Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Fun things to do in Jacksonville, Florida – April 2012

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April is the perfect time for outdoor festivals, and this month there is no shortage of fun things to do in Jacksonville.


Jacksonville Beer Week
April 2 – 7, 2012 
Lots of different events around town from smaller tastings to a pub crawl on April 6th. The week culminates with a grand tasting on Saturday, April 7th.
Read all about beer week here. 

MOSH Planetarium Jacksonville FloridaCosmic Concerts
April 6, 13, 20, 27
Experience total-sensory entertainment as laser lights, high-def images and digital sound collide to create a Cosmic Concert! Each concert costs $5 per person; $1 for laser glasses. Tickets are available online at www.moshplanetarium.org or at the door.

  • April 6: Pink Floyd: The Wall at 7 p.m., Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here at 8 p.m., Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon at 9 p.m., and Pink Floyd: The Best of the Wall at 10 p.m.
  • April 13: Laser Beatles at 7 p.m., Laser U2 at 8 p.m., Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon at 9 p.m., and Jimmy Buffett: Parrot Head Party at 10 p.m.
  • April 20: Laser Magic at 7 p.m., Laseropolis at 8 p.m., Laser Hypnotica at 9 p.m., and Laser X at 10 p.m.
  • April 27: Lasermania at 7 p.m., Laser Retro at 8 p.m., Laser Vinyl at 9 p.m., and Laser Led Zeppelin at 10 p.m.

First Wednesday Art Walk
April 4, 2012
Downtown Jacksonville turns into an art adventure every first Wednesday of the month. The event is a free, self-guided tour that combines astounding visual and live art, engaging events and more. It’s a downtown happening you have to try at least once. Read more about the event here.

Spoken Word – The Ritz
April 5, 2012
Visit the Ritz for a Spoken Word event on Thursday, April 5. Call 904.632.55555 for more information. 

Mandarin Art Festival & Egg Hunt
April 7 – 8, 2012
Every Easter holiday art is celebrated at this two-day event in Mandarin. More than 100 artists are expected to participate this year. Paintings, jewelry, pottery, photography and more. There’s also a Kids Art Show and an egg hunt for the younger ones. You can read more about the Mandarin Art Festival & Egg Hunt here.

Riverside Arts Market
Saturdays in  April 7, 14, 21, 28 2012
This market under the Fuller Warren Bridge is full of hand made items, arts and crafts, as well as produce, plants and vegetables. Great place for people watching! 

5th Annual Sunrise on St. Johns
April 8, 2012
A variety of churches and faith-based organizations come together to host the 5th annual Easter sunrise service, open to the public at The Jacksonville Landing. More information available at www.jacksonvillelanding.com 

Movies in the Park
April 13, 20 and 27
Movies in the Park on the Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk’s riverfront lawn is a free, four-week-long movie series. The series is held each spring on Downtown’s Southbank, screening family-friendly movies under the stars beginning at dusk (around 8 p.m.). Bring family and friends, blankets to sit on or lawn chairs and a picnic. Music and kids lawn games will keep moviegoers busy before each show.

  • April 13 – Despicable Me, rated PG
  • April 20 - The Muppet Movie, rated G
  • April 27 - Grease, rated PG 

 

Jacksonville Sharks vs. Utah Blaze

April 12, 2012

The Jacksonville Sharks Arena Football Team take on Utah Blaze at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.  

Jacksonville Superfest
April 13-15, 2012
 This festival is super BIG. Three stages, three days and over 70 acts. The organizers are expecting over 10,000 music fans of all ages, races, nationalities and abilities to come together during this event. All styles are represented here; from bluegrass, to R&B, dance, pop, rock, metal, gospel, country and more. Check out jacksonvillesuperfest.com for ticket information.

George’s Music Annual Springing the Blues
April 13-15, 2012
This popular three-day oceanfront music festival is free and features a number of renowned blues performers, held every spring in Jacksonville Beach. Click here for more information about Springing the Blues.

Van Halen – Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
April 16, 2012
Legendary performer Van Halen is coming to Jacksonville to play at the Veterans Memorial Arena. Also, Kool and the Gang.

Burn the Floor – Times-Union Center, Jacksonville
April 17, 2012
If you love ballroom dancing and TV shows such as “So You Think You Can Dance?” – then this performance is for you. See the magnificent Paso Double, the Jive, Tango, Mamba and more performed by a company of 20 dancers. 

Southeast US Boat Show
April 20 – 22, 2012
The 16th Annual Southeast US Boat Show, formally known as the Jacksonville spring boat show, will take place  at the Metropolitan Park and Marina.  The 3 day event includes live seminars, live music and the world’s most enthusiastic boaters.

22nd Annual Earth Day & Ecology Fair
April 21, 2012

Come to the Jacksonville Landing to celebrate Earth Day and learn about how you can help save the planet. more than 80 booths of educational and interactive displays, arts and crafts and activities for the entire family.  Live entertainment takes place throughout the day on the main stage and the children’s stage. 


MOSH After Dark: The City Dark

April 26, 2012
 Stimulate your mind with an evening of “Thought Theater.” MOSH After Dark in April will showcase a thought-provoking documentary (starts at 6 p.m.). The City Dark tells the definitive story of light pollution and the disappearing stars and the consequences thereof. Cost is $10 per person, $5 for members. Call 396.MOSH (6674), ext. 226 to register or register online. The City Dark is part of MOSH After Dark, a fun series of adult programs presented each month.

Cirque de la Symphonie
April 26, 2012

Special performance with Jacksonville Symphony featuring aerial artist Alexander Stretslov and a cast of cirque-nouveau performers. Cirque de la Symphonie returns with an all-new show that combines the best in symphonic music with the magic of aerial and acrobatic artistry. Some of the most accomplished Cirque performers from across the globe, including acrobats, dancers, contortionists and stongment, enter the concert hall for an unforgettable night.

Butterfly Festival – Treehill Nature Center
April 28, 2012
The annual Butterfly Festival takes place at Treehill Nature Center in Arlington. This festival includes a live butterfly release and lots of fun for kids from kid’s activities, animal demonstrations, arts and crafts activities and much more. 

International Astronomy Day
April 28, 2012
The international Astronomy Day is celebrated in Bryan-Gooding Planetarium from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a variety of family-friendly activities in salute of International Astronomy Day. The day’s programming will also include a showing of the documentary, The City Dark, which tells the definitive story of light pollution, the disappearing stars and the consequences thereof.

day at the beachOpening of the Beaches & Parade 
April 28-29 
The beaches officially welcome visitors as temperatures become warmer and families head for a day in the sun. A sandcastle contest kicks off the weekend with prizes in several categories on Saturday. Then on Sunday, a lively parade marches through Jacksonville Beach at 2 pm – and Summer is officially here!

Korn – Metropolitan Park
April 29, 2012
Korn comes to Jacksonville and performs at Metropolitan Park.  

New Lions Club in St Marys

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The new Lions Club in St Marys is already making changes for the good of the community with a new event
on Saturday October 23rd from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm, the newly formed Lions Club of St. Marys is sponsoring an area wide yard sale called “Lions Club Whale of a Sale”. Anyone can participate and it is only $20 to have a 20’x10’ space. The Whale of a Sale will be held on the grounds of the Box Board Packaging Plant at 2431 Osborne Road. The visibility and advertising should make this a well attended event! Similar events have had thousands of shoppers.

For people who do not want to set up and sell, the Lions are taking donations of gently used household and furniture items, exercise equipment, decorative items, etc. – with the exception of clothing. Donations can be dropped off at Hippo Storage in Kingsland (the old 84 Lumber) All proceeds will be kept local and will benefit local children & residents in need of vision care.

Art & WineFest in Jacksonville,Florida, August 2010

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At the Art & Wine Festival in Jacksonville you get to sample wines from around the globe, and taste food from the area’s finest restaurants as well as explore amazing desserts while you mingle. You also get to look at the works from of over twenty five of the area’s most exciting artists.

In addition, there are silent auctions for wonderful surprises in art, travel, entertainment and lots more.

Proceeds from the Art & Winefest will benefit Wolfson Children’s Hospital. The Art & Winefest, is presented by The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 177.
Tickets:$35 (plus a Service Charge of $1.50)
Thursday, August 12 from 6pm-9pm at Hyatt Regency Riverfront

Click here to buy your tickets now

Shrimp in downtown Fernandina, Florida

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Shelly, shrimp sculpture Fernandina Beach, Florida
Shelly, shrimp sculpture Fernandina Beach, Florida

Fiberglass shrimp sculptures, each whimsically decorated by a local artist have been installed in the Fernandina Beach area and on Amelia Island.  Each shrimp sculpture is unique with its own individual personality.

Shrimp Expressions  is a community art project to benefit Micah’s Place Domestic Violence Center.  But in September the Shrimp will retreat to a temporary home to rest and get freshened up because  it’s time for them to find new homes.

On  October 16, 2010, the shrimp sculptures available for purchase will be auctioned at Micah’s Place  spectacular ShrimpElation Celebration.

Tickets to the auction will go on sale to the public in August. If you would like to take part in this fun-filled evening, please call (904) 491-6364, ext. 100 to make your reservation.

Click here for a downloadable  map in pdf format  – locate the shrimp in downtown Fernandina

shrimp sculpture, Mongoose - Fernandina Beach, Fl
Moongoose, Fernandina Beach, Fl

Sustainable Seafood & Brew Event – Charleston, SC

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BREW WITH A VIEW: A SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD DELIGHT

On Tuesday July 13, 2010, the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, SC, it’s time for another Sustainable Seafood event – this time the event will include craft brews as well. It will be a special night where you get to indulge in seafood and special brews at the Riverside terrace overlooking the Charleston Harbor at the South Carolina Aquarium. All the fun is for a good cause, because proceeds from the event will go towards the South Carolina Aquarium’s conservation and education programs.

The special evening will feature sustainable seafood prepared by five of Charleston’s finest chefs, drinks, and a magnificent view. You get to taste a variety of sustainable seafood dishes prepared by the chefs from Fleet Landing, Pearlz, Slightly North of Broad, the Restaurant at Middleton Place and the Boathouse. In addition, there will also be a selection of beer samplings, courtesy of Highland Brewing Company, Brooklyn Brewery and Full Sail Brewing Company.

Tickets for the evening are $25 per Aquarium member, $35 per Aquarium non-member, and all guests must be of ages 21 or older. Advance reservations and payment are required. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (843) 577-FISH (3474).