Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Fourth of July in Florida

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The Fourth of July holiday is built around traditions and for many it’s a great family tradition to celebrate the weekend together friends and family.  We have come up with a few ideas for fun things to do on the coast of Northeast Florida for the Fourth of July weekend.

Daytona International Speedway - NASCARDAYTONA BEACH
NASCAR fans kick off Indpendence Day early and head to Daytona Beach, Florida, for the famous Coke Zero 400 Weekend.  This event takes place July 1 – 3, 2010, at Daytona International Speedway.  It’s one of the few NASCAR races taking place at night, and with the summer heat, that’s a good thing for us.  Besides fast cars, there’s live music, fireworks and much more.
Check out our page for Coke Zero 400 Weekend for more.

ST AUGUSTINE
There’s no better place to celebrate Independence Day than in the Nation’s Oldest City – St. Augustine, Florida.  The beautiful, historic city is always well worth a visit, especially if you have friends and family coming to town.  Make sure to take time to walk around in the historic downtown area – or take a horse carriage ride if it’s too hot.

St. Augustine offers free concert and of course impressive fireworks over Mantanzas Bay. This is one of the most anticipated events in St. Augustine, so expect lots of people – and traffic.  Check out page for  Fourth of July in St Augustine for more details and parking suggestions.

JACKSONVILLE

Last year the city of Jacksonville had a lot of events going on around town – but with the budget cuts it seems as if everything is now centered around the Jacksonville Landing in downtown.  The day starts with free concerts at the Jacksonville Landing, and at dusk it’s time for fireworks at the riverfront.

There’s also fireworks and fun at Jax Beach.

Click here to visit our special page with details including parking suggestions for Fourth of July Events in Jacksonville.

FERNANDINA BEACH

The Stars and Stripes Freedom Festival and Parade takes place in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island. The Festival itself takes place on Saturday July 3, 2010, while the parade and fireworks happen on Sunday July 4.

We went to Fernandina Beach for Fourth of July last year and made a video about the experience that is posted on the  special page for Stars and Stripes Freedom Festival & Fireworks

Boone Hall Beach Blast – Charleston, SC

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Life’s a Beach in Charleston, SC, when Boone Hall Plantation opens it gates to the 2nd Annual Boone Hall Beach Blast on Saturday June 26, 2010.

Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs
Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs

Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs headline the 2nd Annual Boone Hall Beach Blast on Saturday June 26, 2010. Maurice Williams is best known for his number one hit “Stay” which was also featured in , “Dirty Dancing,” starring the late Patrick Swayze. But Williams rose to the top of billboard’s charts back in 1964 with the big hit “May I”.

The Mighty Tams are also appearing at the event, this group is well-known in beach music circles. Their entertaining performance includes
memorable hits and choreographed dancing. Other performers are The
Fantastic Shakers, The Sugar Bees, and reggae music by The Mystic Vibrations.

The Tams
The Tams

But there’s more than music at this event. No Beach Party is complete without a bikini contest – so Boone Hall hosts its own. There will also be
volleyball, shag lessons, and much more.

Beer, wine, and “beach” style food will be available for purchase. Bring your lawn chairs and beach blankets and find your spot on the beautiful back lawn at Boone Hall Plantation.

Schedule – Gates open 11am

Boone Hall Beach Blast12:00 – 1:45 Mystic Vibrations
2:00 – 3:00 – Sizzling Summer Bikini Contest
3:30 – 4:30 – The SugarBees
5:00 – 6:30 – The Fantastic Shakers
7:00 – 8:30 – The Tams
9:00 – 10:30 – Maurice Williams – The Zodiacs

For more information, visit www.boonehallplantation.com

Michael Bublé on “Crazy Love Tour”

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The immensely popular singer Michael Bublé is visiting Jacksonville, Florida, this summer. Michel is on a “Crazy Love Tour” and he is stopping by the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on July 11, 2010.

Grammy Award-winner Michael Bublé is heading out on tour in support of his number 1 selling release, “Crazy Love.” “I’m an entertainer.. It’s what I live for.. I can’t wait to get back on tour. The show will be bombastic, cinematic and at the same time a very intimate experience. And besides, I can’t wait to see my fans, I’ve missed them,” said Bublé about returning to performing.

Click here to get your tickets now!

REO Speedwagon, Pat Benetar & Neil Girardo

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REO Speedwagon was part of the 80s rock era kings. Their album Hi Infidelity became one of 1981’s biggest albums — spawning one of the best-known power ballads of all time, “Keep on Loving You,” as well as such popular rock radio hits as “Don’t Let Him Go” and “Take It on the Run.” Hi Infidelity would eventually go on to sell more than nine million copies — catapulting REO to arena-headlining status.

REO Speedwagon continued to score further hit albums (1982’s Good Trouble, 1984’s Wheels Are Turnin’) and singles (“Keep the Fire Burnin’,” the number one hit power ballad “Can’t Fight This Feeling”.

REO Speedwagon performs at St. Augustine Amphitheatre on Friday July 2, 2010 at 7:00 pm.

Click here for tickets for REO Speedwagon, Pat Benetar & Neil Girardo now!
St Augustine Amphitheatre logo

Pops at the Beach – Mother’s Day Concert at Jacksonville Beach, Florida

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POPS AT THE BEACH
It is spring, it is TPC week, and it is Mother’s Day. Cap off the week of championship golf by talking your favorite mother to the Sea Walk Pavilion on Mother’s Day. What better way to honor her than a Pops concert featuring the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra performing a little night music.  An extra plus is the fact that admission to the concert is free, so you can treat Mom to lunch or dinner instead.  Just bring mom, friends, family, lawn chairs or blanket, and enjoy an evening of great music, moonlight, sea breezes and the sounds of the ocean. This is a family event, kids of all ages are welcome. Soft drinks, wine and beer, food, and dessert are available for purchase. Admission is free. The event area opens at 5:00 PM.

The City of Jacksonville Beach, Beaches Fine Arts Series, B.R.A.S.S., and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra are partnering again to bring you the annual Mother’s Day POPS AT THE BEACH concert featuring the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, May 9, 2010.

This is the 16th POPS AT THE BEACH performance by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and the 10th from the Sea Walk Pavilion stage designed specifically for the JSO by The Haskell Company. Under the direction of guest conductor Morihiko Nakahara, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra takes the stage at 7:30 PM performing music from the movies, the opera, Broadway and the concert hall. Maestro Nakahara is in his second season as music director of the South Carolina Philharmonic. Having served as Jacksonville Symphony associate conductor in 2007, he continues to make annual JSO conducting appearances.

The Jacksonville Mass Choir starts off the evening’s entertainment at 5:45 PM with To Michael with Love – The Songs of Michael Jackson. The group is directed by Deborah McDuffie, Artistic Director for the Jacksonville Mass Choir and its younger component, Boys and Girls Choir; and, Chair of the Fine Arts Department/Choral Director at Paxon School for Advanced Studies and Executive Director of Arts4Jax, Inc., a community performing arts foundation in Jacksonville, Florida.
There is no better way to show moms how special they are than this outstanding performance under the stars at Jacksonville Beach’s Sea Walk Pavilion.

For more information, call the hotline  (904) 247-6100 press 3 or visit  www.jacksonvillebeach.org.

MOTHER’S DAY CONCERT PROGRAM

THE JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
MORIHIKO NAKAHARA, CONDUCTING A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC!
Overture to West Side Story BERNSTEIN/PERESS
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Mvt. I MOZART
Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music SONDHEIM/LOWDEN
Por Una Cabeza (Tango from Scent of a Woman) GARDEL/WILLIAMS Philip Pan, violin
Suite from Carmen BIZET Les Toreadors – Suite No. 1, Mvt. V Habanera – Suite No. 2, Mvt. II Nocturn – Suite No. 2, Mvt. III Danse Boheme – Suite No. 2, Mvt. VI

INTERMISSION

The Wizard of Oz ARLEN/SAYRE
La Comparsa (Night Procession) LECUONA
Dance of the Hours from La Gioconda PONCHELLI
Moon River MANCINI
Phantom of the Opera WEBBER/CUSTER