Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Events in November – Amelia Island, Florida

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Upcoming events on Amelia Island include:


November 20, 2008
2008 Beaujolais Nouveau
On November 20, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island will celebrate the arrival of the 2008 Beaujolais Nouveau with a lavish fete in the Ritz-Carlton ballroom. An annual tradition since 1991, the event has featured the arrival of the world-famous wine by parachute, pirate ship, and Mercedes. More than 500 guests will enjoy the elegant affair, featuring art, wine and abundant hors d’oeuvres in a traditional French bistro setting. For ticket information for this extravagant event, please call (904) 277-1028.

November 22, 2008
Amelia Island Bed and Breakfast Association Holiday Cookie Tour
Looking for a new cookie recipe? Let Fernandina’s “pro” bakers share a recipe and a taste of their signature baked goods during the annual Holiday Cookie Tour. Enjoy a holiday treat and a walk through the common area of seven of Amelia’s beautiful inn’s, all decked out in holiday attire covering Thanksgiving through Christmas. Held from 1 – 5 p.m., the tour will include admission to the Addison on Amelia, Amelia Island Williams House, Ash Street Inn, Elizabeth Pointe Lodge, Fairbanks House, Florida House Inn, and Hoyt House. Tickets are $20 each and are available at any of the seven inns, the Visitor’s Depot on Centre Street, and the Chamber of Commerce Gateway Office. For more information, visit www.ameliaislandinns.com.

November 26, 2008
christmasAnnual Christmas Tree Lighting and Character Dinner
At 5:30 p.m., the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island will hold their Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, complete with refreshments, music and, of course, a visit from Santa. The celebration will be followed by a Holiday Character Dinner at 6:30 p.m., where the family can dine with Santa, elves, reindeer and other holiday characters. Admission to the Character dinner is $49 for adults and $25 for children 3-12. The tree lighting is free and open to the public. For event reservations and information, please call (904) 277-1028.

November 28, 2008
Annual Pajama Party Sale & Contest
Snuggling into the holiday shopping season in historic downtown Fernandina Beach, the Annual Pajama Party Sale & Contest on Centre Street will begin at 8 a.m. Held the Friday after Thanksgiving, shoppers can enjoy free contest registration until 11 a.m., giving them plenty of time to slip into their footed pajamas, bunny slippers, and other assorted sleepwear. Pajama clad shoppers enjoy special deals and discounts, along with fresh juice, coffee and pastries to fuel their shopping spirit. Shoppers entering the contest are eligible for “Best Dressed Individual Shopper in Pajamas” and “Best Dressed Shopping Group in Pajamas.” For more information, contact Sandy Price at (904) 261-9504.

November 28, 2008
Annual Holiday Light Celebration
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Amelia Island Plantation will light up the holiday season with thousands of twinkling white lights. From 6 to 9 p.m., visit The Spa & Shops at Amelia Island Plantation for an enjoyable evening of live entertainment, complimentary hot chocolate, apple cider, cookies, and horse and carriage rides. And don’t forget to get your picture with Santa. For more information, go to www.aipfl.com/Calendar_of_Events_Shops.htm, or contact The Spa & Shops at Amelia Island Plantation at (904) 432-2202.

November 29
Fernandina Beach Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
christmasThe City of Fernandina Beach and Historic Fernandina Business Association will host the official City of Fernandina Beach Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Held in front of the old train depot at the foot of Centre Street, Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive early, at 3 p.m., to meet and be available to take pictures with the kids of the community. Music by area choirs and bands will also take place in the downtown business district from 3 to 6 p.m. at various locations. Santa will return each Saturday in December, allowing parents a picture perfect opportunity. For more information, contact Melba Whitaker at 904-261-3635 or access the Calendar of Events at www.downtownfernandina.com.

November 29, 2008
Holiday Carnival
From 4 to 7 p.m., Amelia Island Plantation will hold its annual Holiday Carnival at The Spa & Shops. Bring the whole family to enjoy a ride on the carousel, chat with Santa Claus during a horse and carriage ride, and complimentary Christmas Cookies and Hot Chocolate. For more information, contact The Spa & Shops at Amelia Island Plantation at (904) 432-2202 or www.aipfl.com/Calendar_of_Events_Shops.htm.

Halloween in Jacksonville

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There is a lot going on in Jacksonville, from your regular Fall Festivals with pumpkins and scarecrows to Spookier Events requiring costumes. We have picked a few cool happenings for Halloween.

Spooktacular for Party Animals
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens kicks-off its holiday celebrations with 21st Annual Spooktacular. The is a kid-friendly event for the family featuring live entertainment, music, bounce houses, face painting and lots of fun! Children can dress up in costumes and stop by treat-stations located throughout the zoo.
The Spooktacular Halloween celebration takes place Oct. 24, 25, 26, 30, 31
and Nov. 1.
www.jacksonvillezoo.org

Roaring Good Times
3rd Annual Haunted Forest Halloween Party. This is a Two Day Spooky “Cat-tacular” Event Tour the ranch and meet all the big cat residents and quite a few spooky residents that weren’t invited to the ranch. Come dressed in your costume and tour of the ranch Candy, Prizes and Games for the Kids – Pumpkin Carving – Fortune Telling – and much, much more.It’ll be a ROARING good time. www.cattyshack.org

Friday, October 24th, 2008 5:00pm – 8:00pm & Saturday, October 25th, 2008 5:00pm – 9:00 pm
Tickets are $10 per person, 7 years old & up, Children 3-6 is $5, 2 years & under free!

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
October 24, 2008 at 12:00am at the Florida Theatre
The antici…pation is over! The cult classic film will be shown at midnight at the Florida Theatre. Come early for an action-packed street festival with The Rocky Horror Tribute Band, costume contest, food, beverages and fun. Get your tickets today before they are sold out. $5 per person. General admission.
Rocky Horror is the first and only true audience partici-(SAY IT!)-pation movie. People yell back lines at the screen during the extended pauses between dialogue, dress up in costume and act out the film, and throw props various times during the film.
The audience participation phenomenon was observed as early as the film’s first run in 1975 and was later re-released as a midnight movie where the audience participation really began to flourish. For the “gore sensitive”, Rocky Horror is NOT a horror film. It is a rock-musical send-up of old science-fiction and horror films.
Click here for more Rocky information for first-timers.

Tickets can be purchased at the Florida Theatre box office or in City Hall St. James in Suite 280. Dress up as your favorite Rocky character, bring your props and join in the fun!
Doors open at 11 p.m.

Street Festival, 8 p.m.
Forsyth St. in front of the Florida Theatre
– Live entertainment by the Rocky Horror Tribute Band- Costume Contest
– DJ MayDay
– Planet Radio 107.3 tent
– Photo Booth
– Food vendors, beverages and fun!
Forsyth St. between Ocean St. and Newnan St. will be closed on Friday, October 24 from noon – 3 a.m.
INFO: (904)630-3690
www.makeascenedowntown.com

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow – Symphony Style
Symphonic Spooktacular : The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
October 26, 2008 from 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Jacksonville Symphony offers a frighteningly fun Halloween concert for the whole family. We’ll haunt the symphony house with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and more thrills and chills. Bring the kids in their favorite costumes and arrive early to play Halloween games before the concert. The ghouls and goblins of the orchestra will be wearing their costumes, too.
Times-Union Center: Jacoby Symphony Hall
Morihiko Nakahara, conductor
www.jaxsymphony.org

They’re Here – Ghostbusters in St Augustine

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There is no better way to get into the Halloween spirit than with a scary movie. This flick probably contains more laughs than screams, it is the classic movie about three unemployed parapsychology professors set up shop as a unique ghost removal service. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver and others… click here to read more about Ghostbusters

Info: (904)471-1965
Website www.staugamphitheatre.com
Ghostbusters
Date October 24, 2008
Time 8:00pm
St. Augustine Amphitheatre

Spooktacular Halloween Party at the Zoo – Jacksonville, Florida

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This Halloween, celebrate with the city’s biggest party animals at the Jacksonville Zoo!
Spooktacular is a safe and exciting Halloween adventure for kids of all ages.
Get into the spirit with:

* Hundreds of lit jack-o-lanterns
* The Enchanted Forest
* Select animal exhibits
* Pirates Cove
* Lights extravaganza at the Gardens at Trout River Plaza
* Candy stations throughout the Zoo

For more information, please visit www.jacksonvillezoo.org