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Love is in the air… and sometimes it’s a little strange!

Join us for a special Valentines edition of our Night Owl series, as we explore the wild and wonderful world of animal courtship, curious adaptations and the bizarre side of nature after dark! From fascinating, feathered romances to unexpected wildlife pairings, you’ll discover that the natural world has its own unique love stories.

Bring your valentine, your friends, or just your curiosity for an evening of learning, laughter, and nighttime adventure at the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge!


When: Friday, February 27th from 6 to 8pm

Where: The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge - 3051 Cloptons Circle

$20 for 1 | $30 for 2

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

Did you know that one of the rarest and most endangered whales on Earth lives right here in the Gulf — mostly just off the Florida coast? Join us for an evening exploring the incredible story of the Rice’s whale — a story of discovery, survival, and the challenges it continues to face, all unfolding in our own backyard.

Our speaker, Laura Engleby, brings decades of experience to the conversation. She recently retired from NOAA Fisheries (former Marine Mammal Branch Chief, Southeast Region) and now serves as Chair of the Rice’s Whale Collaborative Network Steering Committee. Laura has spent her career working to protect endangered marine mammals and has a unique perspective on what makes this species so important.

The Rice’s whale is a symbol of the Gulf’s changing history, having endured the BP disaster oil spill, powerful hurricanes, and centuries of environmental change. But this isn’t only a story about whales. It’s a story about the Gulf itself — a living system that supports fisheries, coastal communities, and a way of life that connects us all.

This event marks the kickoff of the 2026 Gulf Coast Whale Festival, which is Saturday March 7 from 9 am – 3 pm at the Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. Snacks will be served and drinks are available for purchase.

More about Laura:

Laura Engleby is the former Chief of the Marine Mammal Branch at NOAA Fisheries Southeast Region, where she led conservation and recovery efforts for endangered Rice’s whales, North Atlantic right whales, and bottlenose dolphins. With nearly 40 years in the field, she continues to advance marine mammal science through research, restoration, and mentoring. She is currently the Chair of the Rice's Whale Collaborative Network.

From the Ground Up Community Garden welcomes Americana troubadour Grayson Capps to the stage on March 7, 2026 at 5:30 PM.
Grayson and guitarist Corky Hughes are annual favorites at the garden, and we’re thrilled to host them again.

Opening at 4:45 PM is Pensacola’s own Faithe Franklin.

Faithe is a singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist delivering smooth, soulful vibes through her original music. She performs as a solo act, blending piano, vocals, and melodic instrumentation into a rich, intimate sound.

Gates open at 3:30 PM.

Come early and spend some time gardening with us.

Bring a chair (we’ll have a few benches available), pack a snack, and enjoy the music under the stars.

The garden is located in the 200 block of East LaRua Street in Pensacola, FL. $10 suggested love donation.

Questions? Text 561-313-2465.

Dr. William Thiele, PhD, will facilitate a day retreat at the Naval Live Oaks National Seashore, Gulf Breeze, Florida, on Saturday, March 21, 2026. This will be an experiential contemplative retreat with a theme of “Walk Slowly and Bow Often: Eco Spirituality as a Contemplative Practice."

The sacredness of nature fills our beings like nothing else. Join us as we practice spiritual truths from Mary Oliver’s poem, “When I Am Among the Trees,” in real time. Dr. Thiele will lead us in learning divine truths of contemplative living from the nature beings all around us, tapping into the feeling of oneness with all beings in the natural world, and letting go of the illusions of separation from God and from one another.

We will weave centering practice (inner sanctuary) into Eco-practice (outer sanctuary), dissolving the illusion of separation, “holding space for the sacred within and wherever we go.”

Throughout this performance, the UWF Singers and the UWF Concert Choir will present a variety of pieces that explore different aspects of the human experience. Under the direction of Dr. Carol Krueger and Mr. Alex Gartner, guests will enjoy a repertoire ranging from historical works, including a sacred medieval chant composed by Hildegard von Bingin to beloved modern classics, including a revered American folk spiritual “Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal” and the Christian hymn “Amazing Grace.” The group will be accompanied by UWF student cellist Logan Perez.

Under the direction of Dr. Sean Kelley, the Symphonic Band will perform a variety of pieces featuring guest pianist Susan Chou. The group will perform “Festive Overture” by Dmitri Shostakovich, “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” by Sergei Rachmaninoff, featuring Susan Chou, “Circuits” by Cindy McTee and “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral” by Richard Wagner.

Susan Chou was born in Taipei, Taiwan. She immigrated to the United States at age 16 and earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Northwestern University. During her studies at Northwestern, she was greatly inspired by her piano teacher, Professor Alan Chow and decided to pursue her career in piano. After graduation, she was awarded a full scholarship to study with Menahem Pressler at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she completed her master’s and doctorate degrees.

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.

Choral Evensong at Christ Church
17 May 2026 – 5:00 p.m.

On Sunday, May 17th at 5:00 p.m., the Christ Church choir will sing Choral Evensong, one of the oldest and most beautiful liturgies in the Anglican tradition. Featured will be Cantata no. 140, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, by Johann Sebastian Bach. Other music includes the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in B-flat by Charles Villiers Stanford; Anglican Chant; and congregational hymns. The evensong orchestra, comprising two horns, three oboes (one doubling English horn), bassoon, strings, and continuo will accompany the cantata and will also play movements of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto no. 1 in F Major.
Choral Evensong will be followed by a festive reception. Please come take part, and invite a friend!

Erik Griffin will be at Talk to the Moon Comedy Club for three shows from April 30th to May 2nd! Erik Griffin is an accomplished comedian, appearing as Montez on Workaholics, countless guest appearances on Kill Tony, and his many comedy specials that are available for streaming.

Talk to the Moon Comedy Club is located inside of Mathieson Brewing Company in Downtown Pensacola.