City Hall

Reeves Previews Keyla Richardson Parade, Concert Details as City Preps for National Spotlight

Mayor lays out logistics for Wednesday’s American Idol homecoming celebration while updating residents on Palafox construction, airport routes, and Gibson School assessment.

Mayor D.C. Reeves opened his Tuesday morning press conference dressed in black and yellow—walking the walk, he said—as he ran through a packed agenda anchored by Wednesday’s Keyla Richardson homecoming celebration, a four-minute American Idol finale segment set to air before an estimated seven to eight million viewers nationwide on May 11.

• The amphitheater’s 5,000 tickets sold out in roughly 53 minutes, Reeves said, and overflow tickets for the stadium were moving fast. As of about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, nearly 5,000 of the approximately 6,200 available overflow tickets were gone, leaving roughly 1,300 remaining. Tickets are still available at keylafest.com, with a maximum of 6 tickets per purchase.

Parade and Concert Logistics

The parade will step off from the corner of Cedar and Palafox Streets, heading south toward Plaza de Luna. The lineup begins at 4 p.m., with stadium and amphitheater gates opening at 5:30 p.m.

“We get to do two amazing things at once—have a celebration as a community together and show off how amazing this city is to six, seven, eight million people all over the world next Monday.” — Mayor D.C. Reeves.

• Stadium ticket holders enter the stadium exactly as they would for a Wahoo’s game.
• Amphitheater ticket holders enter through a separate barricaded security gate on the west side of the stadium, between the marina and the stadium. No exceptions.
• Bags: No backpacks or duffel bags. Small clear bags—roughly six by nine by twelve inches, consistent with NFL and professional sports rules—are permitted. Medication is allowed.
• Boats are permitted on the water. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will deploy vessels to provide security.
• Tate High and Washington High School bands will march in the parade. Keyla’s school has built a float in her honor. Pensacola Mardi Gras is coordinating the parade logistics.
• A second line will depart from the ceremony at Plaza de Luna and walk the five to six blocks back to the stadium, joining concert-goers heading in.
• Synovus Bank is sponsoring the event to help offset costs.

Reeves said the key-to-the-city presentation and county resolution—coordinated with Commissioner Lumon May—may shift from the end of the parade to just before the concert, depending on Keyla’s schedule. “We’ll take TD’s lead on that,” he said.

Main Street will remain open in both directions throughout the parade and concert. Reeves acknowledged traffic will be heavier than a typical Wahoo’s game, with an expected crowd of 9,000-plus. He advised drivers coming from the north to use Cervantes to A Street to bypass the downtown core. “Pack your patience if you plan on using Main Street,” he said.

The American Idol Production Team Arrives Today

Keyla’s family, her team and approximately 15 to 16 American Idol production staff are flying in from New Orleans and are expected to arrive in Pensacola mid-afternoon Tuesday. Production has already begun: crews have been hanging speakers and lighting equipment at the amphitheater since Monday. Seven band members, in addition to Keyla, are scheduled for a sound check on Wednesday.

• Reeves said Keyla’s Wednesday itinerary—still being finalized by producers—includes a possible visit to Naval Air Station Pensacola to see the Blue Angels, a potential appearance at the Wahoo’s 11:00 a.m. school-day game attended by 1,800 to 2,000 students, and activity on the beach.

The city is also exploring a community watch party at the stadium on May 11 for the finale airing—doors open, concessions running, and the finale broadcast on the Jumbotron. Reeves said it is not finalized, but something will be announced this week.

Palafox Street Update

The Palafox Street reconstruction project is in its final stretch.

• Final walkthrough and punch list: Wednesday, May 6
• Construction fencing transitions to east side streets: May 11
• The Romana block of Palafox (northernmost block at Garden Street) opens to pedestrians only: week of May 12—one week ahead of the incentivized completion date
• The May 15 Gallery Night and the May 29 Fiesta of Five Flags parade will both run on Jefferson Street, the same as the Mardi Gras parade route, to avoid disruption

Other City Business

Recycling drop-off has relocated to Leonard Street, effective today. Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sanitation payment system: The city’s new online payment platform is live, with more than 2,000 transactions processed. Venmo and PayPal are working. Apple Pay users are experiencing a delay; Reeves said it should be resolved within seven to ten days.

Airport: Two new routes launching this week. Contour Airlines launches its inaugural service from Pensacola to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on Wednesday. Breeze Airways begins service between Fort Lauderdale and Pensacola on Thursday, running approximately six days a week. On Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy, Reeves said Spirit accounted for about 7% of PNS passenger traffic and that Frontier and Breeze had largely preempted the gap. “For the most part, the Spirit service that was provided out of Pensacola has been filled in with other carriers,” he said.

Gibson School: The Community Redevelopment Agency is commissioning a complete structural assessment of the former Gibson School on C Street. A limited assessment in May 2025 identified approximately $1.3 million in immediate short-term repairs, including roof, windows, fire suppression, and HVAC. The full assessment will establish a phased scope of work. Reeves reiterated that preservation—not demolition or private sale—remains the city’s goal.

Parks and Recreation grant: The city’s after-school program grant application scored 100.3 out of 110 base points before the ECT program committee. Three scores are still pending; the committee reconvenes on May 29.

Galvez Day: Mayor Campos from Macharaviaya, Spain—Pensacola’s sister city and the hometown of Bernardo de Gálvez—is in town for a full week of Galvez Day events running Wednesday through Friday.

License plate readers: A domestic violence call led officers to locate a suspect vehicle using the city’s LPR system. The stop also yielded a large quantity of drugs. Reeves credited the technology with contributing to crime reductions.

Mall takeover incident (Saturday): Reeves deferred to Police Chief Windstorm for details but said the chief is engaging the mall for both short-term follow-up and longer-term safety planning.