Nestled along the shimmering shores of the Gulf Coast, Pensacola, Florida, beckons with its turquoise waters, pristine beaches, and sugar-white sand.
But beyond the glow of its natural beauty and sun-kissed shores, the nearly 500-year-old city pulses with a vibrant artistic spirit that infuses every aspect of its alluring landscape and speaks to its unwavering commitment to the arts. From the streets adorned with colorful murals to the lively theaters resonating with captivating performances, the city resonates with a palpable sense of creativity and expression. It's a testament to the dedicated artists, artisans, and visionaries who call Pensacola home, weaving their talents into the very fabric of the community and elevating it to an artistic epicenter along the Gulf Coast.
“When someone plans a vacation here, we know the purpose is more than likely the beach, but when they get here and spend time at the beach, they will want something else to do, and Pensacola has it,” says Nicole Stacey, vice president of destination development for Visit Pensacola. “Pensacola offers an opportunity to experience the theater, ballet, orchestra, festivals, and so much more. It’s a real opportunity to go on a beach vacation, but it’s so much more.”
There’s a lot included in the more. In fact, it’s what locals often refer to as “The Big 5”: a professional ballet, opera, symphony orchestra, museum of art, and theatre.
“Some towns four times our size don’t even have ‘The Big 5,’” notes Sid Williams-Heath, CEO of the Pensacola Little Theatre. “With all five, it’s like one big collaborative creative party because there’s something for everyone between all of the organizations. There’s not a single weekend in this town you don’t have great programming.”
A lot of that programming is hosted at the Clark Family Cultural Center, as it houses two performance spaces that are constantly in use by everyone from the Pensacola Little Theatre and Ballet Pensacola to monthly literary readings and improv troupes. There’s also major annual festivals, like the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival, a three-day juried art show that attracts hundreds of the country’s best artists to Pensacola. Also not to be overlooked is Foo Foo Fest, a twelve-day event hosted each November that celebrates all things arts and culture.
“We call ourselves the Festival City of the South because there is always something going on,” Stacey says. “There is always something, and it’s always new but familiar, which is what I love so much about it. You can come to enjoy a festival every year, but some events, like some of the acts at the Foo Foo Fest, will be once in a lifetime opportunities.”
Some of those significant experiences include a concert by GRAMMY Award-winner Béla Fleck, improv from The Second City, a show with Broadway’s Megan Hilty, and performance by indie rock band Manchester Orchestra. These Foo Foo Fest events—and so many more—were brought to Pensacola through the funding of ACE (Art, Culture and Entertainment, Inc.) Pensacola, a nonprofit organization that receives and distributes funding to various local nonprofit arts and culture organizations.
“As ACE, our mission is to enhance the quality of life for all residents by promoting the local arts,” says Therese Felth McKenzie, vice president of the board for ACE Pensacola and chair of the Pensacola Foo Foo Festival. “We want to highlight and show the vibrant art community we have here in Pensacola and the county.”
In addition to keeping the events flowing year-round, that community also makes sure to showcase programming for generations old and new.
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“We’re a very inclusive and welcoming destination for everyone, and because we have such a loud and proud art scene, it really helps to elevate that messaging,” Stacey adds. “The perfect example is First City Art Center. They host an incredible blown glass pumpkin festival each year, and now there is a beer element to it. So not only are they doing blown glass art each year, but they’re partnering with a local brewery. So whether it’s date night or family night out, dad or boyfriend can go grab a beer while mom or grandma gets her blown glass pumpkin, and it’s a fun night out to learn about art and witness the passion for it firsthand.”
Locals and attendees alike can also witness Pensacola’s passion for the arts with just a walk through its revitalized downtown. It features a variety of art galleries, professional arts organizations, bars, restaurants, and all sorts of retail, as well as murals painted on the side of buildings depicting the city’s past, military history, and general love of all things creative.
“The murals across the city are great spots to take an Instagram-worthy snap or the next family photo,” Stacey says. “The public art brings people together and makes them a part of our story while also helping them experience our destination.”
And that’s one of the best aspects of Pensacola—there’s always something new popping up or being added to one of its long standing traditions. For example, Visit Pensacola is adding another cube to the many already situated in Museum Plaza, and the Clark Family Cultural Center will soon be opening the city’s first rooftop performance venue.
“No matter your motive for going somewhere throughout Pensacola, you’ll have something creative around you,” Williams-Heath adds. “It’s just part of the tapestry of Pensacola and makes it the vibrant community that it is.”