JANUARY CALENDAR January Haiku Challenge
January 1– February 1 Sponsored by West Florida Literary Federation, the Haiku Challenge is a prelude to Pensacola’s February Haiku Slam, a new event featuring local poetry lovers and performance artists. The slam is the brainchild of the Poet’s Roundtable, a collaborative group of local poets organized by Poet Laureate Katherine Nelson-Born and local poets Charles McCaskill and Asia Samson. In the January writing event, participants are challenged to write a haiku, a short three-line poem, each day from the prompt or theme posted at WFLF’s Facebook page. The challenge will lead up to a poetry slam in February and celebrate National Haiku Month, designated for the shortest month of the year, February. Participants may share their haikus at the Haiku Slam in February.
Polar Bear Plunge 2021
January 1 Wash off 2020 at the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce’s annual Polar Bear Plunge. Head to Pensacola Beach at 2 p.m. and plunge (safely) into the Santa Rosa Sound. To practice effective social distancing, this year’s event will take place at its signature spot, Paradise Bar & Grill, as well as Red Fish Blue Fish, the family-friendly area. Registration begins at noon and the fee is $15 cash per person and participants will receive a Polar Bear Plunge t-shirt or a $10 registration donation to participate without the t-shirt. All proceeds go to the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce to fund events on the Island.
Pensacola Ice Flyers VS. Hunstville Havoc
January 2 The Pensacola Ice Flyers are hosting the Huntsville Havoc for Small Dog Race Night at the Pensacola Bay Center! Join the Ice Flyers on Saturday, Jan. 2 at 7:05 p.m. for a night of dog chaos on the ice. Tickets can be purchased online via Ticket Master or in-person at the box office.
Waterboyz Winter Classic Surf Contest 2021
January 2 Come out and watch or sign up to compete in the 2021 Waterboyz Winter Classic. This annual surfing contest will be held at Navarre Beach Pier from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The first division winner will take home
the largest cash prize in the history of the Winter Classic: $2,500! Cash prizes are available for second and third place winners as well. Competition slots are limited. Attendants can sign up online at www.waterboyz.com/collections/events.
YIKES! Open Mic Comedy
January 7 Join Emerald Republic Brewing Company for its weekly open mic. YIKES! Open Mic is Pensacola’s best (and only) Open Mic Comedy Show. Hosted by Rampantly, the open mic will make you say YIKES—and welcomes newcomers and pros alike! With a wide-open outdoor beer garden, good brews and loose screws, there’s nothing to lose. Beck’s Jamaican Kitchen will be serving up bites. Sign-Up is at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8:00 p.m.
Military Appreciation Night - Pensacola Ice Flyers Game
January 8 The Pensacola Ice Flyers are hosting the Birmingham Bulls for Military Appreciation Night sponsored by Navy Federal Credit Union at the Pensacola Bay Center! Join the Ice Flyers on Friday, Jan. 8 at 7:35 p.m. as they celebrate our great service members. Tickets can be purchased online via Ticket Master or in-person at the box office.
Pensacola Mardi Gras Kick-Off Celebration
January 8 Join Pensacola Mardi Gras from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at their annual
kick-off celebration. The party has undergone COVID safety precautions and modifications: located in an outdoor venue, with contactless transactions, mask guidelines and a smaller attendance capacity. Attendants can enjoy entertainment from The Chee-Weez, an 80s and 90s rock and roll party band from New Orleans. Krewes will also dawn the stage in costume to receive their customary certificates. Tickets can be purchased online.
The Illusionist: Comedy Magic Show
January 9 Join REX Comedy at the REX Theatre from 7-8:30 p.m. for The Illusionist comedy magic show. The Illusionist has performed for nearly 4 million people LIVE. Grab your tickets for the most hilarious and mind-blowing 75 minutes of your life. Tom Coverly, The Illusionist, will have you on the edge of your seat as he performs the impossible. This show is full of audience participation that will have you laughing for years to come.
Beautiful Beginnings Bridal Expo
January 10 Getting married in the near future? Please join The Bridal Loft at the Pensacola Bay Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a day dedicated to helping YOU plan your perfect wedding! Incredibly talented wedding vendors will be on site, with displays, samples and tips to help you with planning your most special day: venues, photographers, florists, decorators, DJs, caterers, salons and more. Engaged couples in attendance are eligible to register for door prizes including a grand prize honeymoon. Tickets are $15 at the door or $10 in advance.
Cast Iron Filet & Shrimp Cooking Class
January 11 Cooking in cast iron can be intimidating, but this class will show you how to make pan-seared filet alongside a fabulous shrimp dish! Surf and turf is an iconic entree, learn how to cook this fan favorite from the comfort of your own kitchen. Leave this class feeling ready to
pamper yourself at home with this decadent dish. Join Bodacious Family of Shops from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for this cooking demonstration.
Everything Sushi Class
January 16 Join Pensacola Cooks Kitchen in a sushi-101 class from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Following CDC guidelines and temperature screenings, the kitchen is “rolling" out the red carpet for our customers introducing the latest Hands-on Sushi Class. This class provides an opportunity to learn traditional sushi making skills, creating variations of the basic rolls, including design tips and techniques. Each student receives a sushi mat and recipes to take home after learning how to make signature dishes.
MLK Parade Pensacola 2021
January 18 The annual parade celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day will occur in Downtown Pensacola from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For announced parade route and details visit “MLK Parade Pensacola 2021” on Facebook.
Pensacola Opera presents “Carmen”
January 20, 22 & 24 Pensacola Opera favorite Elise Quagliata is Carmen— opera’s ultimate seductress whose charms cannot be tamed. Under the power of her spell, rival lovers force her to make a deadly decision. Bizet’s grand operatic masterpiece returns to Pensacola in an exciting spectacle, led by stage director Fenlon Lamb (Don Giovanni, 2020).Unable to join in person? New this season, consider joining Pensacola Opera for a special live stream experience!
Grand Opening: The Busy Bee Mercantile & General Store
local gift baskets and goods. The grand opening of the store will feature a ribbon cutting ceremony with Council Woman Teníadé Broughton of district five.
Great Southern Restaurants presents Winter Restaurant Week
January 25–31 The Fish House, Jackson’s Steakhouse, Five Sisters Blues Café and Angelena’s Ristorante Italiano will once again team up to present Winter Restaurant Week: Four restaurants, three courses, two seasons and one price of $33. In step with similar events in cities all around the country, Restaurant Week is a culinary celebration that offers residents and visitors alike world-class dining at a great value. Chefs from each restaurant will prepare a threecourse, fixed-price dinner menu utilizing the best in local and seasonal ingredients, showcasing their culinary expertise, for $33.00 per person, per restaurant. Menus will be available at each restaurant Monday, Jan. 25, through Sunday, Jan. 31, beginning at 5:00 p.m. along with our standard dinner menus.
An Evening with Poet and Author Claudia Rankine
February 4 Join the University of West Florida in an evening with Claudia Rankine, nationally renowned poet and Frederick Iseman Professor of Poetry at Yale University. Rankine will be sharing from her work “Citizen: An American Lyric.” In “Citizen: An American Lyric,” Rankine boldly recounts mounting racial aggressions in ongoing encounters in twenty-firstcentury daily life and in the media. As part of the Downtown Lecture Series, attendance is free, and the event is held on Zoom from 6-7 p.m.
January 29–30 Join Asher & Bee Apothecary and Teahouse for the grand opening of its sister store, The Busy Bee Mercantile & General Store, a brand-new health-focused grocery store. Located next door to Asher & Bee at 3002 N 9th Avenue, the grocery store will feature healthy and affordable lunch items, fresh fruits and produce and DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 19
