CELEBRATE THE SEASON

Celebrate the Season by Hunter Morrison

As musician Andy Williams once said, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year. There'll be parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting and caroling out in the snow.” It truly wouldn’t be the holiday season without festivals and events to celebrate it. Fortunately, Pensacola will be hosting a variety of fun events this holiday season. And yes, some of them will include snow (even though it may be artificial). So set down the milk and cookies, put on your snow boots and celebrate the holidays at these fun and, most importantly, COVID-19 safe events this holiday season.

Winterfest The organizers of Winterfest have been working all year to find creative solutions to bring joy to the Pensacola community in the safest way possible. Their hard work has paid off, as Winterfest is set to take place at 223 Palafox St. on Dec. 5, 11, 12, 18-24. Just like in years past, Santa Claus and The Grinch will still be available for photos. This year, instead of waiting in a crowded line to get your picture taken, guests will be required to make a reservation time for photos either online or on location. You can also expect to see snow at Winterfest, no matter what the weather may be. On Dec. 12, be prepared for a special snow day, with icy treats, snowy activities and an artificial blizzard. While you’re there, be sure to catch a ride on the Winterfest Express, giving all passengers a delightful ride through Santa Plaza. Winterfest is even allowing the kids to write a letter to Santa in the annual Santa letter contest. Winners of this contest will receive a special prize at the Santa send-off ceremony, which takes place on Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. In an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19,hand sanitizing stations will be placed throughout the event. Staff will also be required to wear masks. For more information on Winterfest, go to pensacolawinterfest.org. First City Lights Festival Experience the awe and beauty the holiday season has to offer at the First City Lights Festival. Working alongside Winterfest, the First City Lights Festival will showcase half a million twinkling lights in downtown Pensacola. “We work with a company to get Christmas lights put up and as many trees as possible up and down Palafox Street,” said Walker Wilson, executive director of the Downtown Improvement Board. “Those lights will stay on through the middle of January.” The lights from this festival will stretch a total of ten blocks from Wright Street to Cedar Street. While at the First City Lights Festival, be sure to check out Winterfest, which is set to occur on Dec. 5, 11, 12, 1824. For more information on the First City Lights Festival, go to visitpensacola.com.

The Gordon Holiday Festival Celebrate and embrace creativity this holiday season at The Gordon Community Art Center Holiday Festival. The Gordon Holiday Festival will feature two programs with musicians, dancers and poets that are free and open to the public. “I want to celebrate some of our local talent,” owner of The Gordon Christine Kellogg said. “This is what will be in the shows, which are open to the public.” The event will also feature local artists displaying and selling holiday gifts. Live music and lights will be displayed outside in the garden area. Food and drink will also be available for purchase. This will be an indoor and outdoor event. Masks and social distancing will be required. Hand sanitizing stations will also be present. The Gordon Holiday Festival is scheduled for Dec. 5 from 5 pm to 9 pm. For more information about The Gordon Holiday Festival or The Gordon Community Art Center, visit thegordon. org or call 850-857-8961.

Holiday Lighted Boat Parade and Fireworks Display The Holiday Lighted Boat Parade gives everyone holiday cheer with a unique Florida twist. The event will take place at Sabine Marina on Dec. 5 at 6:30 pm. The parade will then make its way around Santa Rosa Sound and the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk before circling back to Sabine Marina. Spectators can watch the event from the Boardwalk, Little Sabine Bay or any businesses along the parade’s route. In response to COVID-19, the event will be limiting crowds to keep everyone safe. “It’s been an unprecedented year, so we hope to spread some holiday cheer along the island this season and invite the public to enjoy the annual light spectacle along the water,” Executive Director of the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce Patty Spradling said. After the parade, be sure to check out the fireworks display along the Boardwalk at 8 pm. This is a free event. Boats of all shapes and sizes are invited to enter the parade. There will also be a holiday boat decorating contest. For more information about the Holiday Lighted Boat Parade and Fireworks Display, Pensacola Humane Society Peppermint Pup Trot The Pensacola Humane Society (PHS) will be hosting its first-ever Peppermint Pup Trot on Dec. 13 from 1 pm to 4 pm. Family and pets are welcomed to participate in the one-mile walk that begins at Ever’man Cooperative Grocery and Café and goes around Corinne Jones Park before turning back to Ever’man’s. Many of the nonprofit’s events have been canceled due to COVID-19, but this one is still set to occur. “We’ve had to cancel every event this year, and it’s hard when we’re used to bringing in volunteers and lots of folks from our community,” Executive Director Jennifer Bitner said. “We’re really hopeful that this will be an opportunity for folks to come

visit pensacolabeachchamber.com or call 850-932-1500. out and be engaged again in our community during the holiday time and support Pensacola Humane Society for all the things that we do for folks throughout the year.” But the fun doesn’t end at the walk. PHS will also be hosting tons of fun, family-friendly activities after the walk. There will be photo ops with Santa, stuffed animal adoptions for kids and Pup Cups for the canines. Entry fee s is $10 per person or $25 per family, with or without dogs. Pets and people are encouraged to dress in holiday costumes. Dog costume contest entries are $3 each. All proceeds go to PHS. Walk registration begins at 1 pm and the walk begins at 2 pm. To learn more about PHS, visit pensacolahumane.org

White Tie Rock Ensemble at Blue Wahoos Stadium Jam out to some holiday tunes and celebrate the season at the White Tie Rock Ensemble. The event will take place on Dec. 5 at 7 pm at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The concert will feature music from Elvis, Paul McCartney, The Eagles and other holiday classics through the White Tie Rock Ensemble’s legendary symphonicrock style and multimedia music experience. “It was a thrill for us to host the White Tie Rock Ensemble at the stadium and help bring live music back to the Panhandle,” team president Jonathan Griffith said. “We can’t wait to literally be rocking around the Christmas tree this December and help ensure that our community can enjoy some of Pensacola’s top musicians during the holiday season.” General admission for the White Tie Rock Ensemble is $30 per person. You can also purchase VIP tickets and packages. All general admission seating will follow social distancing guidelines. Ballpark staff will be in place to ensure social distancing is maintained. Masks are required for all guests and staff while inside the ballpark but may be removed when eating, drinking or when seated. For more information on the White Tie Rock Ensemble, go to milb.com/pensacola.

New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display What better way to ring in the new year by watching fireworks? Provided by the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Santa Rosa Sound will be lit up by a dazzling light display this New Year’s Eve. The festivities begin at midnight where spectators can watch the fireworks along the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk or the Quietwater Beach and Soundside area, where there is plenty of room to social distance. Be sure to bring the whole family because this is a free event. For more information on the New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display, visit pensacolabeachchamber.com.

Miracle on Palafox at Old Hickory Whiskey Bar Beginning in New York in 2014, Miracle pop-up bar has grown into an internationally known event that partners with bars and restaurants to offer masterfully crafted Christmas cocktails in a holiday-themed setting. Miracle will be returning to Old Hickory Whiskey Bar on Nov. 24 and will run until Dec. 31. Guests can expect to see this bar transformed with over the top holiday décor to get everyone into the holiday spirit. “The bar is going to be completely reimagined and redecorated,” general manager of Old Hickory Whiskey Bar DC Campbell said. “We will have holiday giveaways, ugly sweater Christmas parties and movies playing on certain days, so we will have themes throughout the month.” In an effort to keep guests safe from COVID-19, Old Hickory Whiskey Bar will be operating at 50 percent capacity. All employees will also be wearing masks. Seasonally inspired cocktails to be served at this event include Fruitcake Flip, Bad Santa and several others. Holiday-themed cocktail glasses will be available for purchase at this event, with a portion of the sales going to COVID-19 relief efforts of independent restaurants and bars. For more information about Miracle on Palafox at Old Hickory Whiskey Bar, visit miraclepopup.com or oldhickorywhiskeybar.com.