USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
SUMMATIONWeeklyy
This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
S E RV I N G T H E F I RS T J U D I C I A L C I RC U I T Vol. 26, No. 14
April 8, 2026
SummationWeekly.com
1 Section, 8 Pages
Section A, Page 1
HELLO, FESTIVAL SEASON PENSACOLA’S CAN’T-MISS SPRING EVENTS
By Morgan Cole & Dawn Gresko
S
pring has arrived on the Gulf Coast, bringing color, flavor and plenty of reasons to step outside and enjoy all the season has to offer. From April through May, the local calendar is packed with fun festivals nearly every weekend. From blooming gardens and eco-friendly celebrations to waterfront seafood events and outdoor markets, there’s plenty of ways to soak up the springtime atmosphere. Gather your friends, bring the family or plan a casual date—these upcoming festivals are the perfect reason to unplug, get outside and enjoy everything the season has to offer. To help you make the most of it, we’ve rounded up details on all the upcoming festivals happening across the Pensacola area. Spring Festival of Flowers April 10, 11 & 12 UF/IFAS & PSC Milton Campus 5988 Highway 90, Milton Celebrate the arrival of spring at the annual Spring Festival of Flowers, happening April 10 through 12 at the University of Florida/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center and Pensacola State College (PSC) campus in Milton. This beloved three-day outdoor event is free and open to the public, welcoming plant lovers, families and garden enthusiasts from across the region. Featuring more than 100 vendors, attendees will find an impressive variety of offerings, including plant nurseries showcasing native and ornamental species, the UF Student Club Plant Sale, unique arts and crafts booths, delicious food vendors and horticultural exhibits and demonstrations offering expert gardening tips and inspiration. Proceeds from the festival support scholarships, student field trips and other educational needs for UF and Pensacola State College agriculture and plant science students. Whether you’re seeking rare specimens for your garden, handmade gifts or tasty bites, there’s something for everyone to enjoy among the colorful blooms. Festival gates open each day from 9 am to 4 pm, rain or shine. Don’t forget your
wagon to carry home all your fabulous finds! For complete event details, visit wfrec.ifas.ufl.edu. Fred Levin Way Fest April 12 Community Maritime Park Stadium 301 W. Cedar St., Pensacola Enjoy festivities while you support the community at the Fred Levin Way Fest, taking place at its new location, Wahoos Stadium Maritime Park, from 11 am to 3 pm on April 12. This free festival is designed to help families and individuals in need, and will feature an eclectic variety of food, games, music, art and giveaways. Entertainment will be spearheaded by DJ Albert Lao followed by a performance from Jordan Chase from American Idol. Come hungry, because there will be 12 food trucks and seven snack vendors providing every form of cuisine and treats: ranging from American, Asian, barbeque, Greek, Mexican, pizza, popcorn, ice cream and more. Most importantly, over 65 nonprofit organizations will have booths to distribute information on the services they offer along with gifting essential items like backpacks, blankets, books, diapers, hygiene products, school supplies, toiletries and more to those in need. Check out fredlevinfest.com for more details. Pensacola Beach Crawfish Festival April 17, 18 & 19 Bamboo Willie’s Beachside Bar Pensacola Beach If you’re still craving more crawfish, the Pensacola Beach Crawfish Festival is set to return to Bamboo Willie’s Beachside Bar on Pensacola Beach April 17 through 19 for a weekend of delicious seafood, live music and beachside fun. The festival kicks off Friday, April 17, with crawfish served starting at 1 pm, and continues through Sunday, April 19. While specific performance times and bands are still being finalized, attendees can expect a lively lineup of local and regional music throughout the weekend, plus food, drinks and local art. Admission to the festival is free, and guests pay only for food, drinks and vendor items. The festival caters to all ages with a variety of family-friendly activities. Kids
can enjoy games, face painting and other interactive entertainment, making it a fun outing for the entire family. Be sure to arrive early to enjoy great music, cold drinks and plenty of seasoned mudbugs by the water. For complete event details, visit pensacolabeachcrawfishfestival.com. Earth Day Pensacola April 18 Bayview Park 2001 E. Lloyd St., Pensacola We have one planet and one big celebration in Pensacola to honor it: Earth Day Pensacola is an annual eco-festival that blends environmental preservation and celebration. This year the family-friendly event will take place at Bayview Park on April 18 from 10 am to 4 pm. The festival will feature a range of earthy goods at Pensacola Arts Market, live music, yoga, vegetarian food trucks and more. In the past, the festival has hosted poetry readings, Pensacola Children’s Chorus and musical improv right on the park’s vibrant green turf. Other highlights include learning about organic practices and sustainability from local farmers, unique and ecofriendly products from local vendors plus interactive educational activities promoting ways to support environmental wellness and protect our beautiful planet. The festival is about having fun all in the name of creating a greener feature together. Learn more about the festival, volunteer opportunities and other ways to get involved at earthdaypensacola.com. Gulf Breeze Spring Fest April 18 Gulf Breeze Community Center 800 Shoreline Dr., Gulf Breeze What better way to celebrate the new season than with the lively Spring Festival? The City of Gulf Breeze is hosting its annual Spring Fest on April 18 from 4 to 8 pm at Gulf Breeze Community Center. This free-admission festival is open to all ages and celebrates both community and the spring season with fun activities, food and exhibits. The event includes bounce houses for kids along with animal exhibits for an interactive and educational experience. You won’t want to miss displays of archery, or the local performers offering live
entertainment throughout the festival. Over 100 vendors will be lined up, including food trucks, a beer wagon, local artists and much more. Spring Fest concludes on a bright note–the grand finale at 8 pm will feature a fabulous fireworks show. For more information, contact Spencer Jones sjones@gulfbreezefl.gov or visit gulfbreezeparksandrecreation.com. Pensacola Crawfish Festival April 24, 25 & 26 Seville Square & Fountain Park 301 S. Alcaniz St., Pensacola One of spring’s most anticipated events, the Pensacola Crawfish Festival returns to downtown Pensacola April 24 through 26 for three full days of live music, family-friendly fun and, of course, plenty of perfectly boiled crawfish. Held in Seville Square and Fountain Park, the annual festival brings together regional bands, local artisans and food vendors serving up Cajun favorites—from steaming platters of crawfish to po’boys, gumbo and more. Beyond the food, festivalgoers can browse a wide selection of arts and crafts vendors, relax to live entertainment throughout the weekend and let little ones enjoy the dedicated kid’s area. Whether you’re there for the music, the flavor or simply the festive downtown atmosphere, the Pensacola Crawfish Festival is a flavorful way to welcome the spring season. Admission is $5 per day for adults, $2 for children ages 6 to 12 and free for kids under 5. Festival hours are Friday, April 24 from 11 am to 11 pm, Saturday, April 25 from 10 am to 11 pm and Sunday, April 26 from 11 am to 5 pm. For complete details, visit fiestapensacola.org/crawfish-festival. Blueberry Festival May 7 & 8 Gary’s Brewery & Biergarten 208 Newman Ave., Pensacola Enjoy a berry-sweet weekend at Gary’s Brewery & Biergarten at the annual Blueberry Festival on May 8 and 9. The two-day festival kicks off Friday from 4 to 9 pm and continues Saturday from noon to 7 pm. Throughout the weekend, guests can explore a variety of local vendors, sample blueberry-themed treats and goodies and enjoy tasty fare from a rotating lineup of food trucks. Craft
beer enthusiasts can sip a selection of small-batch brews produced on-site at Gary’s Brewery, while the little ones can visit Lazy Day Farm’s petting zoo featuring baby goats, pigs and other friendly animals. Whether you come for the handcrafted goods, the cold beer or the sweet taste of blueberry season, this laid-back community festival offers something for everyone. Admission is free, and all ages are welcome. For more information, visit garysbrewery.com and follow Gary’s Brewery & Biergarten on Facebook. Pensacola Pickles & Wings Festival May 16 Seville Square 301 S. Alcaniz St., Pensacola Pensacola’s newest spring festival tradition is coming and it’s kind of a “big dill!” The inaugural Pensacola Pickles and Wings Family Festival will take over historic Seville Square May 16 from 10 am to 8 pm with a full day of food, entertainment and family-friendly fun. This free admission community event will feature more than 20 Gulf Coast food trucks serving creative wings and pickle-inspired dishes alongside seafood, barbecue and more. The Pickle Marketplace will showcase local makers and artisans offering specialty goods and pickle-themed treasures. A dedicated kids zone will offer carnival games like the ring toss plus balloon artists, face painting and bounce houses for lots of family fun. If you’re feeling competitive, adult and children’s costume contests will be awarded with trophies and prizes, and you can also compete in the Pickle Eating Contest to become Pensacola’s next Pickle Champion. The festival's main stage will showcase local talent throughout the day, featuring singers, dancers, poets, spoken word artists, and acoustic performers. All this and pickle-themed photo stations to take Instagram-worthy photos and commemorate the event. A portion of proceeds will benefit Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Florida, supporting families with children receiving medical treatment. So have fun in the name of pickles and a good cause! Discover more, including how to become a vendor or entertainer, by visiting pensacolafest.com.■
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