With its white-sand beaches, fresh Gulf fare, and abundant Florida sunshine, Pensacola, Florida, checks every box for a classic coastal getaway. A nationally renowned naval aviation museum is another undisputed perk. But the Panhandle city boasts one more X factor, and that’s a thriving arts scene. Home to professional ballet and opera companies and best-in-class theater productions, Pensacola shines on the stage.
The city’s historic downtown has long charmed visitors with its brick-lined sidewalks, colorful building facades, and eclectic shops and restaurants. It’s here you’ll find the Clark Family Cultural Center, a former county jail and courthouse turned state-of-the-art theater that is nearing completion of a $7 million renovation. The center is home to Ballet Pensacola, the West Florida Literary Federation, and the beloved Pensacola Little Theatre, a nonprofit that has entertained audiences since 1936. Ballet Pensacola’s professional dancers also perform four major productions a year at the historic Saenger Theatre, once a star on the vaudeville circuit. For principal ballerina Hannah Holtsclaw Breen, performing at the Saenger is a job highlight: “The elegance and energy of the venue make every show special.”
