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Gallery Night Monthly Themes Set For 2019

Bob Barrett
/
WUWF News

The board that operates Gallery Night in downtown Pensacola has announced the themes of the 2019 events. "Each month (Gallery Night) just keeps getting better and better and improving. We're way ahead of the game this year (by) having the themes ready to go. And I think that helps with the community being excited about it and getting even more involved with each month's theme," said Michelle Ortiz-Miguez, the marketing chair of the Gallery Night Board.

2019 will be the third full year that the Gallery Night Board will be running the monthly events. The board was formed after the Downtown Improvement Board decided to stop sponsoring Gallery Night back in the fall of 2016. Now, the board designates a theme for the night, which is usually held on the third Friday of each month. "Since we took over, we added a theme for each month," said Ortiz-Miguez. "We usually try to wrap it around something that is going on in the community or, of course, (if there is) a holiday involved."

There are some themes that are returning this year, such as Earth Day in April, the Halloween Spooktacular in October, and Christmas in the City in December. There are also new themes for this year. The board asked fans of their Facebook page to suggest ideas for some of the new themes. One, will be the 50th anniversary of Woodstock in August. "That one was actually a recommendation from one of our Facebook fans. We did some research and (thought) that's perfect!"

Gallery Night will be altering its schedule just a bit this year so it can coincide with one of the city’s biggest events: Pensacon. "That month, for February, (Gallery night) will be the fourth Friday in conjunction with Pensacon. So it should be really super, fun because we are going to have Pensacon going on at the same time as Gallery Night. I'm sure a lot of people who are attending Pensacon will also (be at) Gallery Night. So we should see some really neat costumes and people that are a part of the different groups that are a part of Pensacon."

On Gallery nights, Palafox Place closes to traffic at 5 p.m. The official Gallery Night events run until 8pm, but the street remains closed and most businesses stay open until around midnight. The first Gallery Night of the New Year will be January 18, and the theme will be the Lunar New Year – The Year of the Pig. Michelle Ortiz-Miguez says there will be Asian displays and decorations on display as well as delicacies served throughout the night.

Here is the complete list of themes for gallery night in 2019:

Jan. 18 — Lunar New Year, Year of the Pig  
Feb. 22 — Pensacon  
March 15 — Luck o' the Irish  
April 19 — Earth Day  
May 17 — Classic and Hot Rod Car Show   
June 21 — Dancing in the Streets  
July 19 — Blues and Jazz  
Aug. 16 — 50th Anniversary of Woodstock  
Sep. 20 — Pigskin and Paint Tailgate  
Oct.18 — Halloween Spooktacular  
Nov. 15 — Shop Local  
Dec. 20 — Christmas in The City  

Bob Barrett has been a radio broadcaster since the mid 1970s and has worked at stations from northern New York to south Florida and, oddly, has been able to make a living that way. He began work in public radio in 2001. Over the years he has produced nationally syndicated programs such as The Environment Show and The Health Show for Northeast Public Radio's National Productions.