthly networking breakfast hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, starting at 7:30 AM.

• State of the City Address (Thursday, Feb 5): 6:00 PM. Mayor Reeves will discuss key city initiatives, achievements from the past year, and provide updates on the city's strategic plan—likely including high-profile projects like the Palafox construction and airport expansions.

• Pensacola Beach Reclaimed Water Main 🚧: Phase 2 of the ECUA project is hitting its stride this month. Expect lane diversions near the Sand Shaker and Twice the Ice as crews install the new mains. They are pushing to have this wrapped up by early March before the Spring Break crowds arrive.

  

SIDEWALK CONNECTION  Legion Field to Global Learning Academy

The city is currently working on a major civil project called the Legion Field to Global Learning Academy Sidewalk Connection. The goal is to create a safe, continuous 8-foot-wide walking path along West Gregory and North L Streets so that students and residents can easily travel between the school and the park's amenities, like the splash pad and the Theophalis May Center.

FESTIVALS, PARADES & EVENTS 

• Feb 1 (Sun): 🎭 Pawdi Gras (Pet Parade) 

• Feb 1 (Sun): 🎨 Closing Day: Saunders Exhibit — Pensacola Museum of Art

• Feb 4–5 (Wed-Thu): 🎭 Meredith Willson's "The Music Man" — Saenger Theatre, Pensacola

• Feb 5 (Thu): 🎨 Closing Reception: Photography Exhibit — UWF Art Gallery (5–7 PM)

• Feb 7 (Sat): 🎭 Improvable Cause (Comedy) — Pensacola Little Theatre (10:30 PM)

• Feb 7 (Sat): 🎨 5th Annual Youth Arts Day — Pensacola Museum of Art (11 AM – 3 PM)

• Feb 7 (Sat): 🎭 Navarre Beach Mardi Gras Parade — Gulf Blvd, Navarre Beach (1 PM)

• Feb 7 (Sat): 🎼 Pensacola Symphony Orchestra: "Icon" — Saenger Theatre, Pensacola (7:30 PM)

• Feb 7 (Sat): 🌶️ Super Chili Bowl Cookoff — Flora-Bama, Perdido Key

• Feb 7 (Sat): 🎭 Mystic Mutts of Revelry Parade — Fairhope, AL

• Feb 8 (Sun): 🎭 Final Performance: "Perfect Arrangement" — Pensacola Little Theatre

• Feb 12 (Thu): 🎨 YAF Awards Reception — Pensacola Museum of Art (5–7 PM)

• Feb 13 (Fri): 🎭 Krewe of Lafitte Illuminated Parade — Downtown Pensacola (7:30 PM)

• Feb 14 (Sat): 🎭 Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade — Downtown Pensacola (2 PM)

• Feb 14 (Sat): 🎭 Foley Mardi Gras Parade — Downtown Foley, AL (11 AM)

• Feb 14 (Sat): 🏃 Sea Turtle Half Marathon & Sweetheart 5K — The Hangout, Gulf Shores

• Feb 17 (Tue): ⛵ LuLu's Fat Tuesday Boat Parade — LuLu’s, Gulf Shores (11 AM)

• Feb 17 (Tue): 🎭 Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Parade — Gulf Shores, AL (10 AM)

• Feb 17 (Tue): 🎭 Orange Beach Mardi Gras Parade — Orange Beach, AL (2 PM)

• Feb 17 (Tue): 🎭 Fat Tuesday Priscus Celebration — Seville Quarter, Pensacola (All Day)

• Feb 20 (Fri): 🎨 Gallery Night (Pensacon Theme) — Palafox St., Downtown Pensacola (5–9 PM)

• Feb 21 (Sat): 🎼 A Taste of Ireland (Music & Dance) — Saenger Theatre, Pensacola (7:30 PM)

• Feb 22 (Sun): 🎨 Closing Day: 72nd Annual Youth Art Focus — Pensacola Museum of Art

• Feb 27 (Fri): 🩰 The Sleeping Beauty (International Ballet) — Saenger Theatre, Pensacola (7 PM)

• Feb 28 (Sat): 🦞 Orange Beach Seafood Festival & Car Show — The Wharf, Orange Beach (10 AM)

• Feb 28 (Sat): 🦪 Annual Fort Morgan Oyster Fest — The Beach Club, Fort Morgan

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN  

• Feb 4, February – Gary Clark Jr. @ Vinyl Music Hall

• Feb 5, February – Gary Clark Jr. @ Vinyl Music Hall

• Feb 6, February – Incantation @ Vinyl Music Hall

• Feb 7, February – Pensacola Symphony Orchestra (Icon: The Voices That Changed Music) @ Saenger Theatre

• Feb 12, February – Waka Flocka Flame & Ying Yang Twins @ Pensacola Bay Center

• Feb 14, February – Club 90s: Heated Rivalry Night @ Vinyl Music Hall

• Feb 15, February – Tx2 @ Vinyl Music Hall

• Feb 15, February – Candlelight: Valentine's Day Special @ Museum of Commerce

• Feb 16, February – Railroad Earth @ Vinyl Music Hall

• Feb 18, February – Robert Cray Band @ Saenger Theatre

• Feb 18, February – Capstan @ Vinyl Music Hall

• Feb 19, February – Clint Black @ Saenger Theatre

• Feb 20, February – The Undercovers (Tribute to Rogers, Richie, and Robinson) @ Saenger Theatre

• Feb 21, February – Can't Feel My Face: 2010s Dance Party @ Vinyl Music Hall

• Feb 22, February – Matt Stone & The TEC Band (Elvis Tribute) @ Saenger Theatre

• Feb 26, February – Brantley Gilbert @ Pensacola Bay Center

• Feb 27, February – R&B Only Live @ (Venue TBA/Downtown)

• Feb 28, February – The Emo Night Tour @ Vinyl Music Hall

• Feb 28, February – Eddie 9V @ The Handlebar

• THE HANDLEBAR

• BAMBOO WILLIES

• WEST BEACH BAR & GRILL

• VINYL MUSIC HALL

• FIRESIDE LOUNGE & BILLIARDS

• SEVILLE QUARTER

SPORTS

PLAY PENSACOLA- Calendar

• MONDAYS 🏃🏿‍♀️🐾 MONDAY DOG RUN

• WEDNESDAYS 🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏿‍♀️ FIT2RUN @ 6:30

• 1 Feb 🏒All Star Monster Trucks — Five Flags Speedway

• 4 Feb 🏀 Northwest Florida St. vs. Pensacola State (Men’s) — PSC

• 4-8 Feb 🎾Portside Pickle Winter Slam — Portside Pickle

• 6 Feb 🏒Knoxville Ice Bears vs. Pensacola Ice Flyers — Pensacola Bay Center

• 7 Feb 🏃 Double Bridge Run (15K & 5K) — Maritime Park to Pensacola Beach

• 7 Feb 🏒 Knoxville Ice Bears vs. Pensacola Ice Flyers — Pensacola Bay Center

• 14-15 Feb 🐎 Hilda Donahue Equestrian Clinic — Sandstone Equestrian Center, Milton

• 15 Feb 🏒 Macon Mayhem vs. Pensacola Ice Flyers — Pensacola Bay Center

• 18 Feb 18 🏀 Tallahassee State vs. Pensacola State (Men’s) — PSC

• 20 Feb 🥎 Christian Brothers vs. UWF Softball (Doubleheader) — UWF

• 21 Feb 🥎 Christian Brothers vs. UWF Softball — UWF Softball

• 21 Feb 🏀 Christian Brothers vs. UWF Women’s Basketball — UWF

• 28 Feb 🏀 Gulf Coast State vs. Pensacola State (Men’s) — PSC

• 28 Feb ⚾ Saraland Spring Kick Off (Youth Baseball) — Various local fields (Milton/Pace/Pensacola)

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