Pensacola Beach's Art & Wine Festival springs forward to May
What could be better than sipping a glass of wine and perusing beautiful local artwork on a crisp autumn afternoon?
How about sipping wine and viewing art on an afternoon that's warmer, sunnier and greener?
The Annual Art & Wine Festival showcasing local creativity is coming to the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk early this year. The festival has been moved up from November for the first time in its 15-year history and will instead start on May 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the boardwalk.
There will be 25-30 local artists at the festival to showcase and sell their original works of art on the boardwalk. In addition, local singer Cody Copeland will be performing at the Quietwater Beach Shell from noon to 4 p.m. while local group The Ukeladies will also be performing throughout the day.
The Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce takes great pride and initiative in helping local artists succeed, according to its president and CEO Meg Peltier.
“Our festival is really intimate with the community; We only have local artists that come in for the festival,” said Peltier. “We have so many amazing artists in the Pensacola area, so being able to showcase that talent is a privilege. It has become a staple annual event that the Chamber is grateful to be able to do.”
The festival itself is free, but to participate in wine tastings attendees must purchase a ticket and receive a wristband upon checking in. After checking in, participants will receive their wine tasting glass in addition to information about the available wines and performances.
Tickets for the wine tastings will cost $40 online through Eventbrite until the day of the festival. On the day of the festival, there will be a select number of tickets available both online and at the entrance for $55.
The Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce has partnered with a new distributor this year, the Kelley Liquor Group, who will bring both more tents and more than 40 wine choices for participants this year.
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The Art & Wine Festival’s artists will consist entirely of local residents, helping provide a strong platform for creative expression from our area, like performing artists Copeland, who performs around Pensacola Beach often at spots like Crab’s, Whiskey Joe’s and Flounders week-to-week.
“We love the arts festival because it’s a showcase that gives artists a platform that they could be difficult to get otherwise,” said Administrative Assistant Jack Brink, who also serves as the concierge for the chamber.
After asking each of the artists for their opinion on the change, the the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce decided to move the festival up this year. Staff at the chamber hope that the warmer setting will bring out more residents to support the creativity of fellow locals.
Prospective artist vendors can apply for a spot at the festival online by April 12 and photos of artwork, or direction to a website that presents the applicants' work, must also be submitted with the application. Artist vendors will have to pay $100 for one of the limited 10-by-10 spaces at the event.
More information is available at pensacolabeachchamber.com/art-wine-festival/
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Art and Wine Festival on Pensacola Beach boardwalk starting in May