The Elf Parade opens the downtown Pensacola holiday season on the Friday after Thanksgiving, with a costume contest, wagons and groups marching through the Palafox area. Families line up at Government Street and Palafox Place at 12:30 PM, judging is at 1:25 PM and the parade steps off at 2:00 PM. Winterfest evening tours start the same night, so the parade and a tour fit into one trip.
Before you go
- Line up at Government Street and Palafox Place by 12:30 PM if you are marching
- Costume contest judging is at 1:25 PM and the parade starts at 2:00 PM
- Stay downtown for Plaza Wonderland snow and music that evening
- Book a Winterfest tour separately if you want one
What we checked, and when
Read off the venue's own page on 2026-09-29.
Winterfest states that attending or joining the Elf Parade on Black Friday is free. Winterfest trolley tours that evening are ticketed and priced separately.
Not confirmed: A military rate. We searched and the venue publishes none. That is not the same as there being none, so it is worth asking.
Evening Winterfest tours are ticketed and separate from the parade.
Downtown parking fills early on parade day.