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List of attractions and events in Jacksonville, Florida facts for kids

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Jacksonville, Florida, and the areas around it are full of fun things to do all year! From exciting sports games to cool festivals and amazing museums, there's always something happening. This guide will tell you about some of the best events and places to visit in Jacksonville.

Awesome Annual Events

Jacksonville hosts many cool events throughout the year. Most of these are organized by the city's Recreation and Community Services department.

January Fun

  • Gator Bowl: This is a big college football game played each year. It's a super exciting event for sports fans!

February Festivities

  • Mardi Gras Jax: Get ready for a lively celebration with music and fun, just like the famous Mardi Gras!

March Madness

  • Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance: See amazing classic cars and motorcycles at this fancy show.
  • Gate River Run: This is a huge running race that many people join. It's one of the biggest 15K races in the USA!
  • Great Atlantic Seafood & Music Festival: Enjoy delicious seafood and listen to live music by the beach.

April Adventures

  • Blessing of the Fleet: Boats get a special blessing for safety at sea.
  • Jacksonville Jazz Festival: Listen to fantastic jazz music at one of the biggest jazz festivals in the country.
  • Mandarin Art Festival: Explore beautiful art from local artists.
  • One Spark: This event used to showcase new ideas and projects from creators.
  • Springing the Blues: Another great music festival, focusing on blues music.
  • Starry Nights Concerts at Metropolitan Park: Enjoy outdoor concerts under the stars.
  • Tree Hill Nature Center Butterfly Festival: See many beautiful butterflies at this nature event.
  • Rockville: A big rock music festival with famous bands.

May Merriment

July Celebrations

  • Freedom, Fanfare & Fireworks: Celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks downtown.
  • Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament: A big fishing competition for kingfish.
  • Jacksonville Beach 4th of July Fireworks: Enjoy fireworks right on Jacksonville Beach.

October Events

  • Florida vs. Georgia Football Classic: A huge college football game between two rival teams.
  • Jacksonville Pride: A celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Jacksonville Sea & Sky Spectacular: Watch amazing air shows and demonstrations over the ocean.

November Nights

  • Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair (Jacksonville Fair): A classic fair with rides, games, and farm exhibits.
  • Jacksonville Light Parade: See boats decorated with lights parade down the river.
  • Northeast Florida Veg Fest: Learn about plant-based eating and healthy living.
  • Planetfest: A festival celebrating science fiction and fantasy.

Cool Event Facilities

Jacksonville has many places where events, concerts, and sports games happen.

City-Owned Venues

The city works with companies to manage these places:

  • Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville: Home to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp baseball team.
  • Jacksonville Municipal Stadium: A large stadium, now known as EverBank Stadium, home to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
  • VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena: A big arena for concerts, sports, and other shows.
  • Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center: A large building for big meetings and events.
  • Ritz Theatre (Jacksonville): A historic theater that hosts performances and community events.
  • Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts: This center has different halls for music and theater:
    • Jacoby Symphony Hall: Where the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra plays.
    • Jim & Jan Moran Theater: Features big touring Broadway theatre shows.

Other city-owned places where groups can rent space for their own events:

Privately-Owned Venues

These places are owned by private companies:

  • Adventure Landing: A fun park with rides, mini-golf, and arcade games.
  • Alhambra Dinner Theatre: Enjoy a meal while watching a live play.
  • Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary: See big cats and other rescued animals.
  • Dave & Buster's: A place with arcade games and food.
  • Florida Theatre: A historic theater that hosts concerts and shows.
  • Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront: A large hotel with event spaces.
  • Jacksonville Fairgrounds & Exposition Center: Where the annual fair and other large events are held.
  • Jacksonville Landing: A former shopping and entertainment complex on the river.
  • Latitude 30: An entertainment center with bowling, games, and movies.
  • Morocco Shrine Auditorium: A venue for concerts and events.
  • Riverside Theater: Another theater for performances.
  • Shipwreck Island: A water park at Adventure Landing.
  • St. Augustine Amphitheatre: An outdoor concert venue near St. Augustine.
  • Theatre Jacksonville: A community theater with local productions.

Amazing Museums

Jacksonville has many museums where you can learn about art, history, and science.

  • Alexander Brest Museum and Gallery: See art and historical items.
  • Alexander Brest Planetarium: Explore the stars and planets.
  • Amelia Island Museum of History: Learn about the history of Amelia Island.
  • The Beaches Museum & History Center: Discover the history of Jacksonville's beaches.
  • Black Heritage Museum: Learn about African American history and culture.
  • Camp Blanding Museum and Memorial Park: A museum about military history.
  • Castillo de San Marcos: A very old fort in St. Augustine, great for exploring history.
  • Jacksonville Fire Museum: See old fire trucks and learn about firefighting history.
  • Clay County Historical Society Museum: Learn about the history of Clay County.
  • Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens: Enjoy beautiful art and peaceful gardens.
  • Fort Caroline National Memorial: Learn about one of the earliest French settlements in America.
  • Fort Clinch State Park: Explore a historic fort and enjoy nature.
  • Jacksonville Maritime Museum: Discover the history of ships and the sea in Jacksonville.
  • Jacksonville University Life Sciences Museum: Learn about animals and nature.
  • Karpeles Manuscript Museum: See rare and important historical documents.
  • Kingsley Plantation: Learn about one of Florida's oldest plantations and its history.
  • LaVilla Museum: Focuses on the history and culture of the LaVilla neighborhood.
  • Mandarin Museum: Learn about the history of the Mandarin area.
  • Merrill House Museum: A historic house showing life in the past.
  • Middleburg Historical Museum: Learn about the history of Middleburg.
  • Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville: See modern and exciting art.
  • Museum of Science & History: A fantastic place to learn about science, history, and the natural world with interactive exhibits.
  • Museum of Southern History]: Learn about the history of the Southern United States.
  • Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts]: A place for art and performances.
  • Old Morocco Temple Building: A historic building with interesting architecture.
  • Old Jail Museum: See what an old jail was like.
  • Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse: Visit a very old wooden schoolhouse in St. Augustine.
  • Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park: Learn about a Civil War battle fought here.
  • Potter's Wax Museum: See realistic wax figures of famous people.
  • Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum: Explore strange and amazing exhibits.
  • St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum: Climb the lighthouse for great views and learn about its history.
  • St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine: A shrine dedicated to the first Greek settlers in America.
  • Spanish Military Hospital Museum: See how medicine was practiced in the past.
  • University Gallery at University of North Florida]: See art exhibits from students and artists.
  • Villa Zorayda: A unique building inspired by Spanish architecture.
  • World Golf Hall of Fame: Learn about the greatest golfers and the history of golf.

Fun Outdoor Attractions

Jacksonville has many beautiful outdoor places to explore.

Wonderful Parks

Main article: List of parks in Jacksonville

Jacksonville has one of the biggest city park systems in the United States! It has over 337 parks covering more than 80,000 acres (324 square kilometers). Many parks are along the St. Johns River or have beaches on the Atlantic Ocean, like Hanna Park. Besides city parks, there are also state and national parks nearby. Jacksonville is also home to Kona Skatepark, the oldest continuously operated skatepark in the world!

State Parks to Explore

National Parks and Sites

Shopping Fun

If you love to shop, Jacksonville has many great places to find what you're looking for!

Exciting Sports Facilities

Main article: Sports in Jacksonville

Jacksonville is a great city for sports fans, with many places to watch or play your favorite games.

Baseball Fields

  • Alexander Brest Field: Home field for the Jacksonville Dolphins college baseball team.
  • Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville: Where the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp minor league baseball team plays.
  • Harmon Stadium: Home field for the North Florida Ospreys college baseball team.

Basketball Courts

  • VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena: Home court for the Jacksonville Giants basketball team.
  • Swisher Gymnasium: Home court for the Jacksonville Dolphins college basketball team.
  • UNF Arena: Home court for the North Florida Ospreys college basketball team.

Football Stadiums

  • Bolles School Stadium: Home field for the Jacksonville Dixie Blues women's football team.
  • D. B. Milne Field: Home field for the Jacksonville Dolphins college football team.
  • EverBank Field: The huge stadium where the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team plays.
  • Hodges Stadium: Home field for the North Florida Ospreys college football team and the Jacksonville Axemen rugby league team.
  • VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena: Home arena for the Jacksonville Sharks arena football team.

Golf Courses

The Jacksonville area has 64 golf courses! You can find public courses, private clubs, and resort courses, all within an hour's drive of downtown.

Soccer and Rugby Fields

  • Hodges Stadium: Home field for the North Florida Ospreys college soccer team and the Jacksonville Axemen rugby league team.

Other Sports Venues

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