This week in Pensacola: Oct 2 – Oct 8

The Songwriters Festival owns this week. It wraps up downtown on Sunday and picks back up on the beach Thursday night, and most of it costs nothing.

Everything below is free unless it says otherwise. Times are what the organizers had posted as of Thursday, so check before you drive.

Bands on the Bayou — Bayview Park, by the Community Center. 4:30 PM. Free. Cowboy Park plays, with food trucks and local vendors. It's the last outdoor show of the year, so bring a lawn chair and get there early for a good spot.

Pickin' on the Porch — porch stages at 421 E. Zaragoza St. and 210 S. Alcaniz St., downtown. Sets from 1 to about 4 PM, Friday and Saturday. Free. Songwriters from the festival playing on front porches. Walk between the two.

Friday Night Funnies — Pensacola Comedy Club, Belmont-DeVilliers. 8 PM. Ten dollars. Stand-up hosted by Ryan Pfeiffer, with free parking next to the theater.

Lawnmower Races and Fish Fry — Santa Rosa County Fairgrounds, Milton. Races in the morning and afternoon, fried mullet plates from 11 to 2. Yes, racing lawnmowers. Go hungry.

Danetoberfest — Seville Square, downtown. 11 AM. The 10th year of this one. Rescue Great Danes, live music, food and local vendors. Bring a towel. You'll see why.

Navarre Fishing Rodeo — Juana's Pagoda, Navarre Beach. Saturday and Sunday. Bring your tackle.

Songwriters Festival Downtown Finale — Apple Annie's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 1 to 6 PM. Free. Sugarcane Jane opens at 1, then rounds of songwriters every hour, including Keith Burns, Anthony Smith and Jamie Floyd at 4. These are the people who wrote the songs you know, playing them in a room.

TOAST: A Tribute to Bread — Saenger Theatre, Palafox. 7 PM. Ticketed. "Make It With You," "If," "Baby I'm-a Want You." A soft rock night in the prettiest room downtown.

Bands on the Beach — Gulfside Pavilion, Casino Beach. 7 PM. Free. The Astronauts are playing. Bring a chair or a blanket. No pets, no glass. Three Tuesdays left after this one.

Downtown Pensacola Dessert Tour — starts at Bubba's Sweet Spot. 2:30 PM. A walking tour of sweet spots downtown. Come hungry.

Songwriters Festival on the Beach — Bamboo Willie's, Pensacola Beach. 7 PM. Free. Katie Dineen hosts the first night of the beach week, which runs through Sunday the 11th with shows all over the island. Full schedule at songwriterspensacolabeach.com.

Bubbles, Brews and Bites — Pensacola State College. 6 PM. Eighty dollars, or $275 for four. Walk-around tastings from local chefs.

Festa Italiana — Seville Square, downtown. Friday and Saturday, Oct 9 and 10, 11 AM to 6 PM both days. Free to get in. Homemade lasagna, meatball subs, cannoli and tiramisu, plus folk dancing and a kids' tent. It moved to Seville Square this year, so don't head to Fountain Park.

Every Thursday. Follow along on Instagram.