To all of our northwest Florida snowbirds, we would like to give you a warm panhandle welcome to the Pensacola Bay Area! With miles of sugar-white beaches and emerald waters, alongside a historic downtown rich with culture and Southern hospitality, we offer the best of both worlds. During your stay, we hope you’ll enjoy our outdoor adventures, arts and cultural scene, historic attractions, delicious local cuisine and our many events and festivals – all at a great value when compared to other areas of the country. So whether you’re here for a few months, or end up staying for a lifetimes, we extend this invitation to make yourself at home.

Stop by one of our area visitor centers for your official snowbird savings card, good at dozens of area restaurants and attractions. Or, click here for our online deals and specials. Visitor center locations include:

Pensacola Bay Area Visitor Information Center, 1401 E. Gregory St., Downtown

Perdido Key Visitor Information Center, 15500 Perdido Key Dr.

Pensacola Beach Visitor Information Center, 735 Pensacola Beach Blvd.

Special Events

Below is a list of special events designed specifically for the many snowbirds that come to visit our beautiful area during the winter months.

Jan. 24
Snowbird Fly-In
National Naval Aviation Museum
Special Tours
Special IMAX Showing at 10 a.m.
Buy one get one free dessert at Cubi Bar Café
Free

Feb. 9
Perdido Key Snowbird Roost
Perdido Key Community Center
Lunch $2

Feb. 15
Mardi Gras Party
Seville Quarter
Four seatings
Beignets and coffee at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Red beans and rice at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Free

March 8
Perdido Key Snowbird Roost
Perdido Key Community Center
Lunch $2

Every Wednesday

Snowbird Walking Club

8:30 a.m.

Cordova Mall Food Court

As you can see, we go out of our way to make our snowbird guests feel as welcome as possible, and to let you know that we appreciate your patronage. If you decide you’d like a more permanent residence in the Northwest Florida area, contact our preferred Realtor, Matt Robinson with ERA Emerald Coast Realty at 850-292-4000.

Enjoy Your Stay, and Come Back Soon!!!!

The 2012 Pensacola Beach Run, sponsored by the Pensacola Runners Association, is being held THIS SATURDAY, January 14^th. The race kicks off at 7:30 A.M. & will start at the famous Casino Beach. The PRA says the 2012 Pensacola Beach Run will be bigger and better than ever, and includes a half marathon, as well as 5K and 10K runs.

If you are interested in participating, you can register online at www.imathlete.com. There is also a link on the www.pensacolarunners.com website. Late registration is also available at the EXPO at The Grand Marlin on Friday the 13^th (spooooooky) from 4-8 PM, which is also the location for packet pickup for all registered runners. If you miss the expo, you can also pickup your race packets Saturday morning at the Vince Whibbs bus, next to the Casino Beach Pavilion from 6-7:30AM.**IMPORTANT: There will be no registration on race day.

There will be a post race party at The Sandshaker again this year and promises to be BLOW AWAY the party from last year. You will have the opportunity to buy commemorative jewelry, and there will also be vendors there if you decide you need new running shoes or other race items.

The race directors are Jehan Clark and Richard Dickinson, and they can be reached by phone at 850.261.2200 or 251.978.4700, and by email at pbr@pensacolarunners.com. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Lee Wright at lcwrighton@aol.com or 850.939.3527.

So test your mettle, or just come out and cheer the hardy souls that are running…either way, we would love to see you there!

New Year’s Eve Fireworks!

End the year with a bang (literally)! Come and see the dazzling fireworks display at midnight from the end of the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier on Fort Pickens Road.

Polar Bear Dip

They may be crazy, but locals and out-of-towners will be dashing, diving and tip-toeing into the cold waters of the Gulf of Mexico at 12:00 noon on New Year’s Day at the Florida-Alabama state line. Afterwards, they’ll enjoy the traditional black-eyed peas lunch, along with live music at the world famous Flora-Bama, located at 17401 Perdido Key Drive.

Polar Bear Plunge

If you’re out of your mind, but don’t live near Perdido Key, perhaps the Polar Bear Plunge is a more convenient way for you to do something completely ridiculous! And what better way to start off 2012 than with a chilly dip in the Santa Rosa Sound?

The Gulf Coast Polar Bear Plunge is said to be a tradition that started thirty years ago on Pensacola Beach as a dare between a couple of guys, but now it has become a pilgrimage of sorts, with hundreds gathering on the shore full of excitement. But behind those big smiles, they're all wondering just how cold the water really is….

If you want to join in the madness, meet up at the Paradise Bar and Grill on Sunday, January 1^st and register for The Polar Bar Plunge. Registration starts at 12:30 p.m. and the race begins at 2 p.m. Bring your towels, blankets, and of course, a change of warm clothes. Water shoes are also recommended. The “Island Times” will be sponsoring the Plungewear Contest and will award crazy plunger costumes with prizes.

Children 12-years-old and younger will be given a free membership to the Polar Bear Cub Club just for taking the plunge. The Paradise Bar and Grill is located at 21 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach. Cost is $11 with t-shirt, $5 to register without t-shirt.

Happy New Year!!!

Pensacola is known for its historic downtown, beautiful beaches, and fantastic weather…but it’s quickly becoming well known for its version of a Rockin’ New Year’s Eve party, the Pelican Drop Celebration! This free event is unique to the Gulf Coast, and has all the bells and whistles of Times Square, with a down home, southern flair.

Forget about over-the-top Waterford Crystal balls, freezing cold weather, and insane crowds…leave that to the New Yorkers! The Pensacola Pelican is made of polished aluminum, stands over 12 feet tall with a 17 foot wing span, and is decorated with over 1500 sparkling lights. It’s modeled after the brown pelican, which is a favorite resident of the Gulf Coast area. Throughout the celebration it is perched 100 feet above the street on a platform located at the intersection of Palafox and Government. At midnight it descends amid beautiful fireworks, music and confetti as the crowd counts down to midnight.

The street party kicks off at 5p.m. with family-friendly activities and live performances on three stages throughout the evening. Many restaurants, shops and bars will be open late for the festivities, as well as many of your favorite street vendors. There will also be a special children’s area with face painting, the bubble stomp and their own countdown at 8p.m. (just before bed time!)

Beginning in 2009 (where more than 40,000 people attended) this exciting new tradition has quickly become the largest annual event of its kind on the Gulf Coast. This year’s event is expected to be a huge hit with over 50,000 revelers in attendance, so be sure to arrive early for the best view of the Pelican drop!

And if you’re not from the Pensacola area…make a weekend of it! Downtown Pensacola has plenty of accommodations for visitors and is just minutes away from beautiful Pensacola Beach. Plan on kicking off 2012 in downtown Pensacola, and then visit our white sandy beaches and many historic sites. It is the perfect place to gain a new perspective for a new year.

NEWS & NOTES: Street closures will begin the morning of December 31^st (Palafox & Government) but there will be parking available in the Jefferson garage and local parking lots downtown. There will be public, portable bathrooms also available for the duration of the event. Animals will not be allowed, with the exception of service animals and organizers ask that no coolers be brought in.

Calling all dog lovers! The Humane Society of Pensacola will once again be hosting their annual “Barktoberfest” celebration, which will be held Saturday, October 1^st, 9:00 am to 4 pm, at Seville Square in downtown Pensacola. This exciting event is fun for the whole family, and features great food, pet costume contests, and specialty vendors from around the area with exciting services and products for your canine companions.

Barktoberfest is the Humane Society of Pensacola’s BIGGEST fundraiser of the year, and it’s all about raising awareness of all the rescuers in the area that work so hard to find new homes for these wonderful pets! It is truly a fantastic opportunity for the community to get together and celebrate man’s best friend!

The Humane Society of Pensacola has served the Pensacola community for more than fifty years. Their mission is to spread information about spaying and neutering, to prevent animal cruelty and abuse, and to provide pet education programs for the local community. They operate and maintain a “NO KILL” shelter and adoption center for homeless animals, which relies exclusively on private donations and fundraising activities. That’s what makes “Barktoberfest” such an important event for dog-lovers in our area.

This Year’s Schedule of Events Includes:

Morning Contests on Seville Square Gazebo

Best Costume, Best Trick, Best Kisser, Owner/Pet Look-a-like

10:00 am

Music on the Gazebo “True Paragon”

12:00 pm

Afternoon Contests on Seville Square Gazebo

2:00 pm

Best Costume, Best Trick, Best Kisser, Owner/Pet Look-a-like

Throughout the day:

Kids Area at Bartram Park Featuring Loads of Bounce Houses!
An 18 Wheeler Full of Video Games!
The Klaas Kids Foundation Fingerprinting for the National Database.
The K-9 Search & Rescue dog team

On Fountain Park (All Day):

Furricanes Fly Ball Team!

On Seville Square (All Day):

Vendors
Food
Daschund Races!
Professional photo booth for your dogs!

Food! Fun! Family!

All to benefit The Humane Society of Pensacola. We Thank You!