The holidays are approaching and aside from figuring out the best gifts for our loved ones, we are trying to figure out what to do to celebrate. Let’s fill our calendars with the most festive events around town!

Deck the Chairs:

It’s a quick little loop, but it sure is pretty. Head to the SeaWalk Pavilion in Jax Beach and watch the night lights sparkle on all of the cute holiday scenes to really get you in the spirit. Deck the Chairs starts November 23 and will be in action through the whole holiday season!

St. Augustine Christmas Parade:

This is the 64th annual St. Augustine Christmas Parade, so you KNOW people like it if has stuck around for 64 years! At 9 AM on December 1st, the party is getting started pretty early with a morning parade in downtown St. Aug, seasonal decorations scattering the streets, and thousands of white lights at night! Come one, come all.

Jacksonville Holiday Market for Makers:

They’re kicking off the holiday season on December 1st with everyone’s holiday needs. The Market for Makers will be at the Glass Factory starting at 11AM to give us a chance to fill a FREE tote with holiday treats and one-of-a-kind gifts. Engine 15 will be providing fresh brews on tap. So bring your wallet and good spirit!

Christmas Congaree:

From 4-9 PM on December 6th, celebrate a Congaree Christmas with local shopping, food & drinks, and sleigh rides! How can we say no? This merry marketplace will keep our bellies full and our spirits happy.

Jacksonville Zoo Lights:

Anyone else love to walk through a beautiful land of sparkling lights? The Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens is making the magic happen starting December 8th with thousands of LED lights this Christmas season! Come to this luminous Winter Wonderland and enjoy marshmallow roasting, a theater ride, and warm weather “ice” skating!

Jax Illuminations: 

Want to see some nice lights from the warmth of your car? Load up your friends and family, tune into the special radio station, and drive the mile route in Jacksonville through beautiful Christmas lights and scenery. Word on the street is the lights move in sync with the secret radio station’s music…The party starts December 10th!

Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl:

Find your dad’s ugliest sweater from the 70s and head out to the Jax Beach Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl with your best group of mates! The festivities start December 8 at 5 PM and include 12 of your favorite beach bars. If you decide to ball out and get a ticket, it includes complimentary shots, drink specials all night, and a chance to win thousands in cash!

Holiday Pops:

Jacksonville’s favorite holiday tradition is BACK with the one and only, ever-so-talented Jacksonville Symphony! Get into the holiday spirit December 6-9th with their music, guest singers, dancers, and– drum roll, please– an extravaganza with a guaranteed indoor SNOWFALL.

African Village Kwanzaa Celebration:

Anyone looking to celebrate their African bloodline and an annual Kwanzaa celebration, head out to the Ritz Theatre and Museum on December 26th to partayyyy. Hear from local community influencers and buy a Kwanzaa candle set! They recommend you bring your instruments as well, since there will be a bumping drum circle!

The Nutcracker

Starting December 14th, come out to the The Florida Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker” at the UNF Lazzara Performance Hall. Whether you’re seeing it for the first time or not, this holiday classic will transport you to a magical world of swirling snowflakes, waltzing flowers, and dancing bonbons.

WinterFEST at Adventure Landing:

In an effort to bring winter to sunny Florida, WinterFEST at Adventure Landing has the snow! With a 130-foot ice slide, nightly snowfalls, s’more roastings, outdoor ice skating, and many more festive activities, grab your friends or family and join in on the fun all winter long.

Beaches Polar Express: 

All aboard! Choo choo! (I know, it’s cheesy.) This two-day Polar Express event really stirs up some Christmas spirit at the beaches with cocoa and cookies, letters to Santa, craft-making, and other festivities. Starting on Friday, December 7th, put on your stockings and get over to the History Park in Jax Beach.

#FrayLifeTip: This one is definitely kid-friendly. If you have a younger one with you for the holidays, this is a great place to be (don’t be afraid to make crafts, too, guys…)

Christmas Rockapella: 

On December 19th, the Florida Theatre is offering us some real tasteful musical charm with their Christmas Rockapella, featuring songs like “Silver Bells,” “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” and “White Christmas”! At 8 PM, prepare to get your Christmas spirit on.

Christmas with a Cup of Tea:

Atlanta is bringing its theatrical play, “Christmas with a Cup of Tea”, to Jacksonville to add some Christmas cheer to your holiday season. If you want laughter, drama, and some inspiration, bring the whole family for only $30 per person and enjoy some amazing good-spirited vibes.

Run Santa Run 5K:

December 21st. Santa suits. Running through the streets. Candy canes. Chocolate. Need I say more? At 6 PM, put on your Santa suit (provided by 1st Place Sports) and run a 5K through Henry J. Park! Enjoy all the Christmas festivities after you dominate your race!

New Year’s Eve Celebration:

I know fireworks seem like an obvious way to celebrate things, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t awesome every single time!!! Join thousands of people in Downtown Jax on New Year’s Eve while the city lights up the night to bring on 2019! There will be live music, food trucks, and all the drinks you can imagine.

Well, if you claim you don’t have enough festive, good-spirited, holiday events to do in Jacksonville this year, you are just simply wrong my friend. There is so much to do that you can get some shopping done early, wrap up your gifts really pretty-like, grab all your best buddies, and hit the town, READY, with a FULL load of holiday spirit!

View More Articles By Lexi Aughenbaugh

GET OUR WEEKLY EMAIL »