From the Pcola CVB:

Pensacola welcomes new year with Mardi Gras celebrations, music festivals, and award-winning movies and celebrities

Pensacola, Fla.–As old man winter stifles much of the country’s outside fun, Pensacola comes alive with a slew of Mardi Gras celebrations leading right into spring festivals. Each carnival season begins with a blitz of beads, parties, parades, and outlandish costumes. And although the region is still recovering from Hurricane Ivan, there are many events offering irresistible family fun.

Garish is good for the Krewe of Seville Mardi Gras Ball at 8 p.m. on Fri., Jan. 28 at Seville Quarter. Suggested dress includes your most bizarre Mardi Gras garb or formal wear. Admission is $20 and includes two drink tickets, a cocktail buffet, and dance music by Ba’Nana Republic and DJ Carter. For more information, call (850) 434-6211 or visit www.rosies.com.

“The bigger the better” when it comes to Mardi Gras beads and parades. The Krewe of Lafitte Parade in historic downtown Pensacola is a blast and is the season’s only illuminated parade. Bring a large bag to hold goodies thrown from a long line of colorful floats at 8 p.m. on Fri., Feb. 4.

More Mardi Gras madness can be had with the Grand Mardi Gras Parade at 2 p.m. on Sat., Feb. 5, also in historic downtown Pensacola. Nearly 200 floats roll down historic Palafox Street showering parade-goers with “throws” such as beads, moon pies, cups, and doubloons. Seville Quarter’s Mardi Gras Street Party and Post-Parade Melt Down will follow and will feature a bead throwing contest, moon pie eating contest, and live music.

With the culmination of Mardi Gras activities on Fat Tuesday comes spring and swing. The National Museum of Naval Aviation, one of the three largest aviation museums in the world, presents its annual Big Band Concert Series. Listen to the best Big Band music and vocals from America’s Golden Age of Music at 7 p.m. on Feb. 3, 11, 22 and March 1. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. and admission is $20. For more information, call (800) 327-5002 or visit www.naval-air.org/museum/concerts.html.

March means movies in Northwest Florida as the Pensacola Bay International Film Festival celebrates its third year March 17-20 with a movie extravaganza, parties, receptions, and plenty of glitz and glamour. Film fans will have an opportunity to meet celebrities such as Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden (“Pollock,” “Mystic River,” “Mona Lisa Smile”), The Weather Channel’s Mike Bettes, and renowned “Star Wars” artist Dave Dorman. It all starts with an Opening Night Party on Thurs., March 17 at The Breeze Cinema in Gulf Breeze. Opening Night Party tickets are $25. General admission tickets are $7. All-access passes are $150. For more information, visit www.PensacolaFilmFestival.com.

Country music fans flock to the Beulah Sausage Festival each year. The 19th annual event March 18-20 will bring some of Nashville’s hottest country music stars, nearly 100 arts and crafts vendors, carnival-style rides, games, and lots of great sausage. Admission is $5 per day or $10 for a three-day pass. Children 11 and under get in free. For more information, call (850) 944-3167 or visit www.BeulahSausageFest.com.

The fun continues with Gallery Night for art lovers on March 18, Festival on the Green at the University of West Florida April 1-2, Festival of Nations downtown April 1-3, and Pensacola JazzFest in historic Seville Square, April 9-10. For more information on the Pensacola Area, call (800) 874-1234 or visit www.visitpensacola.com.

For a complete calendar of events listing or for more information on the Pensacola Bay Area, call the Pensacola Bay Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 874-1234 or (850) 434-1234 or visit www.visitpensacola.com.