What does Foo Foo Fest have planned for 2022? Organizers promise a spectacular season.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct VIP ticket cost ($60) for the Jazz for Justice event.
The eighth annual Foo Foo Festival is distinguished by a few anniversaries. The 12-day catalog of arts events, which runs from Nov. 3-14, encompasses the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival’s 50th anniversary; the Pensacola Opera’s 40th year, and the 10th anniversary for the “Stamped LGBTQIA+ Film Festival.”
“This year’s Foo Foo is shaping up to be one of our biggest years yet,” gushed Erica Benken, vice president of Giant Noise: Public Relations, Social Media & Events in San Antonio, Texas. “Based on the level of funding available this year, we were able to grant funds toward more organizations than ever before.”
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Arts, Culture, and Entertainment, or ACE, a non-profit organization that distributes funding to local arts organizations, awarded more than $400,000 for the festival’s 12 marquee events.
“Bubble Alley”
Where: Intendencia and Jefferson Streets
At the 2017 Foo Foo Festival, the non-profit promoter Friends of Downtown sponsored the “Umbrella Sky Project,” a month-long aerial display that generated a lot of buzz. “Bubble Alley” is a sequel to that project, albeit with thousands of reusable vinyl balloons.
“(They) wanted to follow up the incredible popularity of the Umbrella Sky Project with another colorful airborne public art installation,” explained Caron Sjoberg, CEO of Ideaworks, a local PR agency. “Adding to the appeal was that it could be a free event and that it appeals to all age groups.”
“Unrequited” by the Pensacola Little Theatre
Three shows at 7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m., Nov. 4-6, 8-9
The PLT is putting it all out there with this unique and immersive take on “Romeo and Juliet.”
“Foo Foo allows us to do theatre outside our realm,” said Ashley McGlothren, PLT’s Marketing Director.
“Unrequited” is inspired by “Sleep No More,” an acclaimed company whose house is a repurposed New York City hotel whose “guests” act out Shakespearean scenes. Pensacola’s iteration is a tour through the Cultural Center where Montagues and Capulets dance and duel.
“I have always wanted to take the idea of interactive and slightly spooky Shakespeare from “Sleep No More” and see what the amazing talent pool here in Pensacola could do with it,” said McGlothren, who is also the director. “What better way to experience those themes than to actually walk through them with the characters?”
The one-hour performance/tour is for 21 and over only. Tickets are $50 (includes three drinks) and available at the PLT box office, 400 S. Jefferson St.
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“Vandals to Vanguards” at the Pensacola Museum of Art
Nov. 4-11, 407 S. Jefferson St., Free admission
The pop art movement of the 1960s served as a springboard for the fetish of “street art.” This exhibit demonstrates this direct evolution, a continuing stream of appropriating everyday objects and eventually, public spaces, into fine art.
“’Vandals to Vanguards’ uses works from local collections to explore the intergenerational relationships between pop artists and current practicing street artists,” explained Anna Wall, PMA Chief Curator. “Artists like Basquiat and Keith Haring collaborated with Warhol and integrated his iconic imagery into their work. Contemporary street artists like Banksy and Mr. Brainwash frequently remix and reimagine the themes of pop art and early street artists for a 21st century audience.”
The show opens with a free block party from 6 to 9 p.m., Nov. 4. Viewers can take it up a notch during “Art Factory Night” on Nov. 10.
“The PMA is taking over Vinyl Music Hall for a one night-only special event that merges music, video projections, live street art demos and interactive artmaking,” said Wall. “It’s meant to evoke the infamous parties at Andy Warhol’s Factory.”
The thematic bacchanalia includes silkscreen printmaking, street art demos, a performance art piece, a drag show, and of course, a DJ. 70s and 80s attire is encouraged as is bringing a canned good, a la Warhol, to be passed on to Manna Food Pantries.
Reservations are recommended at Pensacolamuseum.org
Schumann Symphony No. 3, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra
1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Nov. 5, Saenger Theatre
The PSO performs the “splendors of the Rhineland” along with Mendelssohn’s “The Hebrides,” and Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy.” Guest performers are Rachel Lee Priday on violin and composer Michael Menturia for his work, “Petra.” Preceding the concert is a live dress rehearsal at 1:30 p.m.
For an inside look, attend a free public discussion between PSO conductor Peter Rubardt, Senturia, and Priday, at noon, Nov. 4 at Maritime Place, 350 W. Cedar St., downtown.
Tickets: Dress Rehearsal- $5, performance- from $23 plus fees
Pensacolasymphony.com
Bela Fleck
7:30 p.m., Nov. 5, Hunter Amphitheatre at Maritime Park, Free
Any quips about the banjo are permanently laid to rest by Bela Fleck, who’s racked up 16 Grammys during his storied career.
“Bela Flack has been one of the foremost banjo performers for decades in all genres of music- jazz, classical, jazz, and bluegrass,” said Dale Riegle, who chairs the GGAF mainstage.
This bayside concert, “Bela Fleck My Bluegrass Heart,” is part of the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival’s 50th anniversary.
No ticket required for admission, ggaf.org
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
6 p.m., Nov. 7, Vinyl Music Hall, 2 Palafox Place
Touring saxophonist with the Rolling Stones, Karl Denson fronts a 7-member band that fuses jazz, funk, soul, blues, and rock. The up and coming 3-brother act, AC3, is the opener.
Presented by Jazz Pensacola, tickets are $25, jazzpensacola.com
“Music City Hit Makers: The Songs, Their Stores, A Symphony”
6:30 p.m., Nov. 8, Saenger Theatre
A trio of Nashville songwriters- Jon Nite, Rivers Rutherford, and Brett James- will perform their own works with backup by the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. Expect an evening of storytelling, comedy, and music from their library of nearly 50 No. 1 hits.
Proceeds will benefit the Frank Brown International Foundation.
Tickets start at $29 plus fees at ticketmaster.com
“Out of the House Party” by Second City’s Touring Company
7 p.m., Nov. 9, PSC Ashmore Auditorium
The touring company for Chicago’s one and only comedic proving ground, Second City, brings “Out of the House Party” for a memorable night of sketches and improv where “laughs (but not masks!) are mandatory.”
Tickets from $7, free for PSC students, pensacolastate.edu
“Born to Hand Jive; A ‘Grease’ Sing-along with Thunder Road
7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Nov. 10, Rex Theatre, 18 N. Palafox St.
The Choral Society of Pensacola presents this interactive throwback based on the beloved 50’s musical, “Grease.” Leather jackets, poodle skirts, and leather loafers are expected. With the screening is a costume contest and a display of classic cars on Palafox Street parked by the Panhandle Cruisers Club.
Tickets start at $10, choralsocietyofpensacola.org
“STAMPED: LGBTQIA+ Film Festival”
5 to 9 p.m., Nov. 10-11; All day, Nov. 12; 1 to 4 p.m., Nov. 13. Pensacola Little Theatre
This four-day diversity celebration features a guest list of notable actors, writers, producers, and directors. The keynote is Tituss Burgess who played the hapless hero Titus Andromedon in “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” The exclusive evening comes with an audience Q&A and a chance to win dinner with Burgess at Jackson’s Steak House through a $10 raffle. Other guests include Del Shores, Fiona Dawson, and Mercury Stardust. The bulk of the 10th annual film festival runs Nov. 11-12, wrapping up with a family-friendly version with kid’s acting workshops and drag story time on Nov.13.
Free. Tickets required for some events. stampedfilmfest.com
“Forty Forward,” by the Pensacola Opera
6 p.m., Nov. 12, Saenger Theatre
In 1982, a grassroots effort created the Pensacola Opera, a welcomed addition to the arts community. “Forty Forward” will commemorate its ruby anniversary with a concert by 16 vocalists, most of them from the PO’s Artists in Residence Program, plus local singers and a few performers of national acclaim.
Want to go?: Pensacola Opera's 'Forty Forward' is celebrating 40 years of thrilling opera
“The ability for us to bring in singers, some of whom have international careers and some who are destined for great things in the future, is a luxury that would have been unfathomable 40 years ago,” said Corey McKern, Artistic Director.
“Forty Forward” will also flaunt the PO’s synergy with other local arts groups like Ballet Pensacola and the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. The program will feature works from “Tales of Hoffman,” “Serenade to Music,” “La Boheme,” “La Rondine,” ‘Candide,” and much more.
“I think this concert will be like nothing the city of Pensacola has ever seen,” Mckern concluded.
Tickets start at $25, pensacolaopera.com
“Jazz for Justice”
1 p.m. till, Nov. 13, Museum Plaza, free, VIP tickets-$60
Legal Services of North Florida pairs the 9th Avenue Brass Band and two New Orleans-based acts with art from Gallery Night and science demos by the Pensacola MESS Hall.
LSNF is a non-profit that provides court access to low-income people. Consult lsnf.org for more information.
Friends of Foo Foo
In addition to the 12 grant-supported events, the Foo Foo Festival tent extends to a number of independent adjunct events. Here’s a sample:
“Moda!” by the Pensacola Opera
6 p.m. and 8 p.m., Nov. 3, Vinyl Music Hall, $50
The Pensacola Opera takes to the catwalk for a night of fashion, music, and visual art. The digs will be transformed by Shannon Pallin of Fiore while the show is curated by Julia Ussery of Scout. Jarvis Derrell of VH1’s “Jarvis in the Elevator,” is the MC while DJ Dad covers the beats.
Pensacolaopera.com
“American Mariachi”- by PenArts
7:30 p.m., Nov 3-5; 2:30 p.m., Nov. 6, The Gordon Community Center, 306 N. DeVilliers St.
The city’s newest theatre company, PenArts, is performing this new play by Jose Cruz Gonzalez at their base in Belmont DeVilliers.
“It is a universal story of family, love, and tradition,” said Christine Kellogg, Artistic Director. “It is a story that most people will relate to in some way or another.”
Tickets start at $15. Penarts.org
The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival
Nov. 4-6, Seville Square
Over 200 juried artists, Heritage Arts, a Children’s festival, and a full schedule of performances convene for GGAF’s 50th year.
Ggaf.org
38th annual Frank Brown Songwriter’s Festival
Nov. 3-13, various locations and times
Songwriters and musicians perform together at various venues along the Florida-Alabama coast during what has become an anticipated annual tradition.
Frankbrownsongwriters.com
More than a dozen more events fill Foo Foo’s schedule. Consult foofoofest.com for more details.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Foo Foo Festival in Pensacola expected to be record year in 2022.
