Foo Foo in the Fall & Art for All

Foo Foo Festival is a premier arts event spanning 12 days that immerses attendees in culturally creative happenings such as theatrical performances, music festivals, historical reenactments, and interactive and reactive art.

From Oct. 31 to Nov. 11 downtown Pensacola will buzz with high-caliber arts and cultural events that showcase both local and national talent.

The beautiful fall weather alongside Pensacola’s vibrant downtown brimming with trendy shops, top-tier dining, and nightlife, combined with the access to stunning nearby beaches, provides the perfect backdrop for an arts-and-culture festival. These elements combine to create the ultimate girls’ getaway just a few hours down the road from Tallahassee.

Foo Foo Festival, which is produced by the nonprofit Art, Culture, and Entertainment Inc. (ACE), welcomes visitors from all over the country and has become one of the most popular and highly anticipated festivals in the Southeast.

The festival holds signature events funded by grant money supplied to local arts groups and organizations while being anchored by the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show, the Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival, and the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival.

Fiesta Pensacola is a grant-funded organization joining the festival for its second year. After much popularity, they will be bringing back “The Living Museum: A Trip through Pensacola’s History at the Pensacola Museum of History” on November 7.

After hours, guests can travel back in time at the museum, meeting diverse characters from Pensacola’s storied history, beginning in 1559 with the discoverer of Pensacola, Don Tristan de Luna, to figures of today. The actors will be fully in character wearing time-period clothing and utilizing museum artifacts to share their stories.

“This event encourages people to have fun by interacting with the characters and asking them questions,” said Bridget Middleton, executive director of Fiesta Pensacola. “It helps the community to learn about the city’s history and how it relates to them.”

Fiesta Pensacola is a nonprofit that celebrates Pensacola’s heritage, promotes tourism, and builds pride through festive activities that enhance the community’s quality of life.

Another grant-funded organization presenting this year is PenArts, a professional theater company with community outreach programming. The talented cast will be presenting Lizzie: The Musical, November 5-9 at the Gordon Community Center.

Making its debut in Pensacola, the musical revolves around the infamous case of Lizzie Borden who was accused of murdering her father and stepmother but was later acquitted. This goth-rock performance will feature a live band and all-female cast.

“Lizzie is a fun, empowering story of feminine power and camaraderie,” says Christine Kellogg, artistic director of PenArts. “This is just one of the many events throughout the festival that is surrounded by a great energy focused on promotion of the arts.”

Other events include: 

Another female-centric performance will be Carmen: The Traveler, presented by the Pensacola Opera. In this newly adapted version of Bizet’s masterpiece, Carmen occurs in the pre-war tension of 1930s Seville.

Joyful Noise! Gospel Celebration, will perform November 8-10, featuring the soulful sounds of the New York gospel choir, Sing Harlem; Night Moves Music Fest, November 9, an alternative music festival; and Jazz for Justice, November 10, a unique jazz-and-blues festival presenting a nationally recognized lineup of talent.

On November 10, 309 Punk Project will hold Night on the Tracks, hosting a New-Orleans inspired second-line street parade and four community-oriented immersive art experiences.

Art on view includes, “Eclectic Fidelities,” a collaboration between the Visual Arts Department and Performing Arts Department at Pensacola State College, featuring artwork and performances celebrating women in the arts. In addition, The Pensacola Museum of Art is celebrating 70 years with engaging events for all ages throughout the festival.

For the full list of events and begin planning your getaway visit: foofoofest.com