Pensacola goes all out for the Christmas season, as every December the city illuminates with festive spirit when the annual Winterfest celebration takes over the downtown area and transforms it into a majestic winter wonderland. Its historic streets are turned into a lively Christmas Town, where the allure of twinkling lights, character-filled parades, and holiday-themed events are the perfect evening out for the entire family.
While Florida is known for its sunny climate, Pensacola cools down with its magical display of snow flurries that fill the air at Winterfest. Catering to Christmas lovers of all ages, you can play fun games, listen to captivating stories, sing songs and put in your requests with Santa Claus.
Located in the Winterfest plaza at Government and Palafox, Santa will be ready for photos. Grab a hot chocolate and enjoy the unique snowy landscape in the Sunshine State as your favorite holiday characters offer live entertainment that includes song and dance throughout the night.
There is a long list of Christmas activities to choose from, with a chance to take part in classic Christmas traditions. Scrooge and Tiny Tim offer a special tour featuring ghosts and good cheer, recalling the tale of A Christmas Carol in a 25-minute tour that includes the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. At the end, Scrooge might even share his collection of chocolate gold coins to the children on the trolley!
You can also dress in your pajamas for the 30-minute Polar Express tour, where an animated conductor tells the story of the boy who received the first gift of Christmas as you take a ride on the life-size steam engine. If you’re a fan of the Grinch, then you should climb aboard an adventure to Whoville with the greenest grouch of them all, where you’ll see Dr. Seuss characters such as Cindy Lou and the Mayor of Whoville, who entertain the crowd with songs on this fun, kid-friendly tour.
Winterfest boasts an array of events throughout December, so check with the official website for full details. The day before Christmas is extra special, as you can attend Santa’s Sendoff with fireworks, songs and the first gift of Christmas.
Pensacola Winterfest:
Website: pensacolawinterfest.org
Dates: November 18th – December 24th, 2022
