Trip-Worthy Events

Jacksonville hosts exciting festivals and events throughout the year. Learn more about some of the most popular annual events in Florida!

In This Section

Kids Free November

Bring the whole family for Kids Free November in Jacksonville!

Georgia vs. Florida

We can't wait to see you in sunny Jacksonville, Florida SEC College Football athletes and fans!

Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Don't Miss a Beat in the heart of Downtown!

26.2 with Donna

FACT: 26.2 with DONNA The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer is the only U.S. marathon dedicated solely to raising funds to finish breast cancer.

TaxSlayer Bowl

The TaxSlayer Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played with an SEC Conference representative against an ACC/Big10/Notre Dame opponent at EverBank

WasabiCon

WASABICON is an all-ages annual event celebrating Cosplay, Anime, Gaming, & Pop Culture that takes place at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center.

Gate River Run

More than 20,000 participants make their way to Jax every March for The Gate River Run, the nation’s largest 15K, to experience first-hand the beauty of the

CollectiveCon

North Florida's Premier Anime, Comic Book, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, & Pop Culture Event returns for a 6th huge year! Collective Con will be changing venues to the

World of Nations Celebration

Don't miss World of Nations 2020 on February 28th - March 1st. Traveling around the world in a day gets so much easier each spring during the World of Nations

Springing the Blues

Springing The Blues April 3-5, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida has been cancelled.

The PLAYERS Championship

THE PLAYERS Stadium Course sports one of the most recognizable and challenging holes on the PGA Tour.

Kingfish Tournament

The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament is held each year in July at Jim King Park & Boat Ramp on the IntraCoastal Waterway.

The Spartan Race

January

Jax Boat Show
The Jacksonville Marine Association is putting on a three-day boat show, celebrating and showcasing all manner of sea craft used for varied purposes, whether it's catching waves to ski or fish to eat. Renowned captains Dennis Young and Don Dingman will also be presenting seminars on fishing during this event at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.
February

The 26.2 With Donna
The only marathon in the world that donates 100 percent of its profits to Breast Cancer Research. Celebrate 10 years at the 26.2 With Donna Marathon this year!

The Spartan Race
Florida’s #1 ranked motocross park meets the world’s #1 obstacle course race.

Community First Seawalk Music Festival
The Community First Seawalk Music Festival is a free, family-friendly event here at Jax Beach on the Seawalk Pavilion. The festival celebrates Jacksonville's local cultures with all local artists, food, and music. VIP Premium Seating, however, is available for purchase.

Jax Greek Festival
Follow up your Saint Valentine's Day festivities with this celebration of Greek culture, featuring authentic cuisine and music straight from Greece. Come to the Morocco Shrine's auditorium for this three-day event in Jacksonville.

World of Nations Celebration
Get your passport ready to go around the world in just two days. This outdoor festival in downtown's Metropolitan Park showcases the culture, music, and food from dozens of nations.
March

Gate River Run
This is the largest 15K in the United States. The route takes runners through Downtown Jacksonville and across many of our famous bridges.

THE PLAYERS Championship
Golf’s best players descend upon Ponte Vedra for the annual tournament at TPC Sawgrass. Do not miss their attempts to beat the world-famous 17th hole; it’s a tricky one!

Sweet Life Fest
Come celebrate the "Sweet-lifestyle" at SeaWalk Pavilion.

Jax Home & Patio Show
Come to the Prime Osborn Convention Center for the 50th anniversary of this local Jacksonville outdoor accoutrement extravaganza.

Jax Science Festival
The Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) and The Foundation Academy present one of the smartest and coolest science festivals in the state. Come to FSCJ's south campus to learn some new scientific tricks and the perfectly rational and evidenced-based logic behind those tricks.

Jax Book Festival
Celebrate your favorite literary rock star at the Main Library in Jacksonville. This event, the second year in a row, will include book signings, meet-and-greets, classes on self-publishing, and much more. Come take part in a burgeoning local tradition.

The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
Always held the second full weekend in March, “The Amelia” draws over 300 rare vehicles from collections around the world to The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach and The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island for a celebration of the automobile like no other.
April

Collective Con
Three days of pure excitement and fun featuring celebrity guests, comic book creators, voice actors, cosplayers, artists, writers, anime, video gaming, live music and more. Collective Con takes place at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds in Downtown Jacksonville.

Springing The Blues
This is the largest oceanfront free Blues Festival in the world! It takes place in sunny Jacksonville Beach every April.

Mandarin Art Festival
The organizers of this fest (in support of the non-profit Mandarin Community Club which promotes local beautification) are calling for artists, patrons, and guests alike to be a part of their 52nd anniversary as purveyors and preservationists of the community's natural and creative culture.

Joseph A. Strasser Butterfly Festival
Each year, Tree Hill Nature Center hosts this unique community event that culminates in a live butterfly release. The event has animal encounters, live music and games as well as crafts and more! We love having local vendors sell their crafts and goods!
May

Jacksonville Jazz Festival
This is one of the largest free Jazz Festivals in the nation. Taking place every year during Memorial Day Weekend, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival attracts more than 130,000 people and some of the best Jazz musicians to Downtown Jacksonville for three spectacular days. #jaxjazzfesitval
June

The CSI Companies Country Music Fest
Celebrate Jacksonville Beach’s long-standing traditions of local music and fresh seafood at this free festival. Enjoy bands, food vendors and good old family-fun.
July

Jacksonville Fourth of July Celebrations
Enjoy live music, food vendors and a spectacular free firework displays. Whether you are looking for riverfront fireworks show in the heart of Downtown Jacksonville or in Jacksonville Beach at the Stars and Stripes at the Sea Walk Pavillion July 4th Celebration Jacksonville is where you'll want to be this summer.

The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament & Festival
Reel in a big one! This is the largest kingfish tournament in the country. Anglers of all experience levels are welcome.
August

Jacksonville Jaguars Season Kicks Off
Go Jags! Enjoy some of the best tailgating in the NFL and watch the Jaguars play at EverBank Field in Downtown Jacksonville.
September

Bold City Beer & Music Festival
Make plans to attend the 1st annual Bold City Beer Festival, North Florida's Premier Beer, Food & Music Festival presented by 904 Happy Hour. The festival features beer sampling, two music stages, food trucks, vendors and VIP beer passes. All located under the Fuller Warren bridge, right on the St. Johns River.
October

WasabiCon
WasabiCon is an annual pop culture event designed to celebrate anime, comics, cosplay, internet culture, paranormal, science fiction, tabletop gaming, video games, and all things “geek”. The two day Jacksonville, Florida convention features an Artist Alley, a Vendors Room, celebrity guests, panels, workshops, games, and more.

Sea and Sky Air Show
Jacksonville’s own, The Blue Angels, come home every year to thrill audiences with an air show at Jacksonville Beach. Witness thrills like never before from a variety of military and civilian aerobatic demonstrations.

Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra’s Season Begins
Ranked as one of the top 40 symphonies in the nation, Jacksonville’s Symphony brings a fresh take to classics and pop music each season.

Spooktacular at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Get into the Halloween spirit at Northeast Florida’s most visited attraction. This is a not-so-scary Halloween celebration for the whole family.
November

Kids Free November
Bring the whole family for Kids Free November in Jacksonville. Throughout the month of November, discover all the family fun that Jacksonville has to offer at our city's top attractions! The best part? Kids under 12 get in FREE all month long! Now tell us that isn't something to get excited about, much less plan a trip for!

Florida vs. Georgia Football Game
The biggest rivalry in the SEC comes to Jacksonville every fall. Don’t miss the celebrations at RV City, the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the best part of all, the game!

Porchfest
Free Live Music Festival with Food and Fun Take Over the Parks and Porches of Historic Springfield in Downtown Jacksonville, Florida

City of Jacksonville Veterans Day Parade
Join the City of Jacksonville, on Monday, November 11, 2019 at 11:01am, as we honor true American heroes - our veterans and active-duty military. This patriotic parade features more than 4,000 participants including grand marshals, senior military officials, active-duty and retired military, veterans groups, local high school marching bands, decorative floats, giant balloons, JROTC units and more! Visit JaxVeteransDayParade.com for more information and a map of the parade route.

Jacksonville Light Boat Parade
Dozens of boats decorated with festive holiday lights parade down the St. Johns River in Downtown Jacksonville the Saturday after Thanksgiving making for a great family holiday affair!

St. John's Town Center Holiday Spectacular
The 13th annual Holiday Spectacular at St. Johns Town Center will kick off the holiday season on Saturday, November 10 from 2-8 p.m. The festive event will feature a full day of activities, culminating with the lighting of the tree by Santa Claus and fireworks display at 8 p.m. Shoppers will enjoy holiday entertainment including live music from 2-6 p.m., with main stage activities beginning at 6 p.m.

Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Jacksonville Landing
The day after Thanksgiving, Jacksonville welcomes the holiday season with a spectacular riverfront tree lighting ceremony.

WinterFEST at Adventure Landing
Every holiday seasons this popular water park becomes a winter wonderland with an ice skating rink, ice slides, winter village and hot cocoa. This event runs through January.
December

New Year’s Eve Celebration in Downtown Jacksonville
End the year with an enormous celebration that includes live music, vendors, and an amazing riverfront fireworks show.

ZOOLights at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Discover the Jacksonville Zoo after hours and walk through the exhibits and gardens decorated with thousands of sparkling LED lights.

The TaxSlayer Bowl
Two of college football’s best SEC vs. Big 10 teams go head-to-head for the battle of the TaxSlayer Bowl trophy, on the last weekend in December at EverBank Field.

WinterFEST at Adventure Landing
Every holiday seasons this popular water park becomes a winter wonderland with an ice skating rink, ice slides, winter village and hot cocoa. This event runs through January.