Local Events, The New Year, and TSA Pre (updated)

Good morning, Pensacola. Wishing you a very merry Christmas. I noticed the “from” in our email header said “the crew” instead of Pensacola Bay Line. We wanted to send this post out again in case you missed it. We have fixed the issue.

We are looking forward to a great year ahead and are thankful for you. Please consider recommending our newsletter to one or two people who would enjoy it (pensacolabayline.com/subscribe). To clarify for our readers, teal colored text is clickable. Each one is a link for more details, or the source.

In today’s line:

— The Bay Line Crew

New Year Plan

I’ve been thinking about the new year and ran across a short video from Jesse Itzler on planning an incredible 2026 (Marquis jet, Hawks owner, Zico Coconut Water, married to Spanx founder). He recommends 3 steps:

Global Entry with TSA Pre

Pensacola International Airport will host its first Global Entry Enrollment Event January 19–23, 2026, giving local travelers a convenient way to complete required in-person interviews without leaving the area. I have been waiting for this because there is nowhere nearby to get this done.

Global Entry speeds up U.S. reentry for pre-approved travelers and includes TSA PreCheck at no extra cost. Membership is $120 for five years, and many credit cards reimburse the fee. There’s no minimum international travel requirement.

Applicants must be conditionally approved before scheduling an interview. Apply at ttp.dhs.gov, then select Pensacola International Airport when booking.

Blue Wahoos and Minor League Baseball

In a recent interview, Quint Studer — co-owner of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos — shared his thoughts on where minor league baseball is headed. As private equity continues buying up teams across the country, Studer has launched Community Baseball Partners, an effort focused on keeping teams locally guided and community-first. We can be confident the Wahoos are staying locally owned for the foreseeable future. His philosophy says it best:

Downtown Pensacola

In case you haven’t heard, the City is moving ahead with The New Palafox, a major refresh of Pensacola’s most iconic street. The project is focused on wider sidewalks, better drainage (a big one), improved crosswalks, more trees, and overall safer, more walkable space from Garden Street down to Main.

Construction is expected to start January 5, 2026 and wrap up before Memorial Day, with the city emphasizing that businesses will stay open the whole time. It’s one of those projects that may be a little inconvenient short-term, but should pay off long-term for downtown.

Bob Sikes Toll Plaza

According to Escambia County, construction is scheduled to begin in January 2026 and includes demolition of the current Bob Sikes Toll Plaza to build a new toll gantry with applicable toll-by-plate equipment, CCTV cameras, and new fiber optic communications.

Work is expected to take place between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; however, some work may also take place at night and on weekends as needed. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2026, weather permitting. May impact traffic delays.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They’re just the things you need to know. I’ll always let you know when something’s sponsored.

Pensacola Christmas Lights

On Facebook we found the above map. It is a little blurry because we could not find the original image, but hope it is a help. Also, on Reddit we found this Map detailing spots created by Mary Anne Christopher. Here is another similar map by Pensacola Lights.

Winterfest

Between December 24 and January 1, Pensacola stays festive even as some holiday events wind down. Pensacola Winterfest wraps up on Christmas Eve, December 24, marking the final night of its downtown trolley tours, character performances, and snow-filled Plaza Wonderland. It’s a great last chance to experience the classic holiday atmosphere downtown before Christmas Day.

First City Lights Festival

On Christmas Day, while most ticketed events pause, downtown Pensacola remains beautifully lit thanks to the First City Lights Festival, which continues through mid-January. Palafox Street and surrounding plazas are perfect for a quiet evening walk, photos, or a relaxed post-holiday stroll with family.

Pensacola Beach Fireworks

As the year winds down, New Year’s Eve becomes the main attraction. Pensacola Beach Fireworks light up the sky at midnight on December 31, drawing crowds to the boardwalk and Sound-side areas. Downtown Pensacola also hosts multiple New Year’s Eve celebrations at bars and music venues, offering everything from live bands to late-night parties.

Polar Bear Plunge

On New Year’s Day, the traditional Polar Bear Plunge at Pensacola Beach invites brave participants to kick off the year with a chilly dip into the Santa Rosa Sound. For everyone else, January 1 is ideal for beach walks, brunch, or enjoying holiday lights still glowing across Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Milton, and surrounding neighborhoods.

Ice Skating

Public ice skating is available around the holidays at the Pensacola Bay Center. It is a one-hour session and is $15 with skates or $12 if you own your own skates. Check their site for dates and times and to reserve a ticket.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They’re just the things you need to know. I’ll always let you know when something’s sponsored.

This week we focus on coffee with our friends at Covington Coffee Co.

There are a lot of coffee spots being built around town - almost catching up to car washes and storage facilities. Many of the recent additions are chains (7Brew, Dutch Bros, Scooters, Starbucks, Dunkin, etc.). I’ll gladly grab coffee from any coffee shop but wanted to highlight a few local coffee shops in and around Pensacola.

Pensacola Beach - The Local, 1591 Via De Luna Dr, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561. Little market plus coffee.

Gulf Breeze - Buenos Dias Cafe, 911 Gulf Breeze Pkwy B, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561. Grab a cafe con leche plus a full breakfast.

Pensacola and Cantonment - Mrs. Jones Cold Brew, 1449 W 9 Mile Rd Unit 17, Pensacola, FL 32534. There are a lot of great options in Pensacola we love but this is a spot you may not have visited.

Milton and Pace - Covington Mercantile & Coffee Co., 5675 US-90, Milton, FL 32583 or drive thru location at 3991 US-90, Pace, FL 32571. A great family owns this shop and they recently opened a drive through location.

December 24-27 -Rosie O’Grady’s Dueling Piano Show - Show starts at 8pm and goes on until 12 am Wednesday and 2am Thursday - Saturday. 18+ Thursdays only, otherwise 21+.

December 27 - Glenn Parker Band - Five Sisters Blues Cafe. 6pm-10pm

December 29 - Blues Society of Northwest Florida: Blues Night & Jam Session - - Lili Marlene’s @ Seville Quarter, typically around 7:00–11:00 p.m. — great for local blues fans and community players.

December 30 - Live Band Karaoke at Lili Marlene’s - “On Air” is free to attend and open to all who want to sing, cheer, or just enjoy the unique atmosphere of a truly immersive night out.

December 31 - Flora-Bama Annual New Year’s Eve Bash – 6:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m. at Flora-Bama Lounge. Triple-stage live music keeps the party going with food buffets, party favors, and a midnight toast. 21+ event, ticketed.

Midnight Masquerade New Year’s Eve – Perfect Plain Brewing Co. hosts an elegant celebration with DJ and live performance elements, aerialists, saxophone, and immersive entertainment (roughly 8:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m.).

Pensacola Symphony Orchestra: Celebrate the New Year! – 7:00 p.m. at Saenger Theatre. Classical/Big-Band style music with a Rat Pack tribute and orchestra performance — a more refined NYE option.

Thanks for being here.

We appreciate you taking the time to read the Pensacola Bay Line today.