This week in Pensacola: Grand Mardi Gras Parade returns; Chocolate and Cheese Fest

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

MONDAY

The Glenn Miller Orchestra

5:30 p.m., pre-show cocktail hour; 7 p.m., show; Monday, Feb. 13. National Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd. The Glenn Miller Orchestra is one of the most sought-after big bands in the world. They play many of the original arrangements of legendary Glenn Miller such as “Rhapsody in Blue,” “In the Mood” and “Moonlight Serenade,” as well as modern big-band style selections. The entire repertoire exceeds 1,700 compositions, allowing the orchestra to remain popular with music enthusiasts both young and old. $35 general admission; $55 preferred seating. More info: NavalAviationMuseum.org.

Monday Night Blues

7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13. 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.

Savage - Movie Screening

6 p.m., red carpet event; 7 p.m., show; Monday, Feb. 13. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Sky, on a quest to spread her father's ashes, revisits her childhood lodge with her husband and brother, only to be stalked by a dangerous entity disguised as a park ranger in the heart-pumping thriller Savage. Produced, written, directed, and filmed all on the Gulf Coast with an all-Gulf Coast cast and crew. Tickets start at $29. More info: 850-595-3880 or pensacolasaenger.com.

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TUESDAY

Dinner To Die For Valentine’s Murder Mystery

6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. The culinary world is on fire with the white-hot new reality show "Kitchen Masters," which pits top restaurant owners against one another for a chance at a huge cash prize and an international celebrity cookbook tour. Three chefs compete in this cutthroat competition, sabotaging each other at every turn. Dull knives are the least of these chefs' worries. $65. More info: sevillequarter.com.

MANIA - The ABBA Tribute

8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. MANIA, the world’s No. 1 touring ABBA tribute, formed in 1999 and the show has been selling out theaters and concert halls internationally ever since. This show has toured the world in its quest to bring the music of the Swedish ‘supergroup’ to their millions of fans, old and new. Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid, collectively known as ABBA, dominated the charts for nearly 10 years and enjoyed nine U.K. No. 1 hits. At their height they became Sweden’s highest export earners, outselling Volvo cars. Tickets start at $52.75. More info: 850-595-3880 or pensacolasaenger.com.

THURSDAY

The Original Snowbird Hootenanny

11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16. Flora-Bama Lounge Package & Oyster Bar, 17401 Perdido Key Drive. Snowbirds are invited to the Flora-Bama for a hoedown with a Mardi Gras flair. There will be plenty of vendors giving away free goodies, along with live music, games and door prize drawings. Lunch will be provided by the famous chefs of the Flora-Bama and includes one free beverage. $10. More info: perdidochamber.com.

A Celebration of Venetian Carnival

6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16. Angelena's Ristorante Italiano, 101 E. Intendencia St. Venetian Carnival is a time of decadence — a celebration of pleasure and abundance before Lent season. In true Italian style, Angelena's will showcase Carnival cuisine at its bold and full-flavored best. The special guest chef will be Laura Piovesana, founder of “The Italian Wooden Spoon.” Piovesana was born and raised in the Veneto region of Italy and is an accomplished private chef. $175. More info: angelenaspensacola.com.

FRIDAY

Inferno Burlesque

7 p.m., doors; 8 p.m., show; Friday, Feb. 17. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Enjoy the hottest burlesque show in town featuring burlesque, variety and drag acts from all over the nation. Tickets start at $15. For ages 18 and older. More info and ticket purchase: vinylmusichall.com.

Krewe of Lafitte Illuminated Mardi Gras Parade

7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17. Downtown Pensacola. The only illuminated nighttime parade in Pensacola returns. The crowd can expect to be entertained with marching bands, lighted floats and great throws as the Krewe of Lafitte kicks off Pensacola Mardi Gras celebrations. More info: kreweoflafitte.com.

SATURDAY

WoodStoke Pottery and Kiln Festival

9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society kiln site, 7507 Buckeye Drive, Navarre. The Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society Inc. is hosting the 18th annual WoodStoke Pottery and Kiln Festival. Two historical wood-fueled kilns, the Ralph Phillip's Southern Groundhog Kiln and the 32-foot Anagama Kiln, will be unloaded during the festival. The featured artist this year is Chris Gustin, professor emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. A limited number of commemorative bowls are available for $15. More info: gulfcoastkilnwalk.org.

Mardi Gras Weekend at Seville

11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Pensacola’s Grand Mardi Gras Parade returns to downtown Pensacola on Saturday and Seville Quarter is the pre-party and post-parade headquarters. Start the day off with all the festive Mardi Gras Krewe’s, Pre-Parade Party at 11 a.m. The Grand Mardi Gras Parade rolls at 2 p.m. and the All Krewe Celebrations starts immediately after the parade finishes. More info: sevillequarter.com.

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Mardi Gras Parade Crawfish Boil

11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. O’Riley’s will host a crawfish boil before the Mardi Gras Parade. Attendees can purchase a plate of crawfish from the bartender starting at 11 a.m. Plates can be purchased until 1 p.m. All are encouraged to stay at O’Riley’s after the event to watch the Mardi Gras Parade. For ages 21 and older. More info: orileyspub.com.

Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade

2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. Downtown Pensacola on Palafox and Garden Street. The Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade is annually the largest and most extravagant parade in Pensacola. This parade, which brings the most attention from the public and the highest traffic with attendees and participants numbering in the hundreds of thousands, is the largest gathering of people in downtown Pensacola during the entire year. The parade features most of the krewes from the area, local organizations and companies and everything from marching bands to Scout groups. More info: pensacolamardigras.com.

Hold Me Up Holy Ghost Flight 747

2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. Pensacola High School, 500 W. Maxwell St. The nation’s most hilarious gospel comedy stage play is coming to the Pensacola High School auditorium. Hold Me Up Holy Ghost Flight 747 is a unique gospel comedy stage play that is about a test of faith. Pull out a tissue and get ready to wipe away tears of laughter. Written by Pensacola’s own National Gospel Award winning playwright, Leroy Williams. $20 general admission; $24 day of the show. More info: pcaraonline.com.

Blues on the Blocks with BBQ

5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. Unity Entertainment Complex, 500 W. Belmont St. Unity Entertainment and the Blues Society of Northwest Florida are bringing the "blues" back to its Pensacola Mecca of Belmont-DeVillers. The event will feature live Blues music and barbecue. Come live history. More info: 850-206-7302.

SUNDAY

Pensacola Chocolate and Cheese Fest

10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 19. Community Maritime Park, 301 W. Main St. The Chocolate and Cheese Fest will feature food trucks and vendors selling chocolate and cheese items as well as other vendor and menu items. There will be a chocolate pie eating contest at 2 p.m. The first one to eat the pie wins a trophy and $100 in gift certificates to local restaurants. $5. Free for kids 12 and younger. More info: apexshowsandevents.com.

Krewe of Wrecks Mardi Gras Parade

2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19. Pensacola Beach. The Krewe of Wrecks Parade will have the best floats throwing beads, candy and doubloons. After the parade, parties will take place everywhere with the biggest on the boardwalk at the shell, where the revelers wait for the results of the judges and for trophies to be awarded. Music will be playing throughout and partiers will be dancing. More info: kreweofwrecks.com.

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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Mardi Gras Parade; Chocolate and Cheese Fest; more to do in Pensacola