Festivals in Northwest Florida February Events Calendar 2012The Festivals in Northwest Florida February Events Calendar for 2012 is more than Valentine's Day dinners and candy hearts. It's about Mardi Gras parades, gumbo cook-offs, and African American history celebrations.This month, when a groundhog dictates the weather to the rest of the country, we can get outdoors and enjoy warm sunshine, hiking, biking, playing a round of golf and beachcombing. Then it's time to enjoy "wintery" foods like gumbo and chili, especially when someone else is doing the cooking. As usual, there's so much going on, it's hard to keep up. So, are we missing something? If you have an item you think should be on the 2012 Festivals in Northwest Florida February Events Calendar, you can submit it right here. Be sure to put the event title, date, time, location and if there is a cost. Also, if you see something that isn’t correct, please Contact me. I'm only human and mistakes are easily made, so please let me know about it so I can fix it. Meanwhile, browse through this list of events and festivals in Northwest Florida and enjoy. Note: All times listed on the Festivals in Northwest Florida February Events Calendar for 2012 are U.S. Central Time Zone unless otherwise indicated. 
Panama City Mardi Gras FestivalDate: February 3 & 4, 2012 Hours: Friday 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturday Festival 12 noon to 10:00 p.m., Parade at 3:00 p.m. Where: McKenzie Park in downtown Panama City Cost: Free More Information: Call 850-913-8383 or visit Krewe of Massalina It's Mardi Gras in Panama City! Sponsored by the Krewe of Massalina, this two-day festival includes a Friday night block party, a Saturday afternoon parade, live music, arts and crafts, and fun for the whole family. 
22nd Annual Chili CompetitionDate: February 4, 2012 Hours: 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Where: Santa Rosa Mall, 300 Mary Esther Blvd., Fort Walton Beach Cost: $.50 a bowl More Information: Call 850-243-0315 Sample chili until you can't eat any more as contenders vie for bragging rights as the area's best chili cook. 
Mardi Gras Parade Date: February 4, 2012 Hours: 2:00 p.m. Where: Harborwalk Village, Destin Cost: Free More Information: Call 850-424-0600 Enjoy dazzling floats, colorful costumes, street performers, and float riders tossing colorful beads! Stay and enjoy live music on the Main Stage after the parade. 
15th Annual St Andrews Mardi Gras Parade & FestivalDate: February 10 & 11, 2012 Hours: Friday 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Where: Historic St. Andrews in Panama City Cost: Free More Information: Call 850-763-7359 or visit St. Andrews Mardi Gras Fest Celebrate Mardi Gras by "Puttin' on the Ritz" with the Krewe of St. Andrews and the SAMGFest. This family-friendly two-day festival is the oldest and largest Mardi Gras celebration in Northwest Florida and includes a Kids Parade & Mardi Gras Pet Parade on Friday at 4:00 p.m. and the Annual Grande Parade at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Over 100 vendors offer cajun and other foods and eight stages fill with live music and entertainment. 
Pensacola Black History Arts Festival & ExpoDate: February 10-12, 2012 Hours: Friday 6:00 p.m., Saturday 12 noon to 6:00 p.m., Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Where: Historic Belmont and Devilliers, Pensacola Cost: Free More Information: Visit Truth for Youth This year's theme is "Images in Black" as the festival kicks off in the Historic Belmont distric in Pensacola. this three-day family-friendly event includes a guest speaker on Friday, Soul Music, Gospel music, food, arts, live performances, a young people's art contest, children's activities, and a chili cook-off. 
Mardi Gras on the IslandDate: February 11, 2012 Hours: 11:00 a.m. Where: Santa Rosa Boulevard, Okaloosa Island, Fort Walton Beach Cost: Free More Information: Call 850-244-8191 or visit Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce Let the good times roll at the annual Mardi Gras on the Island Parade. Catch beads and other goodies and have the most fun this side of New Orleans. 
Mardi Gras at the Beach!Date: February 17 & 18, 2012 Hours: Friday 12 noon to 10:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Where: Pier Park, Panama City Beach Cost: Free More Information: Visit Mardi Gras at the Beach Join the Krewe of Dominique Youx and celebrate Mardi Gras on the streets Pier Park. There'll be pirates, parades and lots of Mardi Gras beads and colorful costumes, along with entertainment and food vendors. Spend the day Saturday. The Parade starts at 2:00 p.m. and fireworks on the beach at 8:00 p.m. followed by live music. 
Pensacola Mardi GrasDate: February 17 & 18, 2012 Hours: Friday 8:00 p.m., Saturday 2:00 p.m. Where: Parades begin at Spring & Garden Streets, Pensacola Cost: Free More Information: Visit Pensacola Mardi Gras One of the country's original Mardi Gras celebration sites, Pensacola hosts several parades over this weekend. The Krewe of Lafitte Mardi Gras Parade is Pensacola's only illuminated nighttime parade, filled with lots of lighted floats and Mardi Gras fun. The family-friendly Grand Mardi Gras Parade offers traditional bead-tossing, marching bands and colorful costumes and floats. 
The 9th Annual African-American History FestivalDate: February 17-19, 2012 Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) Where: Franklin Square on 6th Street, Apalachicola Cost: Free More Information: Call 850-653-7515 or visit Hillside Coalition Of Laborers for Apalachicola The 9th Annual African American History Festival, sponsored by the Hillside Coalition Of Laborers for Apalachicola, Inc, celebrates African American history, art, and culture and features a parade, exhibits, music, entertainment, food and inspiration. 
14th Annual Mexico Beach Gumbo Cook-Off Date: February 18, 2012 Hours: 10:00 a.m. until gumbo is gone Where: Sunset Park, Mexico Beach Cost: $1 per taste More Information: Call the Mexico Beach Community Development Center at 850-648-8196 or visit Mexico Beach Take all the Festivals in Northwest Florida February events and toss them into one big pot on the beach and you've got the Mexico Beach Gumbo Cook-Off. Celebrate Mardi Gras and the food that goes with it at this Gumbo Festival with beads, live music, and lots of gumbo and stew. There will also be BBQ and beverages available for purchase as area cooks battle it out to see who makes the best gumbo. 
23rd Annual Sandestin Gumbo FestivalDate: February 18, 2012 Hours: 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. Where: The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Sandestin Cost: $15 in advance, $25 at the door More Information: Call 850-267-8110 or visit Sandestin Gumbo Festival Live Cajun music, delicious cooking seminars and home-made gumbo soup served by Gulf Coast restaurants and businesses make this one of the top gumbo festivals around. Vote for your favorites in the People's Choice Awards. 
Southeast Regional Pig Fest BBQ Cook-off, Music and Arts FestivalDate: February 18 & 19, 2012 Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) Where: North Florida Fairgrounds, Tallahassee Cost: Adults $6, Children (ages 6 to 12) $3, Children 5 and under free More Information: Call 850-222-2043 or visit Capital Area Community Action Agency BBQ Competition, Arts and Crafts Fair, Music Festival, it's all here at the Southeast Regional Pig Fest. Saturday features BBQ and foot-stomping music. The Florida BBQ Association sanctioned competition offers $8,000 in cash prizes to BBQ Cookoff winners who are then qualified to enter the Jack Daniel World Championship in Lynchburg, Kentucky. Both Days feature an Arts and Crafts marketplace, kids’ zone, great food, and vendors that include Arts and Crafts, country market and food concessions.
Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday Street PartyDate: February 21, 2012 Hours: 7:00 p.m. to midnight Where: Downtown Pensacola Cost: Free More Information: Visit Pensacola Mardi Gras Have the last "hurrah" before Lent in downtown Pensacola. Palafox and Government Streets will host the biggest Mardi Gras Street Party this side of Bourbon Street. South Palafox to Government and from Government to Tarragona will be closed off for the night's festivities! Do you know of any Northwest Florida festival or event we've missed?
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