February-March 2026 Calendar

A listing of local happenings

BAYTOWNE ON ICE

FEB. 1-8

Keep the winter wonderland spirit alive with a visit to the ice-skating rink in The  Village of Baytowne  Wharf at Sandestin. 

baytownewharf.com

PENSACOLA DOUBLE BRIDGE RUN

FEB. 7

One of the premier 15K races in the country, the course carries runners over two bridges, one across Pensacola Bay and the other across Santa Rosa Sound. Starting in Downtown Pensacola, runners trek through the historic district, along picturesque Bayfront Parkway, through Gulf Breeze, and onto Pensacola Beach. 

pensacolasports.org/double-bridge-run 

PANAMA CITY BEACH FOOD TRUCK & CRAFT BEVERAGE FESTIVAL

FEB. 7-8

Florida’s most popular food trucks will dish out fan favorites while the season’s top craft beers will be available for sale. This festival will be a weekend of craft beer, great food, lawn games, music, and fun for the whole family. A gathering of 30 food trucks will serve everything from fall-off-the-bone barbecue and juicy prime rib to wood-fired pizza, spicy Korean dishes, and gooey mac and cheese.

foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com/panama-city-beach

FOREVER PLAID PRESENTED BY THE EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY

Feb. 12-Mar. 1

When four young aspiring singers are killed in a car crash, they posthumously take the stage for one final gig in this 1950s nostalgia trip. With hits like “Chain Gang,” “Sixteen Tons,” and Perry Como’s classic “Catch a Falling Star,” this is one night of harmony that will knock your bobby socks off.

Showtimes include: February 12–March 1, Thursdays–Saturdays  at 7 p.m., Sundays and Wednesdays at 2 p.m. For more information,  call (850) 684-0323 or to purchase tickets, email  boxoffice@emeraldcoasttheatre.org.

VALENTINE’S 8K

FEB. 14

Get ready for an exhilarating dash through the scenic pathways of Fort Walton Beach’s Ferry Park neighborhood. This flat, speedy 8K run kicks off at 8 a.m., offering both novice and seasoned athletes an invigorating morning challenge.

nwftc.com/race-calendar

SEASIDE SCHOOL RACES

FEB. 15

Choose between the half-marathon or 5K race. Either option will be scenic, and both benefit the Seaside School. Proceeds enable students to participate in advanced placement and career readiness courses.

For more information, visit runseasidefl.com.

SINCERELY, SONDHEIM WITH NICHOLAS RODRIGUEZ  

FEB. 15

Broadway star Nicholas Rodriguez, from casts including the Tony Award–winning revival of Company and
the national tour of The Sound of Music, brings his brand-new concert “Sincerely, Sondheim,” to the Emerald
Coast. With his soaring voice and charismatic stage presence, Rodriguez draws from famous composer Stephen Sonheim’s handwritten letters to share stories and insights into his friendships with Oscar Hammerstein II,
Jerry Herman, Jonathan Larson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and more. 

For more information, visit sinfoniagulfcoast.org. 

30A WINE FESTIVAL

FEB. 18-22

Sip and sup at the annual 30A Wine Festival, a must-experience for lovers of fine wines and the culinary arts. Proceeds from the wine festival will support the Children’s Volunteer Health Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing access to health services for children in Walton and Okaloosa counties.

30awinefestival.com

PENSACON

FEB. 20-22

Pensacola’s comic-con returns to the Pensacola Bay Center and Pensacola Grand Hotel with many celebrity authors, artists, voice actors, and actors present for meet-and-greets, talks, merchandise, and more.

pensacon.com

THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL SANDESTIN GUMBO FESTIVAL 

Feb. 20-21

One of the most beloved winter food events on the Emerald Coast is this lively two-day festival in The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. The food will leave you full, happy, and wanting more. Enjoy live music, family-friendly fun, and the greatest gumbo cook-off on the Gulf Coast. 

For more information, visit sandestingumbofestival.com.

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY BY INTERNATIONAL BALLET STARS

FEB. 27

Immerse yourself in the magical world of Princess Aurora, doomed to a century-long slumber by the wicked fairy Carabosse and awakened by true love’s kiss. Guests can expect brand-new sets, hand-painted scenery, and artist-crafted costumes in this show performed by the dazzling International Ballet Stars with choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov set to Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable music. 

pensacolasaenger.com

CRESCENDO! VINTNER DINNERS

FEB. 27  

Crescendo! Vintner Dinners are hosted in elegant private homes, restaurants, and resort hotels throughout the region, featuring celebrity chefs paired with renowned vintners. 

sinfoniagulfcoast.org

CRESCENDO! MAIN EVENT 

Mar. 1

This energy-infused event extravaganza celebrates the culinary and cultural arts with world-class vintners, expert spirit purveyors, incredible auction items, and a not-to-be-missed live performance by the internationally renowned iconic big band Pink Martini accompanied for the first time by the Sinfonia Gulf Coast orchestra. Guests will enjoy reserved table seating, hors d’oeuvres, a seated late lunch, and an all-inclusive afternoon of music, wine, food, and fabulous fun—all in support of Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s music education and community engagement initiatives. 

Tickets are $225. Mar. 1 at 3 p.m. in the Magnolia Ballroom at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. For more information, call
(850) 440-8800, or visit sinfoniagulfcoast.org.

PINNACLE AWARDS

Mar. 6

850 Business Magazine’s twelfth annual Pinnacle Awards celebration will recognize 12 distinguished female professionals who are leaders of industry, entrepreneurship, and community. Honorees will be celebrated with a luncheon on March 6 at Hotel Effie at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. The event will feature a presentation from publisher McKenzie Burleigh and keynote speaker Carrie Zimmerman. 

For more information, visit 850businessmagazine.com/pinnacle-awards. 

ALICE IN WONDERLAND PRESENTED BY NORTHWEST FLORIDA BALLET

Mar. 7 & 8

The Northwest Florida Ballet returns to the Mattie Kelly Arts Center with the company’s premiere of Alice in Wonderland, choreographed by Jill Eathorne Bahr. As an original full-length ballet, the production showcases a compelling fusion of neoclassical dance and surreal storytelling, set to a meticulously crafted musical score, a visually immersive set design, and intricately designed costumes. 

Showtimes: March 7 at 7:30 p.m.; March 8 at 2:30 p.m. Visit nfballet.org/alice-in-wonderland or call the MKAC box
office at (850) 729-6000.

DIRTY DANCING IN CONCERT

MARCH 10

Enjoy the digitally remastered hit film like never before—on a full-size cinema screen with a live band and singers performing the film’s iconic songs. With a soundtrack that marked a generation, “Dirty Dancing in Concert” promises to bring a thrillingly new and unique experience to the ’80s classic.

mattiekellyartscenter.org

RENT

MARCH 13-15 & 20-22

Follow along for a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The complications of the disease pervade the lives of the  young bohemians as they navigate their dreams, relationships,  and everyday conflicts.

stagecraftersfwb.com

LUCKY LEPRECHAUN 5K & GET LUCKY HALF MARATHON

MARCH 14-15

Start your St. Patty’s Day weekend with a bang at the Lucky Leprechaun 5K on Saturday, March 14, at 8 a.m. Then push your limits with the Get Lucky Half Marathon on Sunday March 15, at 7:30 a.m. Traversing a fast and flat route, these Fort Walton Beach courses promise a thrilling race. 

nwftc.com/race-calendar

SWAN LAKE WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA

MARCH 22

The legendary tale of Swan Lake takes flight in a breathtaking production from the World Ballet Company, as fate and magic entwine in a timeless battle between good and evil. Performing Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score with a live orchestra and featuring a cast of 50 international dancers, this spellbinding ballet captures every heart-pounding moment—from the “Dance of the Little Swans” to the Black Swan’s 32 fouettés, and every pirouette in between. 

pensacolasaenger.com 

THE ARTIST SERIES OF TALLAHASSEE 

Mar. 29 

The Artist Series of Tallahassee presents internationally renowned guitarist Paul Galbraith. Galbraith is considered one of the finest guitarists of today as well as a brilliant innovator. The concert is Sunday, March 29 at 4 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1700 N. Meridian Road, Tallahassee, Florida. 

For tickets and season passports, go to theartistseries.org or call (850) 445-1616. Also available as a video performance. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the concert.

MATTIE KELLY ARTS FOUNDATION CONCERTS IN THE VILLAGE

Thursdays, April 9 through June 11

This spring marks the thirtieth annual Concerts in the Village, Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s popular 10-concert series, launching April 9 with Smash Mouth. Enjoy Thursday nights under the stars at the Dugas Pavilion in Destin with live music ranging from classic rock to modern pop, plus dinner al fresco from local food trucks and raffle prizes. 

Tickets are $40; doors open at 6 p.m., concerts at 7 p.m. MKAF members get early entry and enjoy free admission. Proceeds support MKAF’s ArtsReach initiatives. Learn more at mkaf.org.

TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL CHAIN OF PARKS ART FESTIVAL 

Apr. 18-19

Expect a fun-filled cultural experience at the twenty-sixth annual Chain of Parks Art Festival in downtown Tallahassee’s beautiful parks. Visitors enjoy unique works of fine art from over 160 national juried artists in a delightful outdoor setting, along with a weekend filled with 3D street art, live entertainment, children’s activities, family fun, local heritage reenactments, delicious food, craft beer, and cocktails. A uniquely Tallahassee experience.  

Festival Times: April 18, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.;
April 19, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. For more information visit chainofparks.com or email Powell K. Kreis at chainofparks@lemoyne.org.

SOUTH WALTON BEACHES WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

APR. 23-26

Enjoy more than 600 wines and spirits available to taste at the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival. An expanded Culinary Village will offer exclusive Napa Valley vintners and featured wines to delight the senses, a showcased Willamette Valley Wineries Grand Tasting tent, fun and informative tasting seminars, and celebrity winemakers from around the world to celebrate the best in wine and food at the beach, plus a Friday night Craft Cocktail Competition and more! 

Visit SoWalWine.com for more information and to purchase tickets.