October is when Navarre Beach settles into its easiest rhythm. Summer crowds have gone home, the sound is calm most mornings, and the local calendar fills with the kind of small, community events that make a fall visit feel like you live here. If you are planning a stay this month, here is what is on the calendar in Navarre and nearby Pensacola, week by week, so you can build a trip around the days that matter most to your group.
Saturday, October 3: Take a Kid Fishing at the Navarre Beach Pier
The month opens with one of the sweetest traditions on the island. Take a Kid Fishing is a fishing clinic for children 12 and under, held at the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier. Families sign up for either the 8:30 or 9:30 AM timeslot, and the organizers say the first 200 children registered receive a fishing pole and bag to take home. Registration and the current fee are listed on the event website, and early sign up is the best way to make sure your young angler gets a rod.
If the kids catch the bug, our guide to fishing the Navarre Beach Pier covers what to expect on the pier itself.
The same day, St. Sylvester Catholic Church in Navarre hosts its International Fest, which the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce describes as food from more than a dozen countries along with family fun. It is an easy way to turn a fishing morning into a full day out.
Saturday, October 10: Run for the Reef and the Navarre Beach Car Show
18th Annual Run for the Reef 10K and 5K
Early risers can join the 18th Annual Run for the Reef, which starts at 7:30 AM at Windjammers on the Pier. The event includes a 10K run, a 5K run or walk, and a one mile Kids Fun Run, on an out and back course along Gulf Boulevard. Race day registration opens at 6:00 AM.
What makes this race special is where the money goes. It benefits the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary, the snorkeling and diving reefs just off the beach. If you have not explored them yet, our snorkeler’s guide to the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary explains why they are worth a visit.
26th Annual Navarre Beach Car, Truck and Bike Show
Later that morning, the 26th Annual Navarre Beach Car Show fills the Navarre High School parking lot at 8600 High School Boulevard. The show is presented by Pirates on the Panhandle, a local nonprofit, with live music from The Blue Levee Band. For anyone in your group who loves classic cars, it is an easy, relaxed morning on the mainland side of the bridge.
Sunday, October 11: Charity Chili Cook-Off and Volleyball on the Beach
Caring and Sharing of South Santa Rosa County is teaming up with Juana’s Pagodas to present the 33rd Annual Charity Chili Cook-Off and Volleyball Tournament. According to the organizers’ media advisory, it is the group’s largest annual fundraiser, and the money raised buys non-perishable food for local families during the holiday season. Expect chili, salsa, volleyball and a raffle right on Navarre Beach.
One note: the Chamber calendar shows this event on two different dates, but the organizers’ own announcement names Sunday, October 11. Check with Juana’s Pagodas before you go.
October 16, 17, 23 and 24: Fear Forest of Navarre
For older kids and grown ups who enjoy a good scare, the Fear Forest of Navarre is a haunted trail at the Community of Christ, 2111 Presidio Street. It runs from 6 to 10 PM on two October weekends. Admission is a can of non-perishable food per person or a donation, which supports local food donations. The organizers note that the line is cut off at 10 PM and that it gets crowded, so arriving early is wise.
October 22 to November 1: Pensacola Interstate Fair
The Pensacola Interstate Fair returns for eleven days at the fairgrounds at 6655 West Mobile Highway in Pensacola. The fair promises more than 50 rides, live entertainment, agricultural and livestock exhibits and plenty of fair food. Ticket prices, daily discounts and hours are posted on the fair’s website as opening day approaches, so check there for current details before you drive over.
October 29 to November 1: Taste of the Beach on Pensacola Beach
The month closes with a food lover’s weekend. The Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce is moving Taste of the Beach to Halloween weekend this year and expanding it to four days, with a sunset cruise on Thursday, a VIP trolley dinner on Friday and a new Sunday brunch trolley.
The centerpiece is the free, family friendly festival on Saturday, October 31, from 10 AM to 4 PM at Casino Beach’s Gulfside Pavilion. Signature dishes from 16 Pensacola Beach restaurants are on offer, along with live music, hermit crab races and kids’ cooking classes. If you enjoyed our look at the Pensacola Seafood Festival, this is its natural fall sequel.
Quiet Days in Between
The best part of an October stay is often the unscheduled time between events. Early mornings on Santa Rosa Sound are a lovely time for a paddle or a slow walk along the shoreline. Fall is also mullet run season on the sound. Our guide to the fall mullet run explains what to look for.
A few simple tips for planning around the calendar:
- Register early for anything with limited spots, like Take a Kid Fishing and Run for the Reef.
- Pick one mainland or Pensacola outing per few days and leave the rest of your time for the beach.
- Check each organizer’s website the week of the event, since times and details can change.
Stay on the Sound This October
Stella Maris sits on the sound side of Navarre Beach, with five bedrooms, each with its own ensuite bath, room for 14 guests, and private beach access. After a morning at the pier or an afternoon at the fair, it is a peaceful place to come home to, with sunrise and sunset both visible from the property and paddleboards ready for the calm water out front.
If an October escape sounds right for your family, you can check dates and book your stay at Stella Maris here. Be still and relax. The calendar will be waiting when you are ready for it.