Pensacola Pelican Drop, Pensacola, FL

The ONLY way to ring in the new year!

by Emily Farrington Smith | December 12, 2011

So, get this: the Pensacola Pelican Drop celebration to ring in 2012 is the biggest free NYE celebration on the coast!! This is going to be one seriously great night.

Growing up, we always tried to go to events like this in North Carolina, but it was so bitterly cold. I’m totally excited to experience a New Year’s Eve celebration that doesn’t involve frostbite or the threat of hypothermia. Hooray for coastal living!

The party starts in historic downtown Pensacola at 5:00pm with a special early countdown at 8:00pm for the kids who can’t make it ‘til midnight, plus lots of fun activities like face painting and games. And for the adults, there will be live music on three stages, lots of food, and the famous countdown with fireworks at midnight.

Then, imagine this: a fourteen-foot tall, twenty-foot wide lit Pelican descends from what one can only assume is the heavens. The ball in Times Square ain’t got nothin’ on us. This event is always hugely popular; there are rumors that over 25,000 may be in attendance for the countdown alone.

So, here are a few rules:

Arrive early if you want the best view of the Pelican Drop. Some people even stake their spot claims as early as 5:00pm
The local bars and restaurants will be open to buy food and drinks, as well as vendors on the street. No coolers.
Be ready for crowds.
No animals, save for service animals, are allowed at this event.
And, probably most importantly, be patient and have a sense of humor. As the Downtown Improvement Board says, “Your feet will get stomped on. People will block your view. Someone is bound to bump into you. Keep your cool and you (and those around you) will enjoy the New Year’s Even Pelican Drop.”

Sounds good to me. See you there!