Jen | Pensacola with Kids

Sowell’s North Pole Christmas Lights

Winter Wonderland at the Community Maritime Park/Blue Wahoos Stadium

Zoo Lights at the Gulf Breeze Zoo

Cookies with Santa at the Gulf Breeze Zoo

Pensacola Children’s Chorus “Christmas on the Coast” at the Saenger Theater

Pensacola Little Theater’s “A Christmas Story”

The Lighted Boat Parade on Pensacola Beach

“Christmas on the River” Riverwalk in Milton

The Panhandle Community Theater’s “A Little Princess”

Pensacola Ice Flyers home game

University of West Florida presents “A Christmas Carol”

December 8, 2012

Gulf Coast Kid’s House ”Pancakes with Santa”

The Cox Pensacola Christmas Parade

PJ’s & Popcorn Spa Night – Confetti Coture Events

The Chumuckla Redneck Christmas Parade

Sowell’s North Pole Christmas Lights

Winter Wonderland at the Community Maritime Park/Blue Wahoos Stadium

Zoo Lights at the Gulf Breeze Zoo

Cookies with Santa at the Gulf Breeze Zoo

Pensacola Children’s Chorus ”Christmas on the Coast” at the Saenger Theater 7:30pm

“Pensacola Little Theater’s A Christmas Story”

Boatyard Craft Fair @ Maritime Park

Pensacola Museum of Art Children’s workshop

The Panhandle Community Theater’s “A Little Princess”

Painting with a Twist Family Day “Neon Snowman”

University of West Florida presents “A Christmas Carol”

Guy Harvey personal appreance/autograph signing @ Bealls Department store

December 9, 2012

Surfing Santa Beach Parade Pensacola Beach 2pm

Sowell’s North Pole Christmas Lights

Winter Wonderland at the Community Maritime Park/Blue Wahoos Stadium

Gingerbread Workshop – Drop & Shop – Confetti Coture Events

Zoo Lights at the Gulf Breeze Zoo

Cookies with Santa at the Gulf Breeze Zoo

Pensacola Children’s Chorus “Christmas on the Coast” at the Saenger Theater 7:30pm

“Pensacola Little Theater’s A Christmas Story”

The Panhandle Community Theater’s “A Little Princess”

University of West Florida presents “A Christmas Carol”

Filed Under: Things to Do

Weekend Round-Up – Things to Do in Pensacola – November 30 – December 2

November 30, 2012 By Jen 3 Comments

Here is your weekend roundup! If you know of an event we should add to the list, please leave us a comment! Have a fun weekend exploring Pensacola with your family!

As always, I recommend that you follow the links for more information and call ahead to confirm. Event information often changes!

November 30, 2012

Winter Wonderland at the Community Maritime Park/Blue Wahoos Stadium

Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway

Zoo Lights at the Gulf Breeze Zoo

Cookies with Santa at the Gulf Breeze Zoo

December 1, 2012

Gulf Breeze Christmas Parade

Penguin & Pinecone, Book Reading at Barnes & Nobles

Pictures with Santa Clause at The Coffee House

Pace Christmas Parade

Pensacola Ice Flyers Home Game

Winter Wonderland at the Community Maritime Park/Blue Wahoos Stadium

Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway

Zoo Lights at the Gulf Breeze Zoo

Cookies with Santa at the Gulf Breeze Zoo

Milton Christmas Parade

December 2, 2012

12th Avenue Christmas Trolley

Winter Wonderland at the Community Maritime Park/Blue Wahoos Stadium

Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway

Zoo Lights at the Gulf Breeze Zoo

Cookies with Santa at the Gulf Breeze Zoo

Filed Under: Things to Do

Saving Money at the Pensacola Interstate Fair

October 16, 2012 By Jen 1 Comment

Here is a little confession. I haven’t been to the Pensacola Interstate Fair since my youngest was still in a stroller. It isn’t because we haven’t wanted to go. We were out of town for one year and sick for one. Another reason we haven’t been to the fair is that it can be a very costly adventure. With several fall birthdays, Halloween and the holidays coming up, we usually don’t have a lot of extra money sitting around.

This year, I am determined to take the kids to the Pensacola Interstate Fair. I think they are at the perfect age to enjoy it and are young enough that I can keep them off the rides that scare me (mainly because they can be packed up and moved to another location!).

I am also determined to make this visit to the fair as low cost as possible. Here are a few things we plan to do to save money.

Pack a cooler. This is my go-to money saving technique and I mention it often. Although outside food won’t be allowed and you can’t carry your cooler in, it will be waiting for you in the car when you are finished with your fair visit. Cold drinks and snacks that the kids don’t normally get will be a nice surprise after you have told them no one hundred times.

Attend a free or discount day. Figure out which day saves you the most money and go then. *Confirm dates before heading to the fair!*

Kid’s Day – October 20 and 27 – “All kids 11 years and under will be admitted FREE to the Fairgounds from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Regular General Admission prices apply after 2 p.m.”
Ladies Day (October 23) or Men’s Day (October 25) – Ladies and Men of all ages “admitted FREE to the Fairgrounds from 4 to 6 p.m. General Admission applies from 6 p.m. to closing” on appropriate day.
Grand Opening Special – October 18 – “Adults and children admission will cost only $4.00! This price applies on this day only and is valid from opening to closing.”
Special Admission Family Day – October 28 – “There is a special $5 admission price for everyone and FREE to children 3 and under at all times. (Any Discounted admission tickets will count as ONE ADMISSION ONLY.)”
See other specials.

Do you and the kids ride the rides? Check out the handstamp specials.

Set a dollar limit before you go. My children aren’t big fans of the rides. They much prefer the games which add up very quickly. We will set a dollar limit before we leave and they will know exactly how much they are allowed to spend while we are there.

Eat before you go. Eating before you go will fill you up so you only pick the fair food that you really want!

What are your money savings tips for the Pensacola Interstate Fair?

Filed Under: Things to Do

Roy Hyatt Environmental Center Open House 2012

October 9, 2012 By Jen Leave a Comment

What: Open House; Where: Roy Hyatt Environmental Center; When: Saturday, October 13, 2012 from 10am to 2pm; Cost: FREE

Head out to the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center to visit for their annual open house. The event will be held on October 13, 2012 from 10am to 2pm. The event will include nature hikes, animal encounter, information booths and crafts for kids. There will be a silent auction and more. Bring an item from the wish list to help out if you would like but the event is FREE!

The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center is located at 1300 Tobias Road in Cantonment. See flyer for more details.

Filed Under: Things to Do

Fall Family Fun in Pensacola – October 2012

October 1, 2012 By Jen 2 Comments

I started adding events to the calendar this afternoon and realized that there is so much Fall Family Fun happening in our area. I decided to just create a post with the many different events, much like our Weekly Roundups. If you know of an event that we should add to the list please let me know.

As always, I recommend that you follow the links for more information and call ahead to confirm. Event information often changes!

October 2

Preschool Story Time @Southwest Branch and Century Branch

Preschool Story Time at Main Library

October 3

October 4

Oktoberfest 2012 – Perdido Key

October 5

Milton Rodeo

October 6

Peanut Festival

Milton Rodeo

6th Annual Blue Jeans & BBQ Family Festival

Santa Rosa County-Wide Healthy Start Baby Shower

Free Kid’s Fishing Tournament – Navarre Beach Pier

Coastal Encounters Open House at the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station

Home Depot Kids Clinic

Holland Farms Pumpkin Patch Customer Appreciation Day

October 7

Peanut Festival

October 8

October 9

Preschool Story Time at Southwest Branch and Century Branch

Preschool Story Time at Main Library

October 10

READ to Dogs – Navarre Library

October 11

October 12

Haystackular Friday Night Movie

Greek Festival

St. Rose of Lima International Fall Festival

5th Annual Monarch Madness Butterfly Festival

Oktoberfest – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Historic Pensacola Fall Festival 2012

October 13

St. Rose of Lima International Fall Festival

5th Annual Monarch Madness Butterfly Festival

Oktoberfest – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Depot Days at West Florida Railroad Museum

Munson Community Heritage Festival

Cambridge Farm’s Fall Fest

Lowes Build and Grow

READ to Dogs – Pace Library

Fall Festival – Gonzalez United Methodist

October 14

Greek Festival

Latino Festival

St. Rose of Lima International Fall Festival

Munson Community Heritage Festival

October 15

October 16

Preschool Story Time at Southwest and Century Branch

October 17

Preschool Story Time at Main Branch

October 18

October 19

Haystackular Friday Night Movie

Star Gazing Event

Gallery Night

Oktoberfest – St. Paul

October 20

Star Gazing Event

Halloween Carnival – Ballet Pensacola

Oktoberfest – St. Paul

October 21

October 22

October 23

Preschool Story Time at Southwest and Century Branch

October 24

Preschool Story Time at Main Branch

October 25

Madagascar 3 at Pensacola Blue Wahoos

October 26

Haystackular Friday Night Movie

October 27

Elberta German Sausage Festival

Spooktacular

Ghost of Milton Walking Tour

Lowes Build and Grow

October 28

Ghost of Milton Walking Tour

October 29

October 30

Preschool Story Time at Southwest and Century Branch

October 31

Sam’s Spooky City

Preschool Story Time at Main Library

Filed Under: Things to Do

Pensacola Seafood Festival

September 26, 2012 By Jen Leave a Comment

This weekend is the Pensacola Seafood Festival. The festival will be September 29-30. If I had to pick only one festival to attend during the year, it would probably be this one. I love wandering through the arts and crafts booths, eating great snacks, and then letting the kids visit the Children’s Festival.

Children can visit the children’s area in Bartram Park to enjoy fun-filled activities designed with them in mind. Fiesta will host the children’s area in Bartram Park, and will be open and will be open Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.Express your artistic side with hands-on crafts including sand art and and marble painting. Activities such as a rock climbing wall and jump houses will be on-site. Face painting will be available in Bartram Park and Seville Square.

Filed Under: Things to Do

2012 Corn and Hay Mazes in Pensacola and Surrounding Area

September 19, 2012 By Jen 3 Comments

This week there has been just a hint of what is to come in the air. September is here and fall will soon be here to stay. I absolutely love the fall on the Gulf Coast. When our northern neighbors are breaking out their winter coats and boots, we are enjoying the outdoors in a sweatshirt and jeans. It is the perfect time to get outdoors and explore as a family. One of our favorite activities is to visit a corn or hay maze each weekend until we have seen them all. My kids could spend hours running around the maze trying to find their way out.

*As always, we recommend that you follow the links or call ahead as dates and times can change.