The life and impressive career of a Pensacola man who made U.S. Military history, Daniel “Chappie” James Jr., is still being honored today. James was born on February 11, 1920 in Pensacola, growing up in a home located just north of the downtown district at 1608 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. The home is now listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

Genvieve Ham was a former slave who earned her freedom, and for the remainder of her life lived in Pensacola as a free woman of color. She is listed in the 1820 Census of Pensacola as a Pardo (a person of mixed racial ethnicity). A talented seamstress, she prospered—buying property, building a home, and furnishing it with an extensive inventory of furniture and housewares. She also purchased Zelina, a domestic slave, as her servant. 

The good times are rolling in Downtown Pensacola with Pensacola Mardi Gras. Grab your beads, masks and all things purple, gold and green and get ready to celebrate Carnival. Mardi Gras celebrations are taking place throughout the month of February and the weekend before Fat Tuesday, you can check out three back-to-back celebrations featuring colorful floats, lights and music. So grab your bag, and get ready to stock up on moon pies, candy and lots and lots of beads. 

From January 2-5, the 2020 Pensacola Indie Fringe and Comedy Festival will bring lots of laughter for Pensacola’s first ever comedy festival. Presented by the Indie Art Council Pensacola, this is a dynamic gathering of comedy legends and stars such as Gilbert Gottfried, Donnell Rawlings and Orny Adams along with many others. Pensacola’s premiere comedy festival will feature stand-up, improv, sketch comedy, films, stage productions and comedy workshops across four days of comedic revelry in many entertaining forms. More than just a comedy festival, the 2020 Indie Fringe and Comedy Festival offers a truly hilarious opportunity to laugh, reflect, educate and laugh some more with the festival’s impressive variety of comically crafted, local and one-of-a-kind comedic materials.

'Tis the season of giving, and if you’re still looking for that perfect, thoughtful gift for your loved ones, look no further. Downtown Pensacola contains a myriad of local boutiques, galleries, restaurants, bars, fitness spots and more. And best of all, if you submit your downtown receipts to downtownpensacola.com/alliwant before Dec. 23, you could win $1,000 to spend downtown! What are you waiting for?