Six solid weeks of winter

Yes, it's Florida. No, its not Key West. It gets cold here from January to March. We get six solid weeks of winter where the low temperatures range from the mid 20's at night so plants and outdoor plumbing fixtures are susceptible to freezing in these months.

The humidity makes it feel colder here than in dryer climates so carry a jacket or light coat in the car during the months of January and February; flip flops the rest of the year.

There is a food or art festival almost every weekend from Fat Tuesday in February through the end of summer in September.

Gallery Night. On the third Friday of every month from 5:00-11:00PM, South Palafox Street downtown is blocked off from Garden St. to Main St. allowing foot traffic and various booths for food, arts and entertainment.

Mardis Gras starts around the end of February and there are three large parades with 90-100 floats. The dates change each year but are posted in the local paper by the end of January.

If you are a sci-fi fan or cosplayer, you'll want to mark your calendar for Pensacon. One of the largest Sci-fi conventions in Florida. It usually starts with the Pensacola Airport being converted into a galactic space port on the Thursday before the con. Pensacon is usually a three day event in February.

In May, the Fiesta Parade celebrates the founding of the city and hosts a parade during the last weekend of May.

Baseball lovers will enjoy the Blue Wahoo's waterfront stadium downtown and our minor league team. 

The Naval Flight Demonstration Team (Blue Angels, the Blues for locals) fly a special homecoming show as their last official demonstration of the season. The team always puts on fantastic  show because they have been sharpening their skills all year. Don't miss it. It is usually November 11th (Veterans Day weekend).

If you love football, the University of West Florida has a Div. II National Championship trophy to its credit.

Don't miss the Beulah Sausage Festival for some end of summer food fun.

In December, the city hosts a family friendly holiday parade on the second Saturday of December downtown. Don't wait to sign up for the Winterfest Trolley events. They are musical tours of the city for the 4-14 age group.

Local places to explore:
1. The Beaches!
2. Naval Aviation Museum.
3. Scuba divers will love the Mighty Oriskany.
4. The Graffiti Bridge.
5. Wahoo Stadium.
6. Downtown Historic Sites.
7. The Wahoo's Stadium and Maritime Park .
8. Ferry to and from the Beaches. (Seasonal Availability)
9. Palafox Street Shopping and Food.
10. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park