If you've lived in Pensacola for any amount of time, then you have probably visited downtown Pensacola for the once monthly Gallery Night event. Gallery Night provides an opportunity to enjoy wandering up and down a closed Palafox Street with a beverage of choice in hand. Extended downtown business hours also provide an extra chance to visit the unique shops that Pensacola has to offer. People watching is also a favorite activity of many to partake in during Gallery Night. This is especially true on the nights that fall on the same weekend as Pensacon when we get to admire the hard work put into the outfits by locals and visitors that are in town for the event. This weekend often brings television and movie stars, though the only one I've ever been able to spot was that one guy from "The Walking Dead."
The art galleries that call downtown Pensacola home were the intended beneficiary of Gallery Nights. Throughout the few years of the existence of Gallery Night, the benefit has shifted to the restaurants and bars. The revival of Downtown Pensacola has been tremendous in the recent years, and Gallery Night has served its purpose of drawing attention to that. In April of this year, the PNJ first reported this story and told us that September 2016 would be the last Gallery Night that downtown would see, citing many reasons to end the "street-party" the most obvious reason being the cost to the Downtown Improvement Board (DIB).
Being a 20-something and a Pensacola resident, Gallery Night has been a must-attend event for many friends, acquaintances and myself over the past few years. We've enjoyed each and every Gallery Night that we have attended and will certainly do so for the last two. The dates for the last two Gallery Nights are scheduled for August 19 and September 16. The DIB has said that if another group would like to sponsor Gallery Night it would be allowed.
Pensacola losing Gallery Night is certainly not good news and it does not get much better with the cancellation of the Pensacola New Year's Eve Pelican Drop. The Pelican Drop has been an event in Downtown Pensacola to celebrate the New Year since 2008. The New Year celebration is held each year at the corner of Garden and Palafox Street as crowds watch a 14-foot-tall Pelican descend to countdown to the New Year. This celebration of the New Year is unlike any other and will certainly be missed in Pensacola.
With the cancellation of two major Pensacola events, we are left to wonder what the DIB will bring as a replacement. The statements that have been given to announce these cancellations have included the promise to bring something new and exciting to our area. Personally, I don't think an event held 12 times per year can be much better than Gallery Night. So if anyone has $8,500 that they would like to donate each month to keep this celebration going, well I will support you wholeheartedly!
