December’s Season of Celebrations & Sharing Contest 2011 Pelican Drop

Without a doubt, New Year's Eve is the king of party nights in Pensacola. And the primary reason is the Pensacola Pelican Drop.

Set to take over the streets of downtown Pensacola for the fourth year, organizers of the annual New Year's Eve celebration estimate that more than 50,000 revelers will flock to to the streets of downtown Pensacola to enjoy music and entertainment as they wait for the big bird to drop, setting off a huge fireworks display and welcoming 2012.

Most of the core streets in the downtown entertainment district (Palafox Place from Garden to Zaragossa streets; Romana, Intendencia and Government streets from Jefferson to Spring streets; Jefferson Street from Intendncia to Zaragossa streets) will be blocked off for one of the biggest street parties of the year, including three stages of entertainment and the main event: a giant illuminated pelican perched above the celebration at the intersection of Palafox Place and Government Street, which will descend at the stroke of midnight amidst fireworks and confetti.

Helping add to the excitement this year is pop/R&B singer-songwriter Andy Grammer, whose hit "Keep Your Head Up" peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart, ranking as the No. 14 song for the year on that chart. Grammer headlines the entertainment at this year's Pelican Drop, performing just before the giant, illuminated waterbird descends over Plaza Ferdinand.