Downtown Improvement Board
Celebrating Pensacola's Black Owned Businesses
Posted: Feb 14, 2023 5:47 PMUpdated: Feb 14, 2023 6:15 PM
February is Black History Month, a month to honor the victories and struggles of African Americans throughout United States history.Black History Month originated from Dr. Carter G. Woodson, an American author and founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. The celebration was introduced as Negro History Week in 1926 in February, recognizing the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. During the Black Awakening and Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, Americans became more aware of the importance of black history. By 1976, the celebration of black history expanded into a month and became nationally recognized. In honor of Black History Month, Downtown Pensacola wants to recognize a black woman owned vendor of the Palafox Market, Dacia Woodley. Robbie&China Confectionery is owned by Dacia Woodley, an artist in the kitchen. She is an Army wife and mother who fell in love with baking in the fall of 2018. After much praise from friends and family, she began her business in April 2019. At the Palafox Market, the Robbie&China Confectionery offers a wide variety of baked goods. Some favorites include macaroons, cupcakes, and cookie sandwiches, nicknamed “sammies''. Custom cakes and cookies are also available upon ordering in advance from her website. Come taste the Robbie&China confections at the Palafox Market on Saturdays from 9am-2pm. Look for vendor number 114!
Palafox Market celebrates Mardi Gras with a special Mardi Gras Market Feb. 11
Posted: Jan 25, 2023 3:42 PMUpdated: Jan 25, 2023 3:42 PM
Pensacola Mardi Gras and Palafox Market will collaborate for a special event to celebrate the beginning of the 2023 Mardi Gras season. On Saturday, Feb. 11 from 9am-2pm, the award-winning Palafox Market will transform into Mardi Gras Market, fully equipped with purple, green and gold celebration necessities. All 90 krewes as well as the entire community can shop for Mardi Gras-themed goods during the special market, held just one week before the Grand Mardi Gras parade marches through downtown Pensacola. Mardi Gras Market is located on Palafox Street, stretching from Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza to Garden Street. Vendors at the Mardi Gras Market will show off their celebratory creativity with Mardi Gras themed home decor, baked goods, shirts, jewelry, soaps, pet goods and more. 
Palafox Market Holiday Edition—Wednesday Evenings!
Posted: Nov 17, 2022 11:15 PMUpdated: Nov 17, 2022 11:15 PM
The ever-popular Palafox Market is offering the public something entirely new for the holidays.For the first time in its 15-year history, the year-round Saturday market will add four successive Wednesday evenings from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. into the schedule. The Palafox Market Holiday Edition dates are Nov. 30, Dec. 7th, 14th and 21st.For this special holiday event, the market’s traditional three-block North Palafox site between Garden and Wright streets will be scaled down to just one block between Garden and Chase streets.Palafox Market manager Emily Kopas says more than 50 vendors have signed up for the Wednesday holiday market.Live music will add to the festivities, she adds, and the Grinch is scheduled to make a special appearance. Streetlights, holiday lights decorating the trees and lighting provided by the vendors will illuminate the market site during the dark evening hours.“This was an idea that was brought to us by a few Palafox Market vendors who wanted the opportunity to feature specific products geared toward the holidays,” says Walker Wilson, executive director of the Downtown Improvement Board. “We see this as an opportunity – just like the regular Palafox Market does on Saturdays – to bring people downtown during the middle of the week to shop the Market, then do some shopping at some of the other retail stores and also grab dinner and drinks later at a downtown restaurant or bar,” Wilson adds.
Daily prizes and a $1,000 shopping spree from downtown Pensacola this holiday season!
Posted: Oct 26, 2022 2:31 PMUpdated: Nov 17, 2022 11:18 PM
With special shopping incentives, 4,000 “bubbles” in the sky and half a million holiday lights all launching in early November, it’s beginning to feel like that special time of year in Downtown Pensacola.And beginning November 9th, every time shoppers at the unique boutiques and curated shops, bars and restaurants in Downtown Pensacola make a $10 purchase this holiday season, they can earn an opportunity to win a daily prize from a downtown merchant AND a $1,000.00 Visa® gift card to enjoy even more downtown shopping and fun.The "All I Want" holiday giveaway will run through midnight, Dec. 18 and prizes will begin on Dec. 19.  Shoppers may upload their receipts from participating businesses and get one chance to win $1000 for every $10 they spend at participating downtown businesses. For the official rules, visit www.downtownpensacola.com/AllIWant.PHOTO: Laura Bogan
Costumes, candy, and Pumpkinhead transform Palafox Market into ‘Halloween Market’ Oct. 29
Posted: Oct 13, 2022 7:26 PMUpdated: Oct 13, 2022 7:26 PM
Children are encouraged to dress in their most outrageous costumes for a special “Halloween Market” edition of the Palafox Market on Saturday, Oct. 29th. Vendor booths will be decorated for the autumn holiday, offering candy to trick-or-treaters. Kids can get their faces painted for awesome Halloween selfie opportunities. And candy prizes will be awarded in a costume contest and a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt. This year, in addition to the sweet treats, two of Winterfest’s iconic characters, Pumpkinhead and the ever-grumpy Grinch, will be on hand to mingle with fans. Palafox Market, coordinated by the Downtown Improvement Board (DIB), is staged in Martin Luther King, Jr., Plaza, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. As many as 8,000 people meander along the plaza’s red brick walkway on the busiest of days. “We are excited to bring back the Halloween Market to Downtown Pensacola,” said Emily Kopas, DIB chief operating officer. Palafox Market vendors have already begun to buzz in anticipation for the fun, family-oriented activities and harvest products in store for customers who visit the Halloween Market.” The market features up to 200 local vendors ranging from farmers and bakers to artists and craftsmen and women. All the items available at Palafox Market are grown, created or produced within 100 miles of Pensacola. While the market is open year-round, fresh produce is available according to local farmers’ growing seasons. Fresh veggies and fruits likely to be in season at Halloween include locally harvested arugula, oyster mushrooms, collard greens, radishes, carrots and apples. Shoppers will also find plants, baked goods, local honey, cut flowers, pet treats, spices, many different kinds of art and handmade goods and lots more.  The “Halloween Market” is a great opportunity to snap up unique fall décor and start holiday shopping. Entertainment at the market is provided by the String Farm bluegrass band near the MLK bust.