It’s no secret that Florida is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. There is one secret, though, that the Sunshine State has held onto: the thriving arts and culture scene that exists beyond the shores of Pensacola Beach.
Visitors come from all over to soak up the sun, dip their toes in the sugary sand, and float in the beach’s turquoise waters. Year after year, though, they find themselves staying for so much more.
Home to a world-class opera, a symphony, a ballet, an accredited fine arts museum, and local theaters and galleries, Pensacola has long been a cultural hub — a fact that was once the city’s best-kept secret. It wasn’t until recently (the last ten years or so) that its most prominent figures began to market it as such.
“We are a real city with real heritage and culture, not just a tourism industry-developed town,” says one of those figures, David Bear.
Bear grew up attending cultural events and happenings in Pensacola, and still considers himself a consumer of the city’s rich offerings. He has served on several cultural organization boards, and helped found the legendary annual 12-day Foo Foo Festival, which began as a way to continue attracting tourism to the city in the aftermath of the BP oil spill that severely damaged the local beaches.
“In 2014… our art and cultural organizations had become very strong, with programming and community outreach. The tourism shift [after the spill] was a perfect opportunity to display all of our diverse offerings,” Bear remembers.
At the time, Pensacola’s various arts organizations were operating in silos. Foo Foo Festival was created as a marketing umbrella over the panoply of cultural events. This launched an entirely new slate of “off-season” tourism that led to a positive economic impact on the community.
Another culture-shifting Pensacola staple is Gallery Night, headed up by Executive Director Jacqueline Tarver.
“Gallery Night strives to elevate and showcase our community by taking art to the streets,” she explains. “Each month, we highlight local artisans, performers, musicians, and cuisines.”
Tarver also grew up in the Pensacola area, and was initially enthralled with the beaches and the embedded “salt life culture” — fishing, diving, surfing, beach fun, and sun-soaked relaxation. As she got older, though, and began to branch out, she discovered an entirely different side of her beloved hometown.
“Pensacola may be ‘small,’ but we have a big heart exploding with Southern hospitality,” she gushes. “I love walking downtown and being greeted with a smile. Those smiles can lead to conversation, and I walk away with the feeling of having made a friend. To me, that means a lot in today’s world.”
Another born and bred Pensacolian, Kathy Summerlin is the Director of Booking & Marketing at the city’s Saenger Theatre. The theater has been part of the Pensacola arts scene for nearly 100 years and hosts a multitude of talented performers, including the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Pensacola Opera, Pensacola Children’s Chorus, Ballet Pensacola, and Broadway in Pensacola — not to mention traveling musicians, comedians, and more.
When she’s not working at the theater, Summerlin loves to immerse herself in the local scene, attending concerts, festivals, and shows at the Pensacola Little Theatre, the city’s community theater.
She puts it simply: “Pensacola is a great place to visit and an even better place to live.”
For those who can’t quite up and move to the 850, don’t fret: Bear has plenty of recommendations for anyone paying the city a visit, from indulging in a delicious plate of Grits-a-Ya-Ya at the Fish House to touring the Pensacola Museum of Art and the Pensacola Historic Village.
Additionally, the aforementioned Foo Foo Festival takes place each fall, and is anchored by a few Pensacola favorites, including the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival, the Blue Angels Homecoming Airshow, and the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival, as well as performances from the local ballet, symphony, and opera. Each year, though, these artists strive to new heights — sometimes even collaborating with one another — to create new and unique shows and experiences that attract locals and tourists alike. It’s a special opportunity to see the community in all its glory.
“With our dynamic cultural offerings, Pensacola has something for each and every visitor,” Bear promises.