Seven days: 'Tis the season for parades, music and magic as holidays jingle all the way

Seven days out is your guide to entertainment events, concerts, festivals and activities in Escambia and Santa Rosa County.

MONDAY

First City Lights Festival

Now through Thursday, Jan. 13. Downtown Pensacola, 226 S. Palafox Place. Enjoy a magical season of diverse holiday events, from ballet to trolley tours to Palafox Market to a holiday themed Gallery Night. Experience music, shopping, food, art and nightlife under a canopy of half a million white lights illuminating historic buildings, parks, shops, galleries and outdoor spaces. The First City Lights Festival brings all of these experiences together into one, months-long event. More info: downtownpensacola.com.

Pensacola Winterfest

Various times through Friday, Dec. 24. Based at the plazas around the old county courthouse at the corner of Palafox and Government streets in downtown Pensacola. Downtown comes alive with song and dance, arts and crafts during the holidays with Winterfest. Attendees may enjoy Photos with Santa, Photos with the Grinch, the Polar Express Tour, Grinch Tour, Cajun Christmas and Scrooge Tour. More info and tickets: pensacolawinterfest.org.

Monday Night Blues

7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Seville Quarter and the Blues Society of Northwest Florida are bringing the “blues” back to the Seville Quarter Entertainment District. The event features live blues music and "BBQ and Bud" food and drink specials. More info: 850-434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

TUESDAY

Ghost & Graveyards Tour

5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, and Saturday, Dec. 4. Go Retro, 610 N. Spring St. From fear to laughter and somewhere in between, Go Retro offers the ultimate spooky experience for adults. This riding tour covers a wide area with stops in the Commercial Business District, Seville, Sanders Beach, North and West Hill. There is a stop at a cemetery and sometimes the driver can arrange for you to visit a haunted house. Designed for mature audiences; parental guidance is strongly advised. More info: 850-466-5220.

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Tuesday Night Jazz

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Enjoy jazz with Melodious Allen and The Funk Heads in Lili Marlene's. More info: 850-434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

WEDNESDAY

Champions of Magic

7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. The Champions of Magic team presents incredible interactive magic, an impossible escape from Houdini's water torture cell, a mind-blowing prediction that has to be seen to be believed, levitation high above the stage and a finale beyond explanation. The show features spectacular illusions that can't be seen anywhere else. Tickets start at $38. More info: 850-595-3880 or pensacolasaenger.com.

THURSDAY

Gulf Coast Friends’ Christmas Gala

5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2. Pensacola Beach Elks Lodge 497, 661 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. The Christmas Gala features a social hour at 5:30 p.m. (cash bar), dinner at 6:30 p.m. and music by Tomato from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. There will also be a silent auction, 50/25/25 raffle and dancing. More info: 850-450-7978.

An Evening with Sean Of The South

6 p.m., doors; 7 p.m., show; Thursday, Dec. 2. The Imogene Theater, 6866 Caroline St., Milton. Sean Dietrich is a columnist, and novelist, known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Southern Living, Good Grit, South Magazine, The Mobile Press Register and many other outlets. The event's proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida. $35. More info: 850-433-5437.

Forever Motown

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Forever Motown - direct from New York featuring Theo Peoples, former lead singer of The Four Tops, and Glen Leonard, former lead singer of The Temptations. A fabulous cast backed by a band of incredible musicians representing Motown royalty. This stage spectacular of your favorite hit songs is a sell-out in every market and a show that is not to be missed. Tickets start at $38. More info: 850-595-3880 or pensacolasaenger.com.

FRIDAY

Milton Christmas Lighted Boat Parade

6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3. Located at 5158 Willing St., Milton. The Blackwater Pyrates host this unique Florida style event in downtown Milton along the Blackwater River. More info: blackwaterpyrates.com.

Heather McMahan

8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Everyone’s favorite high-functioning hot mess, comedian Heather McMahan is coming to the Saenger Theatre. Tickets start at $32. More info: 850-595-3880 or pensacolasaenger.com.

Cosmic Bowling

11 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3 and 4. DeLuna Lanes and Peter B's Sport Grill, 590 E. Nine Mile Road. Cosmic Bowling is glow-in-the-dark bowling with a dance club atmosphere. The event features a light show, fog machine and music. Before Cosmic starts on Saturday nights, attendees can enjoy karaoke in the sports grill. Admission: $12. More info: 850-478-9522.

SATURDAY

Navarre Christmas Parade and Christmas in the Park

9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the parade starting at 1 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 4. Navarre Park, 8513 Navarre Parkway. The parade starts at the Navarre Library and runs south on Presidio Street, left on Esplanade Street, ending in the back parking lot of Centennial Bank. Local artists and crafters will gather with gifts at the Merry Market, take photos with Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Grinch. Enjoy free baked goods and hot beverages at Mrs. Claus’ Bakery after the parade. More info: navarrechamber.com.

Bike Pensacola’s Slow Ride

10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. Cordova Square, 1101 N. 12th Ave. The ride will be about an hour and 10 minutes long, at a casual pace. Nobody will be “dropped” or left behind. Children must be at least 10 years of age to ride their own bicycle, and ages 10 to 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No pets are allowed on the rides. Cyclists younger than 16 must wear a helmet by law; ages 16 and older helmets are recommended but are not required by law. More info: 850-687-9968 or bike@pensacolacan.org.

Gonzalez Shareway Fun Day

10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. Alabama Square to Bayview Park along Gonzalez Street. Bike Pensacola hosts a one-day, six-hour demonstration of the proposed Gonzalez Street Shareway, a complete street shared among all users but with features to particularly encourage cyclists and pedestrians. For the event, temporary traffic calming and beautification features will be installed, and there will be music, activities and fun along the route at parks, businesses and homes. More info: bikepensacola.org.

Winter Art Market

10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. Over 20 local artisan and student vendors will be selling handmade goods. Wares such as holiday ornaments, glass items, pottery, paintings, jewelry, sweets, clothing, crystals, artisan coffee and fiber art will be sold. The Mad Munchies Food Truck and Le Petit Pecan coffee will be present. More info: FirstCityArt.org.

Deck the Halls featuring the Pensacola Opera

10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 through 18. Jackson’s Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox St. In celebration of the holidays and back by popular demand, Jackson’s has once again teamed up with the Pensacola Opera to present a lunch filled with holiday cheer featuring costumed carolers strolling from table to table singing all of the traditional carols. More info: greatsouthernrestaurants.com.

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K-LOVE Christmas

6 p.m., doors; 7 p.m., show; Saturday, Dec. 4. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Awakening Events and the Awakening Foundation are once again partnering with K-LOVE Radio for their annual Christmas Tour. After taking a year off during the pandemic, the tour returns to the road this December with a star-studded lineup including Casting Crowns, Mac Powell, CAIN, Dante Bowe and Jordan St. Cyr. Altrua Health-Share and Food For The Hungry will also be part of the tour as they work to have a positive impact both globally and locally. Tickets start at $22. More info: 850-432-0800.

Milton Christmas Parade

6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. Clyde L. Gracey Community Center, 5629 Byrom St., Milton. The Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual Milton Christmas Parade “A Toy Christmas” presented by Sport & Wheat Certified Public Accountants. The parade runs north to James Street, east on James Street to Stewart Street and then south on Stewart Street to Elva Street. More info: srcchamber.com.

Pensacola Beach Lighted Boat Parade

6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. Pensacola Beach. The Lighted Boat Parade will set sail at from Sabine Marina and make its way around the Santa Rosa Sound to the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk where it will dock. Leading up to the boat launch, a kid’s party will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at Shaggy’s Pensacola Beach. Directly following the boat parade, Santa will make his way to the Quietwater Shell on the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk to greet the children, then a dazzling firework display will take place over the Santa Rosa Sound by 8 p.m. More info: pensacolabeachchamber.com.

The Prophecy Show - Music of Trans Siberian Orchestra

7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. This powerhouse group of classically trained musicians are coming together to create nothing short of an electrifying evening of holiday rock music. Performing in the style of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, The Prophecy Show has spared no details when it comes to the costumes, choreography, music, lasers and fog. Tickets start at $58. More info: 850-595-3880 or pensacolasaenger.com.

Rumours - A Fleetwood Mac Tribute

7 p.m., doors; 8 p.m., show; Saturday, Dec. 4. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Formed in 2014, Rumours has taken the U.S. by storm with their stage scorching renditions of Fleetwood Mac songs. $20. More info and ticket purchase: vinylmusichall.com.

Her Christmas

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1212 E. Moreno St. The Choral Society of Pensacola welcomes the holidays with Her Christmas, an evening of sacred music spanning five centuries, all composed and arranged by women. The concert features soloists Carla Connors and Hanan Tarabay with the society’s 80-voice chorus and a five-piece instrumental ensemble conducted by artistic director Peter Steenblik. $20 (general admission), $18 (senior/military), $10 (student), and $15 (groups of 10 or more). More info: choralsocietyofpensacola.org.

SUNDAY

Carols on the Coast

11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5 through 19. Angelena's Ristorante Italiano, 101 E. Intendencia St. Angelena’s has teamed up with the Pensacola Children Chorus to present a brunch filled with holiday cheer featuring costumed carolers strolling from table to table serenading patrons with the best sounds of the season. The carolers will also be taking special requests to perform during each event. More info: angelenaspensacola.com.

Surfing Santa Beach Parade

2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5. Pensacola Beach. Thousands of children, parents and other spectators make their way to Pensacola Beach to see Santa Claus close out the annual Surfing Santa Beach Parade. Starting from Avenida 10, the parade will make its way down Via de Luna toward Casino Beach and end at the Gulfside Pavilion, where kids will be able to meet and greet with Santa until 3 p.m. More info: pensacolabeachchamber.com.

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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Enjoy parades, music and magic as holidays jingle all the way