Ice Skating & Family Activities all weekend

Make a family day of fun for the Fourth of July, and start already on Friday with lots of activities for the family. Come to the Veterans Memorial arena between noon and 9 p.m for arts, crafts and interactive games including: Rock Climbing Wall, Dance Dance Revolution, Inflatable Twister, Coloring Station, Game Area, Tattoo Station, Yes You Canvas! Display, Hula Hoop Station, Photo Booth, Face Painting, Bean Bag toss, Karaoke, Make Your Own Patriotic Fans, Pinwheels, Buttons, and patriotic frames.

Noon – 9 p.m. (Friday), 10 am – 5 p.m (Saturday), 10 am – 4 p.m (Sunday) at Veterans Memorial Arena
Ice Skating, $3 (includes skate rental)

Friday, July 3rd

Live music by Diggin’ in Dreamland
Kick off the weekend with an outdoor concert. Bring a picnic and your dancing shoes to the Northbank Riverfront. Diggin’ in Dreamland performs at the Northbank Riverfront Park (Pearl St. between the Times-Union Center and the CSX Building) at 7 p.m.

Saturday, July 4th

If you have younger kids, it might be an excellent idea to stop by the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena for ice skating and other fun family activities. On Saturday Radio Disney will be there for fun and games from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Freedom Ride 2009
The Freedom Ride 2009 starts at Adamec Baymeadows and ends at Metropolitan Park, so you should see a lot of cool bikes around in the area. The ride begins at 2.30 p.m

Jacksonville Landing
Head to the landing for a snack and a drink, and live entertainment.
The Jacksonville Landing offers an “All-American 4th” with live music from the stage.
• Bay Street Band, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• 5×7, 3:30 -7:30 p.m.
• Palmetto Catz, 5-9 p.m.
• Navy Band Southeast Wind Ensemble, 8-9:30 p.m.
• Freeze Frame, 10:15 p.m.- 2 a.m.
The Jacksonville Landing: (904) 353-1188 or www.jacksonvillelanding.com

If you are interested in Arts and Crafts, the Riverside Arts Market takes place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m under the Fuller Warren Bridge. Info: (904) 389-2449 or www.riversideartsmarket.com
You can actually spend time at the market and later head over to Metropolitan Park for the concerts, or if you prefer to the Northbank for the boat decorating contest.

Free Concert in Metropolitan Park
Gates open at 4 p.m., Opening Ceremony at 4:30 p.m., the free concert begins at 5 p.m. This year performances by Grammy award winner Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Grammy award winner Richard Marx, and the Boogie Freaks

Northbank Riverfront
Boat decorating contest for the most patriotic boats. Judging will take place at 4 p.m. from Metropolitan Park to The Jacksonville Landing

Fourth of July Fireworks
Where to watch fireworks? Jacksonville has plenty of options but the Museum of Science and History one of the most interesting ones we’ve seen. Come to MOSH for rooftop viewing, tickets are $10 per person, but that includes both admission to the exhibits and parking, so it’s a good deal.
Many of the hotels around have similar events going on, but for a different price. For more information call (904) 396-6674 or visit www.themosh.org

Fireworks on the Downtown Riverfront
Fireworks can be viewed from the Northbank and Southbank of the St. Johns River. The fireworks is scheduled to begin at 9:45 p.m.

Fireworks in downtown Jacksonville will be shot from river barges behind Metropolitan Park, the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront and The Jacksonville Landing along with strobes on the Main Street Bridge and the Acosta Bridge.

Parking
Sport Complex (Northbank), $5
Water Street Garage (Northbank), $10, Open at 5 p.m.
Courthouse West Lot, $10, Open at 5 p.m.
Yates Garage, $10, Open at 5 p.m.
Kings Avenue Parking Garage (Southbank), $5,
Park at the Kings Avenue Parking Garage on the Southbank and take a Water Taxi to the Jacksonville Municipal Marina near Metropolitan Park. For ice skating, the Veterans Memorial Arena is just a short walk from Metropolitan Park.
For complete information and a downtown parking map, visit www.downtownjacksonville.org

Downtown Trolley
Hours of Operation
July 4, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Service will be limited during the fireworks show due to the Acosta
Bridge closure. Service will continue after the show ends.

Fares
$1 per person. Children ages 12 and under are free

Trolley Stops

* Metropolitan Park (Main entrance)
* Veterans Memorial Arena (Adams St. and A. Philip Randolph Blvd.)
* Liberty St. and Bay St. (near downtown bars)
* Hyatt Regency Hotel (Newnan St. and Bay St.)
* The Jacksonville Landing (Water St. and Hogan St.)
* Museum of Science and History-MOSH (Museum Circle)
* Crown Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront (Riverplace Blvd.)
* Riverside Arts Market (Riverside Ave. near the Fuller Warren Bridge)