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Mardi Gras begins
LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULER . . .
As old man winter stifles much of the country’s outside fun, Pensacola comes alive with a slew of Mardi Gras celebrations leading right into spring festivals.
Each carnival season begins with a blitz of beads, parties, parades, and outlandish costumes. And although the region, particularly Pensacola Beach, is still recovering from Hurricane Ivan and have cancelled annual Mardi Gras festivities, there are many events offering irresistible family fun.
The bigger the better when it comes to Mardi Gras beads and parades. The Krewe of Lafitte Parade in historic downtown Pensacola is a blast and is the season’s only illuminated parade. Bring a large bag to hold goodies thrown from a long line
of colorful floats at 8 p.m. on Fri., Feb. 4.
More Mardi Gras madness can be had with the Grand Mardi Gras Parade at 2 p.m. on Sat., Feb. 5, also in historic downtown Pensacola. Nearly 200 floats roll down
historic Palafox Street showering parade-goers with “throws” such as beads, moon pies, cups, and doubloons. Seville Quarter’s Mardi Gras Street Party and Post-Parade Melt Down will follow and will feature a bead throwing contest, moon pie eating contest, and live music.
With the culmination of Mardi Gras activities on Fat Tuesday comes spring and swing. The National Museum of Naval Aviation, one of the three largest aviation museums in the world, presents its annual Big Band Concert Series. Listen to the best Big Band music and vocals from America’s Golden Age of Music at 7 p.m. on Feb. 3, 11, 22 and March 1. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. and admission is $20. For more information, call (800) 327-5002 or visit www.naval-air.org/museum/concerts.html.
March means movies in Northwest Florida as the Pensacola Bay International Film Festival celebrates its third year March 17-20 with a movie extravaganza, parties, receptions, and plenty of glitz and glamour. Film fans will have an opportunity to meet celebrities such as Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden (“Pollock,” “Mystic River,” “Mona Lisa Smile”), The Weather Channel’s Mike Bettes, and renowned “Star Wars” artist Dave Dorman. It all starts with an Opening Night Party on Thursday., March 17 at
The Breeze Cinema in Gulf Breeze. Opening Night Party tickets are $25. General admission tickets are $7. All-access passes are $150.
For more information, visit www.-PensacolaFilmFestival.com.
For more information call the Pensacola Bay Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 874-1234 or (850) 434-1234 or visit www.visitpensacola.com.
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