Jacksonville Beach Summer Jazz Concert Series

July 11 and Aug. 8

The City of Jacksonville Beach is proud to present the 9th Annual Summer Jazz Series. Enjoy the combination of exciting music performed by national recording artists, the caress of cool sea breezes, and the rhythm of the ocean. Admission is free and open to the public. Bring your blankets or lawn chairs and enjoy refreshments and food available for purchase from local vendors. Entertainment begins at 5 p.m.

AT&T Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament

July 19-24

The largest kingfish tournament in the country is held in Jacksonville each year.  In addition to the two-day general tournament, this spectacular event also includes a Junior Angler Tournament presented by Carolina Skiff and a free festival featuring, live music, a boat show and food.  There is something for the entire the family to enjoy.

Jacksonville Jaguars Season Opener

Sept. 12

Self-proclaimed “Best Mascot in Sports,” Jaxson de Ville, invites you to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ first game of the 2010 season. The Jaguars will face off against the Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium at 1 p.m. Single game and season tickets are available.

Painting the Region

Oct. 4-10

Local and regional artists descend on Jacksonville to participate in Painting the Region: “Cowford” on the Bartram Trail.  The artists pay tribute to the beauty of the historic and waterfront spaces of the Downtown neighborhoods. Visitors will be able to locate artists throughout the day through their GPS on their phone, calling in or stopping by festival headquarters. Guests are then invited to discover the paintings they admired in progress at The Jacksonville Landing. Receptions and other celebrations held throughout the week. Proceeds benefit the Florida Land Trust’s preservation efforts.

River City Pride Festival

Oct. 1-17

Throughout the two-week festival, there will be a variety of events at local bars/restaurants/venues. On Oct. 2, celebrate with a parade and block party in Riverside, a historic neighborhood just outside of Downtown. The festival will wrap up on Oct. 17 with a riverfront festival. More details to be published soon.

Jacksonville Film Festival

Oct. 13-17

Gaining increasing recognition as a regional destination for the independent film community, the Jacksonville Film Festival connects the city to its early moviemaking roots while paving the way for a new generation of talent.  Don’t miss access to film screenings, short films debuts from up-and-coming producers and parties with celebrity guests and award-winning filmmakers.

The Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open

Oct 18-24

The inaugural Nationwide Tour event will be played annually at TPC Sawgrass, Dye’s Valley Course beginning this October. Nationwide is a proving ground for The PGA Tour, and many star players have gotten their start on this development circuit. The event will take place before the end of the PGA Tour, guaranteeing that the top players will be participating as a final push to earn their PGA Tour cards.

NAS Jacksonville Air Show

Oct. 23-24

Jacksonville shows its military pride during this spectacular event at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, including ground displays, activities and air performances, featuring the famed Blue Angels, who performed their first flight demonstration in 1946 at NAS Jacksonville.

Georgia vs. Florida Football Classic

Oct. 30

Named one of the top 10 football rivalries by ESPN, this college football match-up is a celebration that has a rich history on Jacksonville’s neutral ground for the past 87 year. The University of Georgia Bulldogs take on the University of Florida Gators at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.  Festivities and pep rallies take place throughout the weekend.

Veterans Day Parade

Nov. 11

With two naval bases in the city, Jacksonville’s military pride and heritage is evident in daily life. The City of Jacksonville honors America’s heroes with a fantastic parade through Downtown.  Marching bands sound the drums as lively balloon floats soar above the streets.

The Jacksonville Landing Tree Lighting

Nov. 26

For 23 years, The Jacksonville Landing Tree Lighting has signaled the start of the holidays in Downtown Jacksonville. The 56-foot artificial, eco-friendly tree lights up over the St. Johns River creating a festive atmosphere. Festivities include live entertainment and a fireworks show. The fun continues as scheduled synchronized music and light performances will take place weekly at The Landing leading up to New Year’s Eve.

Jacksonville Light Parade

Nov. 27

Downtown Jacksonville’s St. Johns River is transformed into a spellbinding display of lights as the region’s finest boats and captains parade magically decorated vessels down the river.  This enchanted night is topped off by an unbelievable fireworks display over the St. Johns, featuring the city’s signature “waterfalls” fireworks.

Arts & Culture In Jacksonville Florida

Fort Menendez, the newest addition to Old Florida Museum in St. Augustine officially opened on July 1. Visitors can explore the fort, meet colorful characters from early Spanish St. Augustine and the Timucuan village of Seloy and enjoy a number of hands-on activities. See and touch different weapons, tools and musical instruments, hear about the trials and tribulations of the residents, then try out some activities on your own at the 1.5-acre family entertainment attraction.

The Museum of Science and History (MOSH) presents “Spanish Pathways” Aug. 14 through Nov. 14. Beginning with the early exploration of the peninsula in the fifteenth century, viewers will trace the influence of Spanish settlers in Florida through 1992.  The exhibit, comprised of 13 framed images, covers the cattle industry, the Navez expedition, De Soto’s epic march, Catholic mission sites, St. Augustine, Ft. Mose, Count Galvez and the American Revolution, the Second Spanish Era, Paulina Pedrosa and Las Patriotas, the cigar industry and the 1959 Cuban Revolution. The MOSH is also offering “$5 Fridays” with extended hours until 8 p.m. every Friday through Aug. 27.

The 2010-2011 season of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra will kick off on Sept. 23 with Barber and Bolero, featuring one of the country’s most gifted young artists, Terrence Wilson. The season continues through May with a variety of performances ranging from opera, classical and ballet gospel, big band and pops. Upcoming featured concerts include The Music of Michael Jackson (Oct. 16), German Requiem (Nov. 19-20) and The Polar Express (Dec. 5).

The Beaches Museum & History Center celebrates the colorful heritage of “The Jacksonville Skate Scene” with an exciting display of Jacksonville’s rich skateboard history. Featuring vintage photos, videos and skateboard equipment, the exhibit highlights the impact Jacksonville had on the skateboarding industry, locally and nationally. The exhibit runs through Oct. 2.

Sports & Outdoors In Jacksonville Florida

Connect with nature by combining yoga and kayaking in Kayak Adventure’s newest guided kayaking tour, “Yogaking.” The first part of the adventure starts with a relaxing paddle to Kingsley Plantation, where participants enjoy a relaxing and rejuvenating yoga class. Stroll the historic plantation grounds, the oldest, still-standing plantation house in Florida. Before returning to the kayak, enjoy a healthy lunch consisting of an organic wrap. The experience ends with a peaceful paddle back through the Timucuan Preserve.

Amelia Island Plantation is hosting two golf tournaments this summer – the 1st Annual Retro Golf Classic Aug. 6 and the 4th Annual Guinness & Golf Weekend Sept. 3-4. The 4th Annual Guinness & Golf Weekend held over Labor Day weekend will kick off Friday night with a Boardwalk Bash offering $2 Guinness and Smithwick’s Irish Ale along with live Irish entertainment. The shotgun tournament begins Saturday at 1 p.m. The 1st Annual Retro Golf Classic is a 70s-themed shotgun tournament benefiting Relay for Life.

The World Golf Hall of Fame is now offering a museum-wide audio tour, “Voices from the Hall,” featuring over two-and-a-half hours of exclusive content from more than 35 Hall of Fame members, giving visitors an even more comprehensive experience while at the museum. Through a hand-held device, visitors can experience more than 175 numbered stops within the museum, highlighting personal stories and anecdotes from Hall of Fame members including Arnold Palmer, Byron Nelson, Tommy Bolt, Ben Crenshaw, Pete Dye, Sandra Haynie, Hale Irwin, Tony Jacklin, Carol Mann, Larry Nelson, Curtis Strange and more. An audio guide may be added to regular Hall of Fame admission for $3 (for one device) or $5 (for two devices).

The Jacksonville Jaguars are back and on the prowl, ready to prove themselves this football season at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.  The home-opener against the Denver Broncos takes place Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. Anticipated season match-ups include AFC rivals Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 3 and the Tennessee Titans for Monday Night Football on Oct. 18.

Shopping, Dining & Nightlife In Jacksonville Florida

The Avenues Mall has recently undergone renovations with refreshed landscaping inside and out and new bistro tables in the center court. A number of new stores are being added, including anchor store Forever 21 in fall 2010. This will be Forever 21’s second anchor store in the country and the largest! The East Coast’s first Cotton On is also coming soon. Other new additions include Charm & Charlie, Flip Flop Shop, Best Buy Mobile, Crazy 8 and Perfume Collection.

Downtown Jacksonville restaurants and Downtown Vision, Inc. are hosting two weeks of fantastic dining deals during Eat Up Downtown Aug. 9-22. From hip cafés to elegant steak houses, each participating restaurant will offer specially selected, three-course dinner menus for $25 per person. There are no coupons to clip or tickets to buy, simply view the menus online, select your favorite and call the restaurant for reservations. Try a new restaurant or visit an old favorite and Eat Up Downtown!

Latitude 30, a 50,000 square foot entertainment destination located in the Southside area across from The Avenues Mall and adjacent to the new Avenues Walk, will be opening in early fall 2010. The venue is designed for family-friendly entertainment, making it a one-stop location for an afternoon or evening out on the town. Guests have the opportunity to experience boutique bowling in a state-of-the art alley, catch a movie in a dinner theater, watch a showcase sports event in the sports bar/theater, see a headliner performance in the Vegas-style showroom, play billiards in the arcade or just enjoy a chic, yet casual lunch or dinner in the venue’s restaurant, Sunset 30.

Marché Burette, the old-fashioned gourmet food market and restaurant at Amelia Island Plantation, is now offering a 20 percent discount off your entire bill if you dine between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and noon. Located within the Spa & Shops complex, Marché Burette is open to the public and serves breakfast and lunch. Menu items range from bagels or muffins for breakfast to wood-oven fired pizzas, deli sandwiches or salads for lunch. Diners can choose to dine indoors or on the back deck overlooking the pond. 

Accommodations In Jacksonville Florida

The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village has been named one of the “Top 80 Golf Resorts” in the world and one of the “Top 10 Florida Golf Resorts” in a recent readers’ poll in Condé Nast Traveler magazine. Thousands of the magazine’s readers voted for their favorite resort courses, providing ratings for course design and access, golf staff, rooms, service, food and dining, location and overall design. The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village was one of just two resorts on the list to earn perfect scores of 100 for both the design of their golf courses and the quality of their golf staff and services.

Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa has been named one of the “Best Beach Resorts for Families” by Parents.com, the website of Parents Magazine. Praised for its miniature golf course designed by Arnold Palmer, kids-only swimming pools, shark tooth hunts and private beach, the Sawgrass Marriott joined an elite list of 20 family-friendly vacation spots, including resorts in Jamaica, Honolulu, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

Amelia Island Plantation has been ranked among the world’s best hotels on this year’s Expedia Insiders’ Select list by Expedia travelers. The list formally recognizes individual hotels worldwide that consistently deliver excellent service, a great overall experience and a notable value. The resort has also been recognized for other awards including Fodor’s Travel 2010 Fodor’s Choice selection, Insurance & Financial Meetings Management subscribers’ 2010 World Class Award winner as well as one of 30 Premium Circle Award winners; and one of forty recognized by Medical Meetings readers’ for a Merit & Distinction Award.

Meeting escapists can enjoy a “Summer Splash of Savings” at One Ocean Resort Hotel & Spa –Northeast Florida’s newest beachfront boutique resort, located in Atlantic Beach. For group stays July 1 through Sept. 30, 2010, One Ocean Resort is offering an assortment of amenities and discounts creating added value for meetings. Amenities and discounts include overnight accommodations for $159, a one-hour wine & cheese reception, one complimentary room for every 30 rooms paid and actualized, complimentary meeting space and more.

Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport is offering a “Summer Meetings Package” for events booked by Sept. 6 and utilized by Dec. 31, 2010. For just $30 per person, per day, meeting planners will receive meeting space, parking, A/V equipment, continental breakfast, lunch in the Savannah Bistro and two catered breaks. A minimum of 10 guests is required.

Services In Jacksonville Florida

JTA’s Beaches Trolley has resumed seasonal service from South Beach Parkway Shopping Center in south Jacksonville Beach to Atlantic Village Shopping Center in Atlantic Beach. The service operates on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day, Sept. 6. Trolleys run from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday, noon to 2 a.m. on Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Fares are $1 per person and weekly and monthly JTA passes are also accepted. A trolley will pass a stop approximately every 20 minutes.

Carnival Cruise Lines announced the addition of a new seven-day eastern Caribbean cruise itinerary aboard the Carnival Fascination from the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) Cruise Terminal. The recently renovated 2,052-passenger Fascination will offer a series of six week-long cruises to Grand Turk, the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay and Nassau, complementing the ship’s popular four- and five-day Bahamas/Key West departures. Reservations are currently being accepted and departure dates include April 30, May 7, July 23 and 30 and Sept. 17 and 24, 2011.

Visit Jacksonville News

In the midst of a global recession and high unemployment, Duval County still welcomed 2.6 million overnight visitors in 2009, generating $1.5 billion dollars in economic impact to the city.  Commissioned by Visit Jacksonville, the second annual Jacksonville Value of Tourism study focused on the economic impact and profile of the typical overnight Jacksonville visitor.  The organization utilized Tampa-based Research Data Services, Inc. to conduct the year-long survey. Read the full release here.

Convention center facility management company SMG, Visit Jacksonville and the local hotel community have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish the new Jacksonville Convention Center Alliance, which will simplify the booking process for the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center reinforcing the city’s commitment to meeting planners and convention business. Read the full release here.

The International Board for the Global Day of Prayer has chosen Jacksonville to serve as the worldwide anchor city for the 2011 religious event.  The annual event will take place on Pentecost Sunday, June 12, 2011 at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium or Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena and is expected to draw 15,000+ attendees. Read the full release here.

In an effort to increase visitor bookings during a typically slow period for the destination, Visit Jacksonville offered summer vacation deals of up to 50 percent off accommodations at area hotels between July 16 and July 23 for travel by Aug. 31, 2010.  The “Summer Savings Sale” sold 61 hotel room nights during the week.  The promotion was featured on VisitJacksonville.com through its online booking engine, ARES. Read the full release here.