Jacksonville is known for many things like our beautiful beaches, and the Jaguars but did you know that Jacksonville also is insanely popular for the happening entertainment scene and events that continually come to the city or are locally provided year-round? The holidays are absolutely no exception and there is no shortage of amazing holiday events in Jacksonville to attend this holiday season.
Here is a list of some of our favorites to help guide you on what’s going on around town so you can plan your family nights, date nights, and weekends while experiencing as much holiday magic as possible.
Deck the Chairs
Kicking off on November 23, the Deck the chairs event will be celebrating 10 years! This event has more than forty American Red Cross life guard chairs boasting coastal-themed designs and lights. It’s completely free to visit so be sure to add this to your list of must-do holiday events around Jacksonville. 2024 Dates: November 27 – January 1
Moonlight Movies
Bring your chairs and blankets to the Seawalk Pavilion for a free moonlight movie. Sponsored by Deck the Chairs and the City of Jacksonville Beach, this is a fun family event. 2024 Date: December 6
Holiday Pops
A true Jacksonville holiday tradition with the Jacksonville Symphony. Includes an indoor snowfall event with the Symphony, guest singers, and many dancers from Douglas Anderson School for the Arts. 2024 Dates: December 5-8
St. Augustine Regatta of Lights
Catch all the festive decorations on a variety of boats and vessels as they float along the bayfront in St. Augustine during the annual Regatta of Lights. The water parade starts at 6 p.m. Post show, you can wander through historic downtown and enjoy the Nights of Lights throughout the city. 2024 Date: December 14
Glowing Gardens
Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens transforms into a holiday wonderland this holiday season featuring millions of Christmas lights, gleaming forests, and a magical display guaranteed to bring the whole family joy. 2024 Dates: November 29 – December 29
Beaches Museum North Pole Express
Beaches Museum is putting on the Beaches North Pole Express event again this year and it will include a meet and greet with Santa and the Conductor. Visitors are invited to write a letter to Santa and to come take pictures with jolly old St. Nick. 2024 Dates: December 13
Blackhawk Bluff Christmas Lights Display
One of the best lights displays in North Florida with the entire neighborhood decorated in lights. You can drive through the Christmas lights display on Sunday thru Thursday 6 to 10pm and Friday & Saturday 6 to 11pm. 2024 Dates: November 29 – December 31
Alhambra Theatre and Dining Presents A Christmas Story
Perfect for the whole family! Christmas Story the Musical is a hilarious and touching coming-of-age story of growing up in the Midwest in the 1940s. Tickets can be purchased online. 2024 Dates: November 21 – December 24
Annual Gingerbread House Extravaganza
The Jacksonville Historical Society will host the Annual Gingerbread Extravaganza this year that includes the traditional exhibit at Old St. Andrew’s Church as well as a holiday gift shop, bake shop, silent auction and an online contest to vote for your favorite display. 2024 Dates: December 7-28
Jacksonville Holiday Marketplace
Join us at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds in Hall A for a festive shopping experience. Get into the holiday spirit with unique gifts, delicious treats, and fun activities for the whole family. Explore a variety of vendors offering everything from handmade crafts to tasty treats. 2024 Dates: December 13-14
ZOOLights Colors of the Wild at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
ZOOLights gives you an amazing opportunity to celebrate all of the joys of the season at the zoo. Tour the grounds of the zoo to take in LED lights that turn the exhibits into an amazing wonderland of illumination. A special lighted train also runs through the zoo, and you might fill an empty stomach with roasted marshmallows too. This is a holiday event in Jacksonville that is fun for the entire family! 2024 Dates: Most weekend from Thanksgiving until February
Riverside Avondale Luminaria
It is a holiday tradition for residents of Riverside Avondale to gather with neighbors and friends or visit our parks and churches by walking the lighted sidewalks illuminated with candles. 2024 Date: December 8
Jacksonville Symphony’s First Coast Nutcracker
A family tradition in Northeast Florida celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, this timeless masterpiece comes to life with the only performance in Jacksonville with a full, live symphony orchestra. 2024 Dates: December 14-15
Cirque Dreams Holidaze
Cirque Dream Holidaze brings the joy and excitement of the holiday season like never before to The Florida Theatre. The production features some of the greatest holiday songs of all time performed with a world-renowned cast. 2024 Date: December 17
Handel’s Messiah at the Jacksonville Symphony
The Jacksonville Symphony, guest soloists and the more than 100 voices of the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus present music’s most powerful message of faith this holiday season. 2024 Dates: December 14-15
Have a wonderful Holiday season! Leave a comment below on which event around Jacksonville is your family favorite or let us know if we missed one and we will be sure to include it for next year!
Lindsey has lived in Jacksonville now for over 12 years and is originally from the southeast Georgia area. She is a business and data manager for UF Health Emergency and Trauma services downtown by day, a travel agent, social media influencer, and BLS instructor by night. Lindsey is also the mom of three kids, Lily, Logan, and Ruby. She is married to a very talented musician, Cody who plays locally all around in the Bold City Classics and Blue Muse and with the symphony as well. Lindsey started posting on social media about her trips to Disney and beyond on social media in the last few years as a means to document the joy and help others with planning their trips, balancing traveling and motherhood and finding the true magic in it all. As her presence grew she was invited to become a travel agent specializing in Disney and other theme parks because of her expansive knowledge. You can follow Lindsey on Instagram and tiktok as well as request a free travel quote for your trip @magicmomlife or send her an email at [email protected].
Thank you so much for this list! What fun! It is exactly what I was looking for. Merry Christmas!
Will there be a Taste of the holidays event for 2023?
Not sure yet, but we’ll update as soon as we hear!