2026 Pensacola Seafood Festival Brings Three Days of Food, Live Music and Family Fun Downtown

The Pensacola Seafood Festival returns to historic downtown Pensacola September 25–27, 2026, for three days of fresh Gulf Coast flavors, free live entertainment, arts and crafts, children’s activities and more.

Sponsored by the Pensacola Ice Flyers and hosted by Fiesta Pensacola, the Pensacola Seafood Festival is a free community event held throughout Seville Square, Fountain Park and Bartram Park.

2026 Pensacola Seafood Festival Dates and Hours

• Friday, September 25: 11 a.m.–11 p.m.

• Saturday, September 26: 10 a.m.–11 p.m.

• Sunday, September 27: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

The festival is held rain or shine. Admission and live entertainment are free.

Live Entertainment at the Pensacola Seafood Festival

Live music is one of the biggest attractions at the Pensacola Seafood Festival, with performances throughout the weekend.

The 2026 lineup is still being completed, but several featured performers have already been announced—including country artists Tim Roberts and Karli Ryan on Sunday afternoon.

Friday, September 25

• 4 p.m. – Ragamuffin

• 6:30 p.m. – To be announced

• 9 p.m. – Moon Taxi

Saturday, September 26

• 1:30 p.m. – To be announced

• 3:45 p.m. – To be announced

• 5 p.m. – To be announced

• 7 p.m. – To be announced

• 9:30 p.m. – The Molly Ringwalds

Sunday, September 27

• 12:30 p.m. – Tim Roberts

• 3 p.m. – Karli Ryan

Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets and settle in for the free performances. Coolers and pets are not permitted inside the festival grounds.

The festival will also celebrate Budweiser’s 150th anniversary with $3 Budweiser drafts Friday from 3–5 p.m.

Additional performers will be announced as the festival approaches. Check the official Pensacola Seafood Festival music page for the latest lineup.

Seafood, Festival Favorites and Sweet Treats

Come hungry—the festival will feature seafood dishes prepared fresh on-site by a variety of vendors.

Expected selections include shrimp, crawfish, scallops, crab, grouper, alligator, calamari, low-country boil, gumbo, lobster rolls, crab cakes, coconut shrimp, jambalaya, étouffée, paella, conch fritters, seafood baskets, kabobs, crawfish mac and cheese and more.

There will also be plenty of choices for guests who do not eat seafood, including burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, turkey legs, french fries, nachos and blooming onions. Dessert and snack choices will include funnel cakes, kettle corn, ice cream, gelato, apple dumplings, snow cones, fresh-squeezed lemonade and root beer floats.

Flavors of Fiesta

The Flavors of Fiesta area—formerly known as Gulf to Table—will feature local restaurants and caterers serving tapas-sized portions of their signature dishes.

Festivalgoers can sample a variety of local creations without committing to a full entrée, making it easier to taste several dishes during a visit.

Fiesta Seafood Grille

The Fiesta Seafood Grille, presented by Pensacola Energy, will give guests the opportunity to watch some of Pensacola’s best chefs in action in an outdoor demonstration kitchen.

The scheduled 2026 demonstration times are:

Friday, September 25

• 5 p.m.

• 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 26

• Noon

• 1:30 p.m.

• 3 p.m.

• 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, September 27

• Noon

• 1:30 p.m.

• 3 p.m.

Participating chefs will be announced later.

More Than 170 Arts and Crafts Exhibitors

More than 170 artists and craftspeople are expected to exhibit their work during the festival.

Guests can browse paintings, prints, drawings, photography, ceramics, pottery, clothing, accessories, jewelry, woodcrafts, outdoor décor, metalwork, glasswork, gourmet goods, soaps, candles, novelty items and more.

Festival artwork and merchandise for 2026 will feature “School’s Out,” the winning poster design created by artist Jen Confusione.

Children’s Area at Bartram Park

Families can visit the Children’s Area in Bartram Park for arts and crafts, games, activities and other kid-friendly fun.

Community partners scheduled to participate include the Girl Scouts, NAS STARBASE and the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program.

Children’s Area Hours

• Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

• Sunday: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

The Children’s Area is cash only.

Festival Location and Directions

The Pensacola Seafood Festival takes place in Seville Square and the surrounding Fountain and Bartram parks.

Seville Square311 East Government StreetPensacola, Florida

From Interstate 110, travel south to Gregory Street, continue toward Alcaniz Street and turn left on Alcaniz. Follow the route toward Government Street and the Seville Square area.

Nearby landmarks include The Fish House and Hub Stacey’s.

Parking and Free Trolley Service

Parking is available throughout downtown Pensacola on a first-come, first-served basis. Many downtown parking areas are privately owned and may charge a fee. Those fees are not controlled by Fiesta Pensacola or the festival.

Accessible parking will be available for vehicles with the appropriate permit in the Port of Pensacola parking lot on Barracks Street. Spaces are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Winterfest will provide free trolley rides to the festival during these hours:

• Friday: Noon–7 p.m.

• Saturday: Noon–7 p.m.

• Sunday: Noon–4 p.m.

What to Know Before You Go

• Admission is free.

• The festival is held rain or shine.

• Pets are not permitted, but trained service animals are welcome.

• Coolers are not allowed.

• Lawn chairs and picnic blankets are encouraged for the live music area.

• Credit card acceptance varies by vendor.

• Beverage booths will have designated cash and credit-card lines.

• The Children’s Area and Coca-Cola trailer are cash only.

• ATMs will be available at several locations throughout the festival.

For updates, additional performer announcements and complete festival information, visit the official Pensacola Seafood Festival website.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk Returns to Pensacola October 31

Join Team Cat-A-Tude along with the rest of the Pensacola community in the fight against breast cancer during the 2026 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.

The non-competitive 5K fundraising walk will take place in a NEW LOCATION on Saturday, October 31, at Community Maritime Park in downtown Pensacola. Activities begin at 8 a.m., and the walk starts at 9 a.m.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer brings survivors, thrivers, caregivers, families and supporters together to celebrate courage, honor those affected by breast cancer and remember loved ones.

There is no registration fee or minimum donation required, and everyone is welcome to participate. Advance registration is highly encouraged.

Money raised through Making Strides helps the American Cancer Society fund breast cancer research, patient support and programs that improve access to care. These services include Road To Recovery, which helps patients get transportation to medical appointments, and Hope Lodge, which provides a free place to stay for eligible patients receiving treatment away from home.

Participants can support the event by walking, joining or creating a fundraising team, making a donation, volunteering or cheering for walkers along the route.

2026 Pensacola Making Strides Walk Details

• Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026

• Location: Community Maritime Park, Pensacola

• Activities begin: 8 a.m.

• Walk begins: 9 a.m.

• Distance: Non-competitive 5K

• Registration fee: None

• Minimum donation: None

Every step helps support people impacted by breast cancer and moves us closer to a world without the disease.

Register, donate or learn more about the Pensacola Making Strides walk

Primary results for Northwest Florida

Santa Rosa County

Jeff Ates won the Republican primary for Santa Rosa County Commission District 2, finishing first in a six-candidate field. Ates received 6,073 votes, or 26.40% of the 23,003 ballots cast. He finished 1,592 votes ahead of former Milton City Councilman Jeff Snow, who received 4,481 votes.

Reni “Renee” Johnmeyer finished third with 3,827 votes, followed by Erin Nisewonger with 3,589. Incumbent Kerry Smith finished fifth with 3,425 votes, while RC Pittman received 1,608. Ates will face write-in candidate John Williams in the November 3 election.

Dean Light defeated incumbent Ray Eddington in the Santa Rosa County Commission District 4 race. With all 41 precincts reporting, Light received 14,421 votes, or 51.13%, compared with Eddington's 13,783 votes, or 48.87%. The result continues a trend dating to the 2011 redistricting: according to the information provided, no District 4 incumbent has won reelection since the district lines were redrawn because of growth in southern Santa Rosa County.

Holley-Navarre Fire District voters approved the district's first fee increase in 10 years. The referendum passed 56.71% to 43.29%, with 3,682 voters supporting it and 2,811 opposed. The increase will raise the annual residential fee from about $162 to $231 for homes up to 2,300 square feet, an increase of roughly $5.70 per month.

Escambia and Santa Rosa state races

Jon Fay won the Republican nomination for Florida House District 2. The retired Navy flight officer and former Blue Angels executive officer received 14,642 votes across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, compared with 4,190 for Trei McMullen. Fay won approximately 79% of the vote in Escambia County and 75% in Santa Rosa County.

Fay will face Democratic nominee Johnny Austin Thompson in November. Thompson is a 25-year-old Washington High School graduate and current Harvard Law student.

Escambia County District 2 Commissioner Mike Kohler also won his Republican primary, defeating Glenn Dorsey. With all but one district reporting, Kohler had 2,998 votes, or 62.41%, while Dorsey had 1,806 votes, or 37.59%.

Escambia County School Board

All three Escambia County School Board incumbents who faced challengers won reelection.

Kevin Adams defeated Erin Toler in District 1 and will serve a third term. Adams had 6,638 votes, or 60.92%, compared with Toler's 4,259 votes, or 39.08%, with 12 of 13 precincts reporting.

In District 2, three-term incumbent Paul Fetsko defeated Gerald Washington. Fetsko had 5,024 votes, or 66.29%, compared with Washington's 2,555 votes, or 33.71%, with 15 of 16 precincts reporting.

David Williams also won a second term in District 3, defeating newcomer Isaac Williams.

Because the school board races are nonpartisan and only two candidates were on the ballot in each race, the primary winners were elected outright rather than advancing to a November runoff.

Voters also overwhelmingly approved a referendum that will restore an elected school superintendent in Escambia County. With 75 of 80 precincts reporting, 36,889 voters, or 71.22%, supported the measure, while 14,905, or 28.78%, opposed it.

Pensacola

Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves won reelection outright. With all 20 precincts reporting, Reeves received 53.45% of the vote. Under the city's charter, a candidate who receives more than 50% in the August election wins the office without a runoff.

Statewide and congressional races

Byron Donalds won the Republican nomination for Florida governor, defeating Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, James Fishback and former House Speaker Paul Renner. With nearly 1.4 million votes counted, Donalds had 49%, followed by Collins with 25%, Fishback with 10% and Renner with 8%. The Associated Press called the race shortly after 8 p.m. Eastern.

Congressman Jimmy Patronis won the Republican primary for Florida's 1st Congressional District, with the Associated Press calling the race at 7:17 p.m. Central.