Good morning, Pensacola.

Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare is hosting a Home for the Holidays event with free adoptions for all dogs and cats one year or older from Nov 26 to Dec 30—residents pay a $15 licensing fee while fees for younger puppies and kittens are $50 and $25 respectively.

The event runs at the Animal Welfare and Adoption Center at 200 W. Fairfield Drive during regular hours with adoptions from Dec 1 to Dec 15 sponsored by the BISSELL Pet Foundation.

More than 300 north Escambia County families received a Thanksgiving meal after the Cantonment Rotary Club spent $16,000 on food from Publix—volunteers sorted and boxed the food at Wild Lake Church before distributing it at sites including Carver Park.

The event took place Wednesday morning amid increasing need in the community.

The Miracle League of Pensacola is frying turkeys today for public Thanksgiving meals at a local facility—residents can pick up their orders before the holiday.

Residents in Ensley North will join a neighborhood cleanup on Dec.

3 to dispose of items such as old furniture, appliances, and household waste free of charge. Only those living in the designated cleanup area—who have received a postcard—can participate, and all items must be placed at the curb by 7 a.m.

AFP West Florida Chapter honored eight honorees at the Museum of Commerce on November 20th with the National Philanthropy Day Awards—recognizing their work in business, faith, volunteerism and youth leadership.

The awards celebrated generous contributions of time, talent and resources that transform the community.

A United Airlines flight was diverted to Mobile after a disabled aircraft with a landing gear malfunction blocked Pensacola Airport’s only working runway on November 26—airport officials said no one was hurt and all runways are now open despite ongoing delays from repaving the other runway.

Today, many major retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Best Buy will be closed on Thanksgiving while some convenience and essential stores, including CVS + Walgreens and Family Dollar, operate with reduced hours.

Bass Pro Shops will be open today from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. while 24-hour chains like Wawa remain available for last-minute needs.

Festive holiday events are scheduled for Friday, November 28 across Northwest Florida to start the Christmas season.

Pensacola will host the Elf Parade starting at 2 p.m. downtown after a 12:30 p.m. line-up on Government Street at Palafox Street—Navarre will hold a tree lighting at 5:25 p.m. with live music and treats, and Fort Walton Beach will run its annual Light up the Night event at 5 p.m. with caroling and Santa reading a story.

This week, the article shows how local shoppers can explore holiday gift markets and retail events away from big box stores with offers from the Downtown Improvement Board.

It also explains that Project Maeve’s $250-million shipbuilding plan could boost the Port’s role in our local economy — and offers a look at holiday movie highlights.

The University of West Florida’s Argo Pantry moved into the larger Dean of Students Office space last year and now offers more access to food for students, with 187 to 240 weekly visits recorded.

Care services coordinator Lindsey Smith said the program will soon add three to four Argo Pods on campus—letting students grab essentials even outside regular hours.

Florida Lotto drawings on Wednesday, Nov.

26 set a $2 million jackpot after no ticket matched all six numbers, while a Circle K win on Nov. 15 brought in $3.75 million. The next drawing is on Saturday, Nov. 29 — players pick 6 numbers from 1 to 53 with a 1 in 22,957,480 chance to win.

Pensacola International Airport is addressing high holiday travel demand by using overflow parking—officials said five of seven lots are full and extra fixes are in place.

The airport will expand parking options by doubling a new lot's capacity and enlarging the parking garage to cut future congestion.

Dr. Christopher Ellington at Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola uses a single anesthesia dual robotic lung biopsy and resection to diagnose and remove lung cancer in one procedure—he has done it more than a dozen times to reduce recovery time.

Patients like 74-year-old Scott Searcy recovered in days and avoided extra trips to the hospital, marking an important step in lung cancer care during Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

Birmingham Bulls vs. Pensacola Ice Flyers

6:05-7:35 p.m. — Pensacola Bay Center — Check FloHockey to catch the action with the Birmingham Bulls taking on your local Ice Flyers.

Fall Pensacola Outdoor Community Flea Market Extravaganza

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park — $2 entry, kids free — Declutter or shop at this vibrant community flea market with food trucks on site.

Noche Tropical – Latin Night

7-9 p.m. — Phineas Phogg's — Special drink offers available — Enjoy a vibrant night of Latin dances and a lively DJ set in downtown Pensacola.

Holiday Shopping Soirée for Childhood Cancer Research

4-10 p.m. — 220 W Garden St, Pensacola, FL — Free entry — Kick off the holiday season while supporting childhood cancer research with local shopping and festive fun.

Pensacola Downtown Holiday Market

10 AM – 5 PM — Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park — $5 Entry — A festive market featuring local vendors, food trucks, live music, and holiday cheer for all ages.

Saint Nick Photoshoot

2-6 p.m. — Coastal County Brewing — Photo session fees apply — Capture festive memories with Santa Claus in a brewery setting this holiday season.

Huntsville Havoc vs. Pensacola Ice Flyers

6:05-7:35 p.m. — Pensacola Bay Center — Ticket prices vary — Cheer on the Ice Flyers as they take on the Havoc during College Night festivities.

Pensacola Children's Chorus Concert

6:30 – 8:00 PM — Saenger Theatre Pensacola — Ticketed event — Experience an enchanting evening with talented young vocalists showcasing their musical artistry.

Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl in Pensacola

4-9 p.m. — Vinyl Music Hall — Tickets required — Wear your ugliest holiday sweater for a festive evening filled with games, contests, and cheer.

Paws for the Clause - Ugly Sweater Pup Paw-ty

2-6 p.m. — Coastal County Brewing — Free entry — Celebrate the season with your pups in festive ugly sweaters and enjoy a day of fun, treats, and community cheer.