Here are the best verified picks for this week — Wednesday, August 12 through Sunday, August 16:

Wednesday, Aug. 12

• Little Stranger — Alt-indie/hip-hop show with Tropidelic, Jarv and Damn Skippy. Doors 7 p.m.; show 8 p.m. at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets start at $37.96; all ages. Details/tickets via Vinyl.
• Draw Together Drawing Club — A free, all-ages drawing meetup; supplies provided. 5 p.m. at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Event listing
• O’Riley’s College Night — DJ, Wrighteous Eats food truck, and drink specials with valid college ID. 8 p.m. at O’Riley’s Uptown Tavern, 3728 Creighton Rd. (850) 474-0522. Details

Thursday, Aug. 13

• Steve Forbert with Anthony Crawford and Savanna Lee — Live at 6 p.m. at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Event details

Friday, Aug. 14

• Cinemas in the Sand: Goat — A free family movie after sunset at Gulfside Pavilion, 20 Casino Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. Bring beach chairs or a blanket; this is my pick for a low-cost, kid-friendly Friday night. Beach event details
• Katie Dineen Album Release Show — With Logan Pilcher and Tanner Lee Gray, 6 p.m. at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Event details

Saturday, Aug. 15

• Alabama Live in Concert, with Exile — 7 p.m. at the Pensacola Bay Center. This is the week’s biggest ticketed concert; buy ahead rather than expecting a walk-up seat. Ticketmaster details
• Electric Garden — Music, vendors, local artists and immersive experiences beginning noon at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. GA and VIP options. Event details
• Lights, Camera, Sharks!—Jaws 2 legacy event — Family-friendly shark education, local Jaws 2 filming stories, and a live sand sculpture. 10 a.m. at Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, 8740 Gulf Blvd., Navarre. Event details
• Jackson’s and Julia — Julia Child birthday dinner features starting 5 p.m. at Jackson’s Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox St. A good special-occasion choice; reservations are smart. Event details
• OMGITSWICKS & Friends — Comedy show and included meet-and-greet, 6 p.m. at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre. Tickets/details

Through Sunday, Aug. 16

• Summer Restaurant Week — Three-course fixed-price dinner menus for $33 per person at The Fish House, Jackson’s Steakhouse, Five Sisters Blues Café, and Angelena’s Ristorante Italiano. It runs nightly through Sunday, so it’s the easy choice if you want a date-night plan rather than a concert. Restaurant Week details

My quick take: choose Cinemas in the Sand for free/family-friendly, Electric Garden for a daytime local-social scene, or Alabama if you want the marquee Saturday-night event. Check ticket links before leaving—availability and weather plans can change.

👉 Are you looking for a date-night event, something free, or a family-friendly plan this weekend?