Forget what you think you know about Pensacola, Florida. Beyond the pristine white sand, the glittering blue waves, and beachside bliss is an entire world of art, culture, community, and fun. With Mardi Gras in the rearview and the Springtime sunshine glistening in the near future, Pensacola is open for business, offering something more than world-class attractions and relaxation, something enlightening, enriching, and engrossing. In short, Pensacola is ready to show you something you’ll never forget.
Pensacola’s own professional theater company, PenArts is ready to unfurl its 2025 season for locals and visitors alike. A non-profit (501c3) organization that has been providing unique, first-run theatrical productions since 2017, PenArts is a regional staple whose mission is to use the power of art to unite its community.
“Before PenArts, Pensacola had no professional theater,” says Christine Kellogg, Artistic Director of PenArts. “So we found our niche, working with very talented local artists to help put Pensacola Theater on the map, nationally and internationally as well.”
This Spring, PenArts is presenting “They Promised Her The Moon” by Laurel Ollstein; a play that tells the story of Geraldyn M. Cobb, an American pilot, aviator, and member of the Mercury 13 Space Program, the first women-only group to do so before their funding was cut by Congress, destroying their dreams of space. The production, a celebration of Cobb’s perseverance in the face of persecution and broken promises, is sure to engross and entertain audiences of all backgrounds who may be unaware of this forgotten yet deeply prescient chapter of Pensacola’s Space Age history.
From the recent to the historic, the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra is one year away from celebrating its one-hundredth season and is set to feature an exciting series of concerts in March, including a presentation of Strauss & Schubert featuring guest artist and Pensacola native Titus Underwood, Principal Oboist of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. This special performance will also coincide with a free Woodwind Masterclass with Mr. Underwood, where students can grow in their musical education through personal interactions with a world-class performer from their own hometown.
“There is much excitement about Titus Underwood returning,” says Courtney Dell, Head of Patron Development & Communications for the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. “This is very much a homecoming for him and a way to celebrate the artistry of someone who comes from the area.”
Finally, Gallery Night in Pensacola is a true community celebration, with over 70 art vendors setting up shop downtown across six blocks along Palafox St. every third Friday of each month. A vibrant and inclusive space where artists, businesses, and visitors can come together to celebrate Pensacola’s rich artistic landscape, Gallery Night features a new theme monthly, with March featuring one of their biggest events of the year: “Dancin’ in the Streets: Art in Motion,” where local and out-of-town dance groups will perform and compete for a five hundred grand prize.
“The Pensacola community is truly the heart of Gallery Night,” says Whitney Macleod, Executive Director of Gallery Night Pensacola. “Our community not only attends and engages with the art but also plays an active role in shaping the experience—whether through volunteering, sponsoring, or simply showing up to celebrate creativity.”
A boon to local businesses and a draw for tourists from across the Gulf South, Gallery Night turns downtown Pensacola into a bustling, beautiful art show; with upcoming events including Pensacola Navy Days: Vintage Vibes & Valo in April, Art in Bloom in May, and Juneteenth: Art of Freedom in June.
“I can’t tell you how many times I have heard someone say that Gallery Night is what brought them to Pensacola or the reason they even moved here,” says Macleod. “Gallery Night is a special night that brings the Pensacola community together like nothing else does.”
No matter your flavor or style, Pensacola has enough culture for everyone and is ready to welcome you and yours to join in the party.
Discover more at vacationartfully.com.
