Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival bringing art, music and great food to downtown Pensacola
Fresh from celebrating its 50th year in 2022, the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival, people can expect this event will continue to stay golden when it returns to Seville Square from Nov. 3 through Nov. 5.
Traditionally held on the first weekend of November, this longstanding Pensacola tradition originated in early 1973. That’s when then-Pensacola Arts Council President Don Partington asked members Linda Gray, Dr. Dick Smith and Maude Smith to make a visit to attend an art festival in Annapolis, Maryland. The primary purpose was to pay close attention to the way this particular festival was designed, because it could potentially work in Pensacola also.
As fate would have it, they understood the assignment. Later that year, the inaugural “Festival Fever Days” saw more than 7,000 people flock to Bayfront Municipal Auditorium to see what it’s about.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
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If you’re marking your calendar and planning to attend this year’s event, here’s what you’ll need to know.
Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival Parking and Trolley
Parking is limited, but if you end up parking a little ways away, don’t be discouraged. Powered by Winterfest, there will be five trolley stops located at the corner of Main and Commendencia, Seville Square South in front of Bartram Park, the corner of Alcaniz and Government, the corner of Salamanca and 9th Avenue, and at Carlton Palms. The trolley will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Handicap parking will also be available at Bartram Park.
The Trolley Tracker app can also be downloaded from the festival website in order to get real time updates.
Festival admission and hours
Admission is free, and the fest will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 3 and 4, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5. The children’s area will be open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
GGCAF Artists
Each year, the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival features 200 artists from a pool that receives more than 600 applications on average. Whether it’s through mediums such as painting, sculpting, jewelry making or mixed media, once selected, these artists will compete for awards such as Best in Show, Awards of Distinction, Awards of Excellence, Awards of Honor and Awards of Merit.
But it’s not just bragging rights to be had. There’s also money involved. When the dust settles, these winners will split the pot of $25,000 amongst themselves.
GGCAF Music Lineup
Be sure to make your way over to the mainstage at the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival.
On Friday, The Lubben Brothers will kick things off at 10 a.m., then at 1 p.m. the Wavy Winstons will take it from there.
The New Cahoots will kick off Saturday's performances with The Krickets beginning their set at 11 a.m., followed by Bogue Chitto at 12:30 p.m., the Arcadian Wild at 2 p.m., and Chubby Carrier closing it put at 3:30.
Sunday’s lineup will be a bit more laid back, with Roman Street at noon., Pensacola Symphony Orchestra at 1:30 p.m., and Tanya Gallagher Band capping off the busy weekend at 3 p.m.
For more information and a detailed artist directory, visit www.ggaf.org
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival returns Nov. 3-5 to Pensacola
