Pensacola Family Events & Activities

Pensacola, Florida sits on the shores of the Gulf Coast in the northern panhandle. The emerald-green waters and white sandy beaches attract families from all over the region. Visitors can also take advantage of the outdoor adventure tours, indoor game centers and a full itinerary of family-friendly events and celebrations in this subtropical beach city.

  1. Events

    • The Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach hosts the concert series "Bands on the Beach." Every Tuesday from April to October, a live musical performance takes the stage. Bring lawn chairs and beach gear and enjoy the show. During the first two weeks of June, the Fiesta of Five Flags, a Pensacola heritage celebration, takes place. The festival is a city-wide affair with parades, treasure hunts, ceremonies and beach parties. In early May, the Pensacola Crawfish Festival takes place in Bartram Park. It is one of the largest crawfish boils around serving up all kinds of Cajun style seafood.

    Outdoor Adventure

    • The Big Lagoon State Park is 655 acres of nature along the coast. Visitors can explore the variety of wildlife habitats such as marshes, beaches and pine flatwoods. Families can hike around on the many trails, enjoy a picnic on the beach, go fishing, canoeing, camping and swimming. Pensacola Paddlesport Rentals rents out paddleboards, kayaks, row boats, canoes and pedal boats. It also offers torchlight tours, which are kayak night excursions with torches leading the way. Outdoor Gulf Coast also provides kayak and paddleboard rentals as well as eco tours on paddleboards. You will learn all about the ecosystem as you paddle your way through the Bay.

    Fun Centers

    • Bonifay Watersports provides a wide array of fun activities. You can rent out jet skis, fly high in a parasail, putt around on the palm tree-lined miniature golf course, race around the go-kart track and relax on the private beach under an umbrella. Fast Eddie's Fun Center features four different go-kart tracks varying in difficulty, including a crazy 8 track with challenging turns. It also has a miniature golf course, water wars and an extensive arcade room and redemption games. Mondays are family nights with eat and play specials.

    Tours

    • Go Retro is a tour company that will transport you around town in a 1930 Ford transit bus. It offers several different tours including a guide to the city's famous landmarks, a tour about the Civil War, a lesson regarding Andrew Jackson and one about the development of Pensacola. One tour in particular is geared to children called, "The Witch of East Hill." Emerald Coast Tours features downtown guided tours via segway or bicycle. Segways are for 14 years old and up, so not suitable for families with younger children.

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