When people search for things to do in Pace FL summer, they usually get a list of places with no help fitting them into a real evening. The more useful answer is simpler: plan around two fixed times.
The splash pad at Benny Russell Memorial Park closes at 6 p.m. The county’s outdoor movies begin at sunset. That gap gives you time to dry off, change clothes, find a spot for the movie, and decide whether to eat from a food truck or wait until afterward.
That makes this less of a roundup and more of a workable Pace summer routine.
The short version: Start at the splash pad, use the 6 p.m. break to reset, watch the movie at sunset, and keep one late-closing restaurant in mind as a backup.
Start At Benny Russell Memorial Park
Benny Russell Memorial Park is at 5417 W. Spencer Field Road in Pace. Admission is free.
The park has more than the splash pad, which matters when you are trying to fill the time before a movie. The county lists parking, picnic tables, pavilions, playgrounds, restrooms, water fountains, and a paved walking path among the available features. Dogs are allowed on leashes.
The layout also makes the wet-to-dry transition easier. Two pavilions and a restroom are near the splash pad. A second playground, more pavilions, and another restroom are on the east side of the park.
Check The Splash Pad Hours Before You Go
The county’s current Parks and Recreation page lists the 2026 splash pad schedule as:
- Tuesday through Sunday
- 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Closed Monday for maintenance
The splash pad opened for the 2026 season on April 18.
There is a small discrepancy between county pages. The main Parks and Recreation page says the splash pad opens at 9 a.m., while the individual facility page says 10 a.m. Both list a 6 p.m. closing time and Monday maintenance closure.
For an afternoon visit, that difference will not affect the plan. If you are arranging a morning trip, confirm the schedule with Parks Operations at 850-983-1940.
Treat 6 P.M. As The Reset Point
The handoff between the splash pad and the movie is what makes the evening work. Once the water shuts off at 6 p.m., there is no need to rush directly to another stop.
Use that break to:
- Dry off and change into dry clothes.
- Put wet items in a separate bag.
- Refill water and take a restroom break.
- Decide whether to eat before the movie or use the on-site food trucks.
- Set out lawn chairs or a blanket before the screening begins.
A practical packing list includes towels, dry clothes, drinking water, bug protection, lawn chairs or a blanket, and a small bag for wet clothing.
The playgrounds and paved walking path give you options during the wait. If you plan to use a pavilion, remember that the park rents pavilions for reserved use. Do not assume an unoccupied pavilion will remain available for the evening.
Build The Evening Around The Pace Movie Dates
Santa Rosa County’s Movie in the Parks series brings free outdoor screenings to Benny Russell Park in Pace and Tiger Point Park in Gulf Breeze.
The July 10 Pace screening featured Inside Out. As of July 11, the remaining Pace dates are:
| Date | Location | Start | Film |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, August 7, 2026 | Benny Russell Memorial Park | Sunset | To be announced |
| Friday, September 11, 2026 | Benny Russell Memorial Park | Sunset | To be announced |
The September 11 event is the makeup date for the May 8 showing that was canceled because of expected weather.
The county encourages guests to bring blankets or lawn chairs. Food trucks are scheduled to attend, and the county’s June event update says popcorn will be provided. Admission and popcorn are free, while food-truck purchases are separate.
Food-truck names have not been announced for the remaining Pace dates. The August and September film titles were also still pending as of July 11. Check the official schedule shortly before you go rather than planning around a particular movie or vendor.
Keep A Weather Backup In Mind
Outdoor movie plans can change quickly. The May 8 Pace event was canceled and rescheduled because of expected weather, and the county has not published a general indoor backup plan for the Pace screenings.
Check the official event page or Santa Rosa County’s social channels before leaving home. A quick check can save you from loading chairs and wet clothes into the car for a canceled screening.
If weather takes the movie off the table, the late-closing Pace options below can still give you a simple dinner plan.
Allow Extra Time For The West Spencer Field Road Detour
The biggest local detail this summer is the roundabout construction near the park.
The intersection of West Spencer Field Road, South Spencer Field Road, and Giddens Lane is closed while the county builds a roundabout. According to the county’s June 15 project update, work was on schedule for the road to reopen before school starts in August.
That schedule could still affect the August 7 movie night. Construction timing can shift, so check the county project page before heading to Benny Russell Park and allow extra travel time.
The county’s posted detours include these routes, depending on your direction of travel:
- West Spencer Field Road to Berryhill Road, then Chumuckla Highway and Highway 90
- West Spencer Field Road to North Spencer Field Road, then East Spencer Field Road and Highway 90
Follow the marked detours rather than cutting through smaller residential streets. The county has specifically asked drivers to avoid using those streets as shortcuts.
This is the kind of detail that can change an easy evening into a rushed one. A few extra minutes in the plan gives you time to park, carry your chairs, and settle in before sunset.
Where To Eat After The Movie
The on-site food trucks may handle dinner. If you prefer to eat after the screening, focus on places with published Friday hours that extend beyond the typical dinner window.
Movie length and sunset time will affect when you leave the park. Restaurant closing time also does not guarantee that the kitchen takes orders until the final minute. Check the restaurant’s site or call before leaving the park, especially if you have a larger group.
Bar-Celona For Tapas And Shareable Plates
Bar-Celona is at 5642 Woodbine Road and lists Friday hours from 4 p.m. to midnight.
Its menu centers on Spanish tapas, chef boards, cocktails, and wine. The restaurant is also one of Pace’s newer dining options. The Santa Rosa County Chamber held a ribbon cutting on April 16, 2026, and the Santa Rosa Press Gazette reported on the opening two days later.
This is the choice to consider when you want small plates that can be shared after the movie. Confirm the kitchen’s cutoff time before heading over.
Happy Place Pub & Play For Food And An Arcade
Happy Place Pub & Play is at 5661 Quintette Road. Its published Friday hours are 2 p.m. to midnight.
The menu includes burgers, wings, and sandwiches. The restaurant also has an arcade and offers dine-in service, pickup, and delivery.
Happy Place makes sense when the group wants a full meal and still has energy for another activity. It can also serve as an indoor backup when outdoor plans change.
Back Alley Sports Pub At Oops Alley For The Latest Published Closing Time
Back Alley Sports Pub at Oops Alley is at 3721 Highway 90. The pub lists Friday hours from noon to 1 a.m. The bowling and arcade areas are listed as open until about midnight on Fridays.
Oops Alley also offers Cosmic Bowling from 7 p.m. until closing on Friday and Saturday nights. That gives you the option to add bowling if the movie is canceled or if the group wants to keep the evening going.
The pub has the latest published Friday closing time among these three choices, but call ahead if your main concern is how late the kitchen accepts orders.
Pick The Plan Before You Leave Home
You do not need a packed itinerary. You need one main plan and one backup.
If the weather looks clear: Go to Benny Russell Park before the splash pad closes, change into dry clothes, set up for the movie, and decide whether the food trucks will cover dinner.
If you want a meal after the movie: Choose Bar-Celona, Happy Place Pub & Play, or Back Alley Sports Pub before you leave home. Check the current hours and kitchen availability.
If the movie is canceled: Move dinner earlier and use the arcade at Happy Place or the bowling and arcade options at Oops Alley as the evening activity.
If construction is still active: Review the West Spencer Field Road detour and leave extra time for the drive.
That is the real Pace summer plan. One park, one outdoor movie, and a short list of places that stay open late enough to be useful.
A Quick Pace Summer FAQ
Is the Benny Russell Park splash pad free?
Yes. The county lists no admission fee for Benny Russell Memorial Park.
Is the Movie in the Parks series free?
Yes. Admission is free, and the county says popcorn will be provided. Food from the on-site trucks must be purchased separately.
What should I bring to the movie?
Bring lawn chairs or a blanket. If you are starting at the splash pad, add towels, dry clothes, water, bug protection, and a separate bag for wet items.
Are the August and September movies confirmed?
The dates are posted, but the film titles had not been announced as of July 11, 2026. The remaining Pace screenings are scheduled for August 7 and September 11 at sunset.
Can weather cancel the event?
Yes. The May 8 Pace movie was canceled because of expected weather and moved to September 11. Check the county’s event page before leaving.
Pace routines like this are part of what makes local knowledge useful. If a question about your home, its value, or your next move comes up along the way, Kelley Real Estate Co is here to give you a clear answer without pressure.
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