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The Gulf Coast Whale Festival brings environmental education and fun to Pensacola Beach on Saturday March 7. Educational exhibits and activities tell the story of Gulf whales and local marine life, and a puppet parade led by Birds of a Feather showcases the ecology of the Gulf. Sweet sounds will flow from the Casino Beach Pavilion with live music by Pensacola singer-songwriters, and the performance of Ode to the Rice’s Whale, written by Pensacola performer Bob Teague.

“Yes we have whales along the Gulf coast, and we’re excited to host the Gulf Coast Whale Festival to celebrate the whales and other natural riches of the Gulf of Mexico,” said Christian Wagley, Florida/Alabama Organizer at the nonprofit Healthy Gulf.
One of the organizations leading educational activities at the Festival is the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station, where students are continuing their years of work around Gulf marine life.

“My students are really excited to share our work on marine mammals, especially Rice’s whales,” says Charlene Mauro, director of the Center. “We’ll have an inflatable whale to visit, and hands-on activities to make it fun and informative.”
The Whale Festival comes at an exciting time for whale lovers on the Gulf coast, as the Rice’s whale was identified as a new species of whale just five years ago.

A Facebook event page is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1198419475446749/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[]%7D

Space for vendors interested in sharing environmental and marine life education is available for free, but space is limited. For more information and to register for booth space, please email: gulfcoastwhale@gmail.com or register for booth space at the link here.

Questions: Contact Christian Wagley at gulfcoastwhale@gmail.com

Enjoy UWF’s beautiful 1,600-acre campus and celebrate the University’s recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus Higher Education on Saturday, March 7, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Edward Ball Nature Trail. This event is free and open to the public. Parking will be available in Lot G.

Free Native Varieties of Fruit-bearing Trees made possible by event partners, International Paper and the UWF Alumni Association. Tree varieties include Persimmon, Flatwoods Plum, Southern Crabapple, Redbud, Red Maple, and Pecan. Limit two trees per household, while supplies last.
UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County – Information and advice from Master Gardeners on native plants and Florida-friendly landscaping.
Florida Forest Service – Forest land management recommendations, help identifying individual tree issues and forestry education.
Guided Nature Trail Walking Tours.
West Florida Fire & Nature Festival – UWF along with partners, Longleaf Alliance and Florida Forest Service, are hosting the inaugural West Florida Fire & Nature Festival in conjunction with UWF Arbor Day Market. This event is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Edward Ball Nature Trail and features food trucks, live animals, plant vendors and more. Live Burn Demos at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. at Pate Street trail entrance. Shuttles to demo available from UWF.
UWF Arbor Day Market is presented by the University of West Florida in partnership with International Paper, the UWF Alumni Association, UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County, the Florida Forest Service, the UWF Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and the Longleaf Alliance.

Fast-talking detectives. Dangerous dames. A priceless statue everyone’s willing to kill for.

Experience The Maltese Falcon as audiences did in the golden age of radio—performed live with actors at the microphone, musicians creating mood and menace in real time, and sound effects crafted before your eyes.

This immersive theatre-in-the-round production on Thursday, March 26 at 6 p.m. at the Museum of Commerce pulls back the curtain on radio storytelling, inviting the audience to see—and hear—how suspense was built using nothing but voices, music, and imagination.

Free mammogram screenings and free or low-cost breast and cervical exams available to females aged 40-64. Must be a Florida resident with no health insurance. To find out if you qualify, call (850) 316-2706

The mission of the Chaddah Dance Company is to use the power of dance to shed light on the atrocities of human trafficking, educate the public on how to identify and prevent trafficking, and collaborate with local organizations to support victims and prevent future incidents.

We firmly believe that through the message of hope, we can keep this at the forefront of need and make a meaningful impact in this fight against human trafficking.

Our signature production, "Encounters of Hope," showcases real stories of human trafficking survivors through the medium of dance and multimedia presentations. By sharing these stories, we aim to engage and educate audiences on the realities of human trafficking and inspire them to take action.

The University of West Florida Dr. Grier Williams School of Music will present the Rolfs Music Hall Artist Series at UWF featuring guest violinist Shannon Thomas. The performance will be held on Monday, March 9, at 7:30 p.m. in the Rolfs Music Hall at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the UWF Pensacola campus.

Violinist Shannon Thomas is an acclaimed performer and educator known for her compelling artistry and passion for nurturing young musicians. A 2025 Fulbright Scholar finalist, she currently serves as associate professor of violin at Florida State University and directs the Gabriel Del Orbe Violin Program in the Dominican Republic. Praised for her “expressive, dynamic playing,” Thomas has appeared throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia with recent performances including appearances at the Kennedy Center, Garth Newell Music Center, Steinmetz Hall, Bolivia’s Centro Sinfónico and Banff Centre. She is a member of the Rothko Trio and regularly performs with ProMusica Chamber Orchestra and IRIS Collective. She has recorded for Blue Griffin Records, celebrating music of Lera Auerbach, Ellen Zwilich and Jennifer Higdon; an upcoming recording with the Rothko Trio will feature works by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts, Libby Larsen, Joan Tower and Latin Grammy nominee Miguel del Águila. Thomas earned a DMA at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she was Paul Kantor’s assistant; she also holds degrees from Yale and Vanderbilt universities

Join us every 3rd Saturday of the month from 9:30-10:30 a.m. for a one-of-a-kind experience in our brand-new Creature Café.

Enjoy fresh coffee and pastries while getting up close with some of the Emerald Coast Science Center’s incredible Animal Ambassadors. Each month features a different lineup of animals, plus the stories behind the scientists they’re named after. Guests can learn, interact, and even handle some of our friendly creatures (if they choose!). Ticket price also includes admission to the center after the event, so stay and play.

Food & drink provided by: PINK COYOTE DESSERT CO.

The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Guild Mad Hatter's luncheon benefits the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra's 100th anniversary with the enchantment of a Mad Hatter's, chapeaux-filled event.

Enjoy entertainment by Ryan Etheredge, the Palafox Quartet, a hat contest, and bid on beautifully painted violins while enjoying the enchanting view of Pensacola Bay.

Join us for an evening to celebrate Earth Day featuring a food tasting from vegan and vegetarian food vendors around Pensacola!

Explore some of the activities that we have shared with thousands of local students through funding from the National Academy of Sciences’ Gulf Research Program.

Burger Battle by the Bay is a community-focused food festival in Pensacola where local restaurants, chefs, and grill teams compete to create the best burger. Attendees sample a variety of burgers and vote for their favorite, creating a fun and interactive experience for the public.

Hosted by the Suburban West Rotary Club, the event combines friendly competition with a charitable mission, raising funds to support local youth programs and community initiatives, including Take Stock in Children.

Typically held at Community Maritime Park, the event attracts a broad audience of families, food enthusiasts, and local supporters. It offers an engaging atmosphere that highlights Pensacola’s culinary scene while bringing the community together for a good cause.