Before social media gave everyone a platform, there were zines: small, self-published pieces of art and writing made by people who simply had something to say. Decades later, that same DIY spirit is still going strong, and in Pensacola, it’s getting its own festival.
As part of the annual Foo Foo Festival, 309 Punk Project will bring back HalloZine Fest for its second year. To be October 29-30, the interactive arts event will celebrate the enduring and resurging culture of zines through workshops, exhibitions, film, live performances, and plenty of opportunities for festivalgoers to get hands-on and make something of their own.
According to Lauren Anzaldo, special projects coordinator for 309 Punk Project, the event is a natural extension of what has already been happening in Pensacola’s creative community. “There’s been a really strong zine presence and emphasis in Pensacola for a while now, but there had never been a festival or gathering dedicated to it,” she explains. “We had a really good response last year, and we had a lot of ideas to make it even better.”
Small, self-published or small-press publications, zines have been around for decades and have taken many forms over the years, from collage and poetry to writing and visual art. While the medium reached a particularly strong moment during the 1990s, and its DIY spirit continues to resonate today.
HalloZine Fest will bring that spirit to Voices of Pensacola, where festivalgoers can explore the work of featured artists, participate in hands-on activities, and connect with other creators. Block printing, sticker making, and button making will also provide the chance for visitors to learn new skills and leave with something uniquely their own. “It’s all about DIY and hands-on art and creativity,” Anzaldo says. “Folks can leave with something unique they wouldn’t have anywhere else and maybe learn some new skills.”
This year’s festival will also bring three invited artists to Pensacola, each representing a different generation and perspective within zine and independent publishing culture.
Bratty Bre, a younger artist known for her artwork, cut-and-paste style, video content, and shop, will be in attendance. Cristy Road Carrera, a Cuban American illustrator and graphic novelist, began making Green Zine in the late 1990s and early 2000s as a publication centered around her love of Green Day. Since, she has built a career as an illustrator and graphic novelist and recently released Sink or Burn, an illustrated novel. Martin Wong, founder of the influential Giant Robot, will also join in. Founded in California in the early 1990s, Giant Robot became known for exploring Asian and Asian-American pop culture through its independent publication. Wong’s visit will be paired with a screening of the documentary Giant Robot on October 30, followed by a Q&A with Wong. “We’re excited to expose our audience to them and attract people to Pensacola because we’re providing an opportunity and experience you can’t find around the Gulf Coast,” Anzaldo says. “We wouldn’t be able to get these amazing artists if not for the funding from Foo Foo Festival.”
The event doesn’t stop with the zines. On Thursday night, October 29, The Linda Lindas will perform at Handlebar as part of it the festival. The all-female punk band is preparing to release a new album. The band has a connection to Martin Wong, as his daughter is a member. “They have never toured Florida or the South before,” Anzaldo says. “They booked an entire leg of their tour through the South because they are coming to participate with our event in Foo Foo.”
It’s that mix of local creativity, new voices, and unexpected connections that Anzaldo says makes the event—and Foo Foo Festival as a whole—so worthwhile. “At Foo Foo, we talk a lot about synergy, collaboration, and working together and highlighting all the cool culture we have here,” she says. “We’re excited to be part of Foo Foo because it is such a significant part of Pensacola.”
