Downtown Pensacola kicks off its seven-week holiday season on Wednesday, November 4. Santa arrives at the Pensacola Museum of History at 3:30 PM for photos until 4:45 PM, and the 5 PM ceremony lights more than half a million holiday lights along Palafox Street. Winterfest's mini-train circles Plaza Ferdinand from 5 PM to 8 PM while the first Palafox Market Holiday Edition runs there from 4 PM to 8 PM.
Before you go
- Arrive by 3:30 PM if you want Santa photos at the Pensacola Museum of History, which run until 4:45 PM.
- Stay for the lighting ceremony at 5 PM, then walk Palafox Street to see the lights.
- Park free at the South Jefferson Street and Commendencia Street lot, or use City of Pensacola spaces at $1 per hour.
What we checked, and when
Read off the venue's own page on 2026-10-02.
No admission price is published. City of Pensacola parking is $1 per hour, with free parking at the South Jefferson Street and Commendencia Street lot and select lots along North Palafox Street.
Not confirmed: The price. The venue publishes none, so neither do we.
Santa's arrival depends on the weather.
The Palafox Market Holiday Edition is in Plaza Ferdinand only on this first night, then moves to MLK Jr. Plaza on Wednesday evenings through December 16.
Where this came from
- downtownpensacola.com: “The fun starts at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 4, when Santa arrives downtown in front of the grand Christmas tree at the Pensacola Museum of History (weather permitting).”
- downtownpensacola.com: “At 5 p.m., the Downtown Improvement Board, with support from ParkPensacola and the Saenger Theatre, will illuminate more than a half-million holiday lights along Palafox Street and beyond.”
- downtownpensacola.com events calendar: “Downtown Pensacola Holiday Lighting Ceremony”