Things to do in Pensacola: Pensacon; Chocolate and Cheese Fest; Pawdi Gras; Beer Olympics

Seven days out is your guide to entertainment events, concerts, festivals and activities in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

MONDAY

Sam Barber

6 p.m., doors; 7 p.m., show; Monday, Feb. 10. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Now that Sam Barber has your attention, he's looking forward to holding onto it a while. The 21-year old singer-songwriter from Southeast Missouri has already seen his career begin on a meteoric rise, and his upcoming debut album, Restless Mind, is set to send him into orbit. The accompanying Restless Mind Tour, which features Barber's Ryman Auditorium debut and showcase slots at the Giddy Up Festival and GoldenSky Festival, will introduce tens of thousands of new fans to Barber's energetic and emotional live show as well. The show also features special guest Jonah Kagen. $40. For all ages. More info and ticket purchase: vinylmusichall.com .

Monday Night Blues

7 p.m. Monday, Monday, Feb. 10. 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 .

WEDNESDAY

O'Riley's Spongebob Weekend

Wednesday through Saturday, Feb. 12 through 15. O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S Palafox St. O'Riley's has chosen to decorate for Pensacon 2025 using the theme of Spongebob Squarepants. The bar will have decorations, themed events, and themed cocktails, and food. The bar will also host several events related to the theme during the week leading up to Pensacon. On Wednesday, the bar will host a Spongebob and Cartoon Trivia Night. On Thursday, the bar will host Mr. Krabs' Millionth Dollar Night. On Saturday, the bar will host the Jellyfish Jam. Both Millionth Dollar Night and Jellyfish Jam events will have a live DJ. More info: orileyspub.com .

THURSDAY

Valentine's Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre

6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. You are on the set of streaming's next big hit: a Zoomer-centric dating show (think "The Bachelorette" meets "The Weakest Link"), where clout means everything. But when a disguised killer with a broken heart sabotages the show, the game changes completely. Presented by Seville Quarter and Going Noir Mysteries. $65. More info: sevillequarter.com .

ZULU

6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. ZULU will perform live in concert featuring LIE, Knife Wound, and No Surrender. $18 in advance; $22 at the door. More info: thehandlebar850.com .

MANIA the ABBA Tribute

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Mania The ABBA Tribute the tribute takes attendees back in time by recreating one of the world's finest pop groups in a live stage performance. This highly polished and professional production was created in 1999 and played its first shows in 2000. The tribute act has continued to tour the globe, enjoying great success, with ticket sales for most venues selling out long before the show hit town. Tickets start at $56. More info: 850-595-3880 or pensacolasaenger.com .

FRIDAY

Pensacola Cinema Art: Oscar Nominated Short Films

1 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Feb. 14 through 16. Pensacola Cinema Art, 220 W. Garden St. Pensacola Cinema Art presents the 2025 Oscar nominated short films. All of the Oscar shorts, including animation, live Action and documentary, will be shown at Pensacola Cinema Art, located in the SCI Building. This year is the 20th anniversary of the Oscar short films and the 10th anniversary of Pensacola Cinema Art in downtown Pensacola. $10 per film. More info: PensacolaCinemaArt.com .

Pensacon

1 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 14 through 16. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Pensacon is the Gulf Coast's premier pop culture convention celebrating the worlds of science fiction, fantasy, horror, comic books, cosplay, animation, video games, books and more. The three-day event draws tens of thousands to downtown Pensacola and takes place across multiple venues, including the Pensacola Bay Center, Pensacola Cultural Center, Rex Theatre, Pensacola Museum of Commerce and the De Luna Event Space. Attendees can meet dozens of celebrity guests; browse and purchase pop culture collectibles on the vendor floor; sit in on interactive panels with actors, artists, authors and other creators; learn in informational workshops; enjoy live entertainment and film screenings; participate in family-friendly activities in Poseidon's Bay; cosplay and enter costume contests; and socialize with fellow fans. Tickets: $74 to $184.99. More info: pensacon.com .

Vision Video

7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Vision Video will perform live in concert with Grave Chorus. $15 in advance; $20 at the door. More info thehandlebar850.com .

SATURDAY

Feels So Close

9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Feels So Close is here to celebrate the golden era of EDM. Come get lost in the lights and fall in love all over again with the music that led us here. This is made from their own experiences. The festivals, the friends, those big moments. The DJs will be playing all the classic festival anthems all night long in big rooms with big production. The production is inspired by the music of Calvin Harris, Avicii, Deadmau5, Skrillex, Zedd, and many more. $20, general admission; $35, VIP. For ages 18 and older. More info and ticket purchase: vinylmusichall.com .

Winter Beer Olympics

Noon Saturday, Feb. 15. Coastal County Brewing, 3041 E. Olive Road. The Winter Beer Olympics will feature all the frat house favorites, beer pong, flip cup, drunk Jenga and more. Each event will be played by teams of two, going head-to-head to rack up enough points to make it to the top three. Points will be awarded for each victory, and the team with the most points at the end of the day will walk away with bragging rights plus the grand prize of $250 cold, hard cash. Second place will receive $150, and third place will be awarded $100. More info: coastalcountybrewing.com .

Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show

6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. Hilton Garden Inn Pensacola Downtown, 8 S. Ninth Ave. America's largest interactive comedy murder mystery dinner theatre show is now playing. Solve a mystery while feasting on dinner. Just beware, the culprit is hiding in plain sight somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as a prime suspect before you know it. This event differs from a traditional murder mystery dinner show. The actors are not dressed in costume and are hidden in the audience. This results in a fun, social and interactive evening suitable for all adults. More info: thedinnerdetective.com .

Cane Hill

7 p.m. Saturday, Feb 15. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Cane Hill will perform live in concert featuring Mugshot, Fox Lake, and Weeping Wound. $18 in advance; $20 at the door. More info: thehandlebar850.com .

Pensacola Symphony Orchestra: Bond and Beyond

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Enjoy a night of musical intrigue as Broadway and pop vocalists Chloe Lowery and Ron Bohmer join the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra for the music of the spies, from James Bond hits to The Pink Panther, Indiana Jones and The Incredibles. Tickets start at $25. More info: 850-595-3880 or pensacolasaenger.com .

SUNDAY

Pensacola Chocolate and Cheese Fest

10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. Community Maritime Park, 301 W. Main St. The third annual Pensacola Chocolate and Cheese Fest will feature food trucks and vendors selling chocolate and cheese themed items as well as other vendor and menu items. The festival features beer, wine, vendors, chocolate martinis, contests, a free chocolate and cheese sampling tent, live music, and a kids bounce house. There will be a chocolate pie eating contest at 2 p.m. $5. Free for ages 12 and younger. More info: apexshowsandevents.com/2025-chocolate-%26-cheese .

Pawdi Gras

11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. Garden Street from Tarragona to Palafox Street. WolfGang LLC is hosting Pensacola's fourth annual Pawdi Gras event. Pawdi Gras is a dog focused Mardi Gras block party that ends with everyone paw-rading down Palafox Street. Organizers are looking forward to getting the Pensacola community together for a family and furry event as part of Pensacola's already amazing Mardi Gras lineup. Free. More info: wolfgangparkandbrews.com .

Elvis In Person: Matt Stone as Elvis

7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Internationally recognized by Graceland and the Elvis Presley Estate, the show's star, Matt Stone, performs the closest thing to the king in history. Stone brings an unseen level of authenticity and attention to detail to his craft, captivating audiences with a flawless recreation of the King of Rock 'n' Roll in his prime. Tickets start at $50. More info: 850-595-3880 or pensacolasaenger.com .

The Sapphic Stage - Be Mine Burlesque

8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. The Handlebar is hosting the Valentine's Day drag show, Be Mine Burlesque. $10 in advance and at the door. More info: thehandlebar850.com .

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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Things to do in Pensacola: Pensacon; Chocolate and Cheese Fest