15 Pensacola Fall festivals: From Foo Foo Fest to the Gulfcoast Arts Fest
The kids are back in school, and July is officially behind us. That only means that fall is just around the corner, freeing us of this scorching heat and paving the way for fall festivals, pumpkin spice lattes and spooky things to do.
Pensacola certainly has no lack of festivals. The beginning of the year includes Mardi Gras, Pensacola VegFest and the Pensacola Crawfish Festival. But the back end of the year is packed with everything from the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival, Pensacola Seafood Festival and Foo Foo Festival.
If you’re looking for cool things to do this fall, you’ve certainly come to the right place. Here’s a look at all of Pensacola’s fall festivals and other things to do.
28th annual Emerald Coast Beer Festival
When: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Sept. 6
Where: Seville Quarter, 176 E. Government St.
The Emerald Coast Beer Festival is one of the longest running beer festivals along the Gulf Coast. It starts off on Friday with a special five-course beer pairing dinner before the festival swings into full gear on Saturday. You'll find beer samples featuring micro-brewed beverages from more than 45 breweries throughout the U.S., highlighting the Southeast and Gulf Coast region, plus dozens of homebrew clubs and major regional beer distributors. Tickets are $30 in advance.
Pensacola Seafood Festival
When: Sept. 27-29, 2024
Where: Seville Square and Fountain Park, 311 E. Government St.
Similar to the Pensacola Crawfish Festival, the Pensacola Seafood Festival allows you to savor delicious seafood, enjoy music and take in historic downtown Pensacola. It’s one of the area’s largest arts and crafts fair, too, with more than 150 artisans who travel from around the country to participate.
Danetoberfest 2024
When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 5
Where: Seville Square, 311 E. Government St.
Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue’s lovable, gentle giants are back to take over Seville Square during the annual Danetoberfest celebration and fundraising event. The event features dozens of vendors selling a variety of arts and crafts including drawings and paintings, customized collars and dog beds, baked goodies for people and pets, and colorful candles and soaps. The event also features a photo booth set up, dog training demonstrations and a foam-ball pit for the pups to play in. In addition, there will be several food vendors on site.
Festa Italiana
When: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Oct. 11-12
Where: Fountain Park, 300 E. Zaragoza St.
The 14th annual Festa Italiana is a two-day event celebrating Italian heritage, cuisine and culture. You'll find freshly-prepared Italian dishes such as spaghetti with meatballs, lasagna, meatball sandwiches, the ultimate Italian sandwich or salad, sausage, peppers, and onion sandwiches, and the award-winning Shrimp Scampi Napoletano. There will also be art and culinary demonstrations, Italian wines and beers, family fun, silent auctions and more.
2024 Taste of the Beach Festival
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 12
Where: Pensacola Beach Boardwalk
The Taste of the Beach Festival features Pensacola Beach's restaurants showcasing their signature dishes, a team cooking challenge, a free concert, beer tasting, a frozen zone, dining and hospitality tents, souvenir cup and T-shirt sales and more. The festival site is located at the Casino Beach Gulfside Pavilion with a panoramic view of the sugar white sands and emerald green waters of Pensacola Beach. Entry is free for Saturday’s festival, with nearly two dozen restaurants offering their signature dishes. Local teams of amateur chefs will compete for trophies and bragging rights. Kick back at the free concert or dance in the sand.
10th annual Pensacola Dragon Boat Festival
When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 12
Where: Bayview Park, 2000 E. Lloyd St.
Up to 40 teams, supported by thousands of spectators, will descend upon Bayou Texar as they compete for bragging rights at the Pensacola Dragon Boat Festival. Dragon boating puts teams inside dragon boats as they paddle in sync between 250 or 500 meters toward the finish line. The boats are long, narrow canoes that seat 20 paddlers in 10 rows, plus a drummer at the bow of the boat by the dragon's head.
Pensacola Interstate Fair
When: Oct. 17-27, 2024
Where: 6655 Mobile Highway
The Pensacola Interstate Fair offers 11 days of rides, food, fun, music and gaming for families looking for exciting things to do on a budget. The fair also offers options to save money with Dollar Day on opening day Thursday, Midnight Madness Friday specials, and advance Super Saver discount ride wristbands and half-price admission tickets. In addition, there will be discounted special admission days, free events and concerts so attendees can join in all the magic and fun. Tickets and more info: pensacolafair.com.
Barktoberfest 2024
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 27
Where: Community Maritime Park, 301 W. Main St.
Pensacola Humane Society hosts the area’s favorite annual pet-friendly festival and mega adoption event, Barktoberfest, at Community Maritime Park. There will be food, beverages, a variety of contests including costume contests and a whipped pie eating contest.
Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival
When: Nov. 1-3, 2024
Where: Seville Square, 311 E. Government St.
The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival is one of Pensacola’s biggest events of the year. It’s located in downtown Pensacola’s Historic Seville Square.
Art is the festival’s biggest draw, showcasing more than 200 painters, potters, sculptors, jewelers, graphic artists and more from around the nation. Live woodcarving, engraving, spinning and other demonstrations can be found in the Heritage Arts Area.
The festival teams up with the Artel Gallery to provide a grant opportunity for two emerging artists. And there is a Student Art Show that showcases over 2,000 pieces of art from local elementary, middle and high school students.
Live music can be heard from the main stage and includes everything from bluegrass, Cajun and blues to jazz and classical. And, of course, there is plenty of food to be had from multiple vendors and surrounding local restaurants.
Pensacola Greek Festival
When: Nov. 1-3, 2024
Where: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 1720 W. Garden St.
The Pensacola Greek Festival will coincide with the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival, but don't worry, there will be plenty of time to enjoy both over the weekend. The Greek Festival is held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church and features traditional Greek cuisine, lively music, dancing and a celebration of Greek heritage and culture.
Pensacola EggFest
When: Noon to 3 p.m., Nov. 10
Where: Hadji Temple 800 W. Nine Mile Road
Pensacola EggFest hosts barbecue teams and backyard cooks from all over the United States who share two things: a love of cooking and the joy of giving back to their communities. Since 2013, over $780,000 has been donated to local charities including Rally Pensacola, Manna Food Pantry and Studer Community Institute.
VIPs get access to a special night of entertainment the day before the main event. You can grab a discounted ticket for $75 until Sept. 25, which gets you access to great food, drinks, early entry to Saturday's EggFest and a chance to met the EggChef teams.
The Pensacola Foo Foo Festival
When: Oct. 31 to Nov. 11
Where: Multiple locations
Foo Foo Fest is a 12-day celebration each fall with culturally creative happenings, events and moments under one banner, attracting visitors to Pensacola. Foo Foo Fest is big fun, with events of high artistic and cultural caliber, delivered with a hefty dose of Southern sophistication. More info: FooFooFest.com.
Foo Foo Fest 2024: Pensacola trees will turn blue in November for Foo Foo Fest
40th annual Frank Brown Songwriters' Festival
When: Nov. 7-17th
Where: Multiple locations
The Songwriters’ Fest will feature nationally acclaimed songwriters in venues along the Florida and Alabama Gulf Coast. This is an opportunity for seasoned and aspiring songwriters and musicians from all over the world to have their songs heard, and for the public to learn the stories behind the lyrics that only the song’s author can express. More info: frankbrownsongwriters.com/.
Pensacola Fall Food Truck Festival
When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Nov. 16
Where: Community Maritime Park, 301 W. Main St.
The Pensacola Fall Food Truck Festival will feature tons of food trucks, culinary competitions, live music, craft vendors and more. Entry costs $5 for adults and kids 12 years old and under get in for free.
Pensacola Winterfest
When: Various times through Dec. 24
Where: Downtown Pensacola
Downtown comes alive with song and dance, arts and crafts during the holidays with Winterfest. Attendees can enjoy Photos with Santa, Photos with the Grinch, the Polar Express Tour, Grinch Tour, Cajun Christmas and Scrooge Tour. More info and tickets: pensacolawinterfest.org.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola fall festival guide: Gulfcoast Arts Festival, Foo Foo Fest
