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Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Things To Do in Jacksonville May

April 26, 2012 by Susanne Talentino

May is the best month of the year, at least when it comes to festivals and events. The kids will soon be out of school, many students are doing finals and for most of us, May tends to be a really busy month.  The weather is right now nice and warm, many of us love to head to the beach on the weekend. But if the beach is not what you are looking for, there is a whole bunch of events going on in Jacksonville this month. Here are a few suggestions.

 

Visiting French Navy Schooners during French Week
April 30 – May 2
Jacksonville is celebrating 450 years of Ribauld and the French influence on the city this month with a special French week. There are lot of history and learning type events and happenings, performance of Les Miserables, special french menus and much more. But what my eye was the two French schooners that are scheduled to visit downtown Jacksonville during the French Week celebration. You can board the ship for a tour, and it is free. Now that sounds like fun to me.  Read more about French week here.

First Wednesday Art Walk – Jacksonville
May 2, 2012
The theme for the month of May is Conservation, Fashion, Art on Wednesday, May 2 nd, 2012. You can download the art walk map right here, or pick up your copy in Hemming Plaza. Check out dates and themes for future art walk events right here on our special First Wednesday Art Walk page.

World of Nations Celebration
May 3 – 5, 2012
Take a trip around the world without leaving the city. Head to Metropolitan Park for an exciting adventure without having to pack suitcases, get plane tickets or worry about getting a passport. See the world right here on the First Coast. Read more about this event at our page for World of Nations in Jacksonville.

Movies in the Park
May 4, 2012
In the warmer months you can get your gang ready and head out to watch a family-friendly movie under the stars in the park. This year the outdoor film screening takes place on the Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk’s riverfront lawn on Downtown’s Southbank.. On May 4 Th. you can watch Jurassic Park.

First Friday Art Walk in St.Augustine
May 4, 2012
This monthly event is one of the most popular in St. Augustine.  Check out the many galleries in the downtown area for the latest. You can read more about this recurring event on our special page for First Friday Art Walk.

Gamble Rogers Folk Festival
May 4 – 5, 2012
This festival celebrates folk music with lots of music. On Friday at St. Augustine Marina, and then all day at St. Augustine Amphitheatre.

Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival – Amelia Island
May 4 – 6, 2012
This is without doubt the biggest event of the year for Fernandina Beach, Fl. The festival kicks off already on Thursday with a parade complete with pirates and cannons. Then on Friday night it’s time for the pirate invasion, followed by the big festival itself on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday there’s also a blessing of the fleet. You can read more about Amelia Island – Fernandina Shrimp Festival here.

World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Monday, May 7, 2012
The world will be watching as Phil Mickelson, Hollis Stacy, Dan Jenkins, Peter Alliss and Sandy Lyle are honored in an evening ceremony at the World Golf Hall of Fame.Call (904) 940-4123 or visit www.worldgolfhalloffame.org.

THE PLAYERS Championship
May 10-13, 20112
It’s one of golf’s biggest events and it’s played annually on the coastline of Northeast Florida at the famed Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Florida. The lush, green rolling hills and steep inclines offer spectacular views of each hole.

Pops at the Beach 
May 13, 2012
As usual, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra invites everyone to a concert on Mother’s Day at Jax Beach Seawalk Pavilion from 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm.  Goliath Flores performs at 6:00 p.m. Featuring the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, then at 7:30 p.m. Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Jacksonville Beach Hotline:  904.247.6100 x3 

Wild Amelia Festival
May 18 – 20, 2012
Wild Amelia Nature Festival is a three day long festival celebrating the bioregion around Amelia Island. This nature festival includes a variety of nature tours led by naturalists and Park Rangers, as well as nature photography workshops by local professionals.

Jacksonville Jazz Festival
May 24 – 27, 2012
The Jazz Festival in Jacksonville is acolorful, vibrant street festival. The popular music festival takes place on Memorial Day weekend – May 24 – 27, 2012. Besides music, you can enjoy the Heart Art Show & Sale, Wine Down Brew Town Tasting Experience, jazz exhibits, children’s educational activities and much more. More than 150,000 fans converged on downtown Jacksonville during the 2010 festival.

Moonlight Movies
May 25, 2012
Come to Seawalk Pavilion to enjoy the first movie in the moonlight series for the Summer. First movie out, everybody’s favorite: Men in Black. This is a free screening. 

Uptown Saturday Night – St. Augustine
May 26, 2012
During this monthly event, shops, antique stores and art galleries stay open late in the San Marco district. There’s live music, sometimes readings or book signings and you can rub elbows with artist and art lovers alike. Many places serve refreshment and there is a festival-like atmosphere in the area.

World Class Soccer in Jacksonville
May 26, 2012
This match U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Scotland is what’s called an “international friendly” but don’t let that fool you. This is an anticipated world-class soccer event on Everbank Field, right here in Jacksonville.

Amelia Island Book Festival

December 30, 2011 by Susanne Talentino

Author Steve Berry. Photo by: Kelly Campbell

This year it will be the 11th year for the Amelia Island Book Festival – and in 2012 the festival has an impressive line up of guest authors. Best selling author STEVE BERRY  is again participating. He is a big supporter of the Amelia Island Book Festival. Also participating this year is David Morrell. DAVID MORRELL, is also a New York Times best selling author of more than 30 books, the creator of Rambo, and a noted writing teacher and mentor.

The festival has a Writer’s Workshop, a luncheon which this year will feature Paula McLain, known for her best selling novel Paris Wife.

The Reader’s festival on Saturday, February 18, 2012, from 9 am – 4.30 pm, is free and open to the public. It’s a great opportunity for those who want to write, or if you just enjoy books and reading. Everyone is invited to come and hang out.

Read more on our special page for the Amelia Island Book Festival. 

48th Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival – Fernandina Beach Florida

April 5, 2011 by Joe Talentino

This year it’s the 48th Anniversary for the popular Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival in Historic Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island ,Florida. This year the festival is scheduled for April 29 – May 1, 2011. Now this event is one of the first events we visited when we moved to the coast so it will always be special to me. Don’t take my word for it come and check out the festival for yourself and let me know what you think.

 

For all the details checkout our Shrimp Festival page

Fourth of July in Florida

June 24, 2010 by Susanne Talentino

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

3rd Annual Holiday Home Tour in Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, FL

December 3, 2009 by Susanne Talentino

Amelia Island Museum3rd Annual Holiday Home Tour in Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, FL takes place on December 4th and 5th, 2009.
The Amelia Island Museum of History showcases the 3rd annual Holiday Home Tour in historic Fernandina Beach this weekend. Five unique homes, never before open to the public, has been chosen for the tour.

The Holiday Home Tour will take place on December 4th and 5th, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tour tickets are $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the tour.

You can also enjoy a Victorian-style tea at the historical Bailey House after the tour. Tickets are $15.

For more tickets and more information visit www.ameliamuseum.org or call (904) 261-7378 ext. 100.


For more information, visit our events calendar listing for the Holiday Tour of Homes in Fernandina

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