Things to do in Pensacola: McGuire’s 5K Prediction Run; Fat Tuesday; Symphonic Spectacular
Seven days out is your guide to entertainment events, concerts, festivals and activities in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
MONDAY
Monday Night Blues
7 p.m. Monday, March 3. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Seville Quarter and the Blues Society of Northwest Florida are bringing the "blues" back to the Seville Quarter Entertainment District. The event features live blues music and "BBQ and Bud" food and drink specials. More info: 850-434-6211 or sevillequarter.com .
Steve Hofstetter
8 p.m. Monday, March 3. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Enjoy a Steve Hofstetter comedy show featuring special guests. $25 general admission; $50 premium seating. More info: thehandlebar850.com .
TUESDAY
French Quarter Fat Tuesday Celebration
11 a.m. Tuesday, March 4. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Pensacola Mardi Gras and Seville Quarter are teaming up with Mardi Gras krewes for a French Quarter Fat Tuesday celebration. The Priscus Celebration begins at 11 a.m. with a Jazz Royalty Brunch. At 2 p.m., krewe royalty and elected officials will be on hand as Seville is overtaken and becomes the French Quarter. At 5 p.m., krewes will come together for a celebration with live entertainment throughout the complex. At 7 p.m., Danny Zimmern, president of Pensacola Mardi Gras, will present awards for the 2024 season, and will end with the coronation ceremony of the new King & Queen Priscus. More info: pensacolamardigras.com .
Smoking Popes
7 p.m. Tuesday, March 4. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Smoking Popes will perform live in concert with Camp Trash and Rodeo boys. $17 in advance; $20 at the door. More info: thehandlebar850.com .
WEDNESDAY
Killer Queen
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. In 2016 Killer Queen, a tribute to the legendary rock band Queen, set their sights on America including the awe-inspiring Red Rocks Arena in Colorado – one of the country's most prestigious venues. The Beatles, Springsteen, U2 have all played there and the band is delighted it's become a regular fixture on Killer Queen's tour sheet. By 2020 the band was pulling huge arena audiences in Cardiff Motorpoint, Liverpool, and Nottingham. This year sees them back on the road ready to delight huge audiences the world over. Tickets start at $60. More info: 850-595-3880 or pensacolasaenger.com .
THURSDAY
Ctrl Alt Drag
8 p.m. Thursday, March 6. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Enoy the Ctrl Alt Drag Show. $10 in advance and at the door. More info: thehandlebar850.com .
FRIDAY
Pensacola Film Festival
1 p.m. Friday through Sunday, March 7 through 9. Pensacola Cinema Art, SCI Building, 220 W. Garden St. Pensacola Cinema Art, Innisfree Hotels and The Studer Family of Companies present the 2025 Pensacola Film Festival. Films will include all of the Oscar nominated short films as well as many Oscar nominated and winning films. The complete schedule of films will be announced before the festival on the Cinema Art website and Facebook page. Free snacks and one free beverage, including wine, will be given. $10 per screening. More info: PensacolaCinemaArt.com .
Hot Glass Cold Brew: Sock Hop!
5 p.m. Friday, March 7. First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. First City is taking it back to the nifty 50s for HGCB: Sock Hop! Entertainment for the evening includes glass blowing and pottery demonstrations, a local art market, live music, kids activities, and a gallery opening showcasing works from FCAC's Gallery 1060 artists Full admission includes a handmade artisan glass or ceramic cup, entertainment for the evening, and two complimentary craft beers (or wine) for adults 21 and older from Pensacola Bay Brewery. The collectible glasses and cups are limited, so come early. Cups are first come, first served. Full admission: $30 members; $40 non-members. More info: firstcityart.org .
Nirvanna – Tribute to Nirvana
7 p.m., doors; 8 p.m., show; Friday, March 7. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. For the last seven years Nirvanna – Tribute to Nirvana, has been touring the USA and the globe with their theatrical replication of a real 1991 Nirvana live show, performed in exact fashion. Delivering the hits and your favorite B-sides that will have you screaming along to your Nirvana songs all night long. Get in the time machine and travel back to Seattle 1991. So 'Come As You Are,' get out that dusty flannel and Doc Marten boots, catch the grunge vibe and prepare to feel the nostalgia and undeniable energy of reliving Nirvana grunge. The show also features The Linkin Park Tribute and The Tribute To Creed. $15. All ages welcome. More info and ticket purchase: vinylmusichall.com .
The Play That Goes Wrong
7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 7 through 16. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. This Olivier and Tony Award-winning comedy is a hilarious hybrid of Monty Python and Sherlock Holmes, with an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can't play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines). Directed by PLT's artistic director, Kathy Holsworth, who previously directed last season's acclaimed production of Rent. More info: pensacolalittletheatre.com .
Gimme Gimme Disco
8 p.m. Friday, March 7. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Enjoy Gimme Gimme Disco, a disco themed dance party. $16 in advance; $18 to $20 at the door. More info: thehandlebar850.com .
SATURDAY
Spring Fling Vendor and Car Show
9 a.m. Saturday, March 8. Splash City Adventures, 6709 Pensacola Blvd. Start your engines and join organizers at Splash City for the Spring Fling Vendor and Car Show. This event brings together local vendors, car enthusiasts, and families for a day of fun, shopping, and vehicles. Admission: Free for guests with an optional $14.99 Stay-and-Play Pass for full park access after the event. More info: splashcityadventures.com .
McGuire's St. Patrick's Day Prediction 5K Run
9 a.m. Saturday, March 8. McGuire's Irish Pub, 600 E. Gregory St. The McGuire's St. Patrick's Day Run is the largest 5k Prediction Run in America. Each runner/walker predicts how long it will take them to complete the 3.1-mile course. The finishers who come closest to the time predicted on their registration form wins. The event goes on rain or shine. Crossing the finish line is just the beginning, come for the run and stay for the party. The registration fee includes a McGuire's Run shirt and the best post-race party around. $45. More info: mcguiresirishpub.com .
Bike Pensacola's Slow Ride
1 p.m. Saturday, March 8. Alabama Square, 401 W. Gonzalez St. This month the ride theme is "cycle chic," as riders are encouraged to dress up a bit for the ride with fashionable everyday clothes. The ride will be about an hour and 10 minutes long, at a casual pace. Nobody will be "dropped" or left behind. Children must be at least 10 years of age to ride their own bicycle, and ages 10 to 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No pets are allowed on the rides. Cyclists younger than 16 must wear a helmet by law; ages 16 and older helmets are recommended but are not required by law. More info: 850-687-9968 or bike@pensacolacan.org.
Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Dress Rehearsal
1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Join the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra for a working dress rehearsal of the Symphonic Spectacular program. They will work to polish each piece, with adjustments to nuance, balance and blend. Many pieces will be played in their entirety, and certain sections will be retouched with starts and stops. Tickets start at $10. More info: 850-595-3880 or pensacolasaenger.com .
The Amity Affliction
6 p.m., doors; 7 p.m., show; Saturday, March 8. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Since emerging in 2008 on the debut Severed Ties, The Amity Affliction have served up three ARIA gold-certified albums, Youngbloods, Chasing Ghosts and This Could Be Heartbreak. They also achieved platinum certification for the seminal Let The Ocean Take Me. The band achieved four consecutive No. 1 debuts on the ARIA chart with Chasing Ghosts, This Could be Heartbreak, Let The Ocean Take Me and Misery. The Amity Affliction have also been a dominating live act, headlining arena tours and festival bills alike worldwide throughout their career. The show also features special guests Hail the Sun, Many Eyes and Solence. $33. All ages welcome. More info and ticket purchase: vinylmusichall.com .
Salvo (Members of Pain)
7 p.m. Saturday, March 8. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Salvo (Members of Pain) will perform live in concert with Nik Flagstar & His Dirty Mangy Dogs. $20 in advance; $25 at the door. More info: thehandlebar850.com .
Pensacola Symphony Orchestra: Symphonic Spectacular
7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Join the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra for Gustav Holst's The Planets, evoking the astrological characterizations of our celestial neighbors. From the romantic lyricism of "Venus" to the golden song of "Jupiter," the massive seven-movement suite spans a range of emotions. The program also includes Sukkot Through Orion's Nebula by contemporary composer James Lee III, and Claude Debussy's The Joyful Island, depicting a merry party arriving on the island known as the birthplace of Venus. Tickets start at $25. More info: 850-595-3880 or pensacolasaenger.com .
SUNDAY
Boozy Bee Spelling Tournament
5 p.m. Sunday, March 9. Flora-Bama Lounge & Package, 17401 Perdido Key Drive. Have you been personally victimized by a grade school spelling bee that left you questioning whether you really knew English? Well, Flora-Bama has the event for you. Participants should be prepared to mix alcohol consumption with vocabulary competition. For each word, a contestant may ask for the definition and its use in a sentence. Hosts will try to on-the-spot create a topical and comedic use of the word. For ages 21 and older. More info: 850-492-0611 or florabama.com .
Partygirl
6 p.m. Sunday, March 9. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Partygirl will perform live in concert with Mourning Glories, Basically Nancy, and Rat Palace. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. More info: thehandlebar850.com .
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Things to do in Pensacola: McGuire's 5K Prediction Run; Fat Tuesday
