Pensacola may be known for its sugar-sand beaches and turquoise waters, but every fall it’s the arts that take center stage. From October 30 to November 10, 2025, Foo Foo Fest returns for twelve days of music, theatre, visual art, and cultural surprises, transforming the city into a destination that’s equal parts gallery crawl, street party, and symphonic performance. For visitors from Mobile, it’s an easy getaway with a world-class lineup waiting just across the bay.
This year, Nashville shines in the spotlight with the world premiere of The Luck, a brand-new musical from The Lubben Brothers. Presented by PenArts, the folk trio of triplets brings their signature bluegrass-folk harmonies to the story of dreamers chasing fortune in the California Gold Rush. It’s a hidden gem that showcases the depth and originality Foo Foo Fest has become known for.
Music lovers will find no shortage of performances to keep the soundtrack rolling. Night Moves Music Fest brings indie favorites Japanese Breakfast and Dashboard Confessional, while the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra fills the historic Saenger Theatre with the soaring drama of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Pensacola Little Theatre shakes up Shakespeare with Somebody to Love, a psychedelic reimagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream set to the music of the 1960s. And for those who like their classics with a twist, Pensacola Opera stages Rock the Runway – Amped, where opera collides with high fashion in a spectacle of arias, models, and rock anthems performed by the White Tie Rock Ensemble.
But Foo Foo Fest is about more than marquee performances—it’s about the moments you don’t see coming. That spirit shines at HalloZine Festival, hosted by the 309 Punk Project, where visitors are invited into the DIY world of zines: the scrappy, hand-stitched booklets that have amplified outsider voices for generations. Workshops, live music, and local creators give audiences the chance to make and take home their own slice of analog creativity.
Equally rooted in community is Jazz for Justice, presented by Legal Services of North Florida. At Museum Plaza, the legendary Preservation Hall Brass Band fills the air with the unmistakable sounds of New Orleans while kids spin in the grass and grandparents dance along. Every note supports LSNF’s mission to provide civil legal aid across the region, proving that art here doesn’t just entertain—it uplifts.
That’s the magic of Foo Foo Fest. It’s not just about sitting in a theatre or walking through a gallery. It’s about wandering down a street and stumbling into a brass band parade, applauding opera in sequins, or paging through a zine hot off the press. It’s about discovery, surprise, and a city that has learned how to turn creativity into an open invitation.
With its mix of world-class talent and grassroots energy, Foo Foo Fest plays like the ultimate curated playlist—one that blends indie anthems, symphonic swells, punk spirit, and jazz rhythms. And yes, there’s even a Spotify playlist to carry the mood home.
This fall, Pensacola invites you to come “foo around” and see what you find. Whether it’s music, theatre, opera, or something you’ve never experienced before, you’ll discover more than performances—you’ll discover a city brimming with imagination, ready to surprise you at every turn. Learn more at FooFooFest.com
