Tthere are so many wonderful opportunities to get out and enjoy the festive northeast Florida area. From now until January 2nd, The 4th Annual Winter Wonderland is at the St. Augustine amphitheatre on A1A South just south of the entrance to Anastasia State Park. Admission is free and you can purchase tickets for the different activities, such as a train or sleigh ride, ice skating and ice slides, Blizzard Bounce House and S'mores by the fire pit. Every night at 7pm and 9pm snow will fall on the ice rink and the Elf Village.
On December 1st, the JSYO Philharmonic, the premier ensemble of the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra, will give a free concert in Jacoby Hall during the First Wednesday Downtown Art Walk night.
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular will be at the Times Union Center from December 2nd-12th. The performance schedule is as follows:
2nd-2pm,7:30pm
3rd-2,5,8pm
4th- 11am,2,5,8pm
5th- 11am,2,5,8pm
7th-9th - 2pm,7:30pm
10th-2,5,8pm
11th- 11am,2,5,8pm
12th- 11am,2,5pm
On December 3rd there will be a performance of Handel's Messiah by UNF students at St. Marks' Episcopal Church. The cost is $10 for adults and $3 for children.
The St. Johns County Festival of Trees at World Golf Village will be open from December 3rd-12th The Grand Opening is Friday, December 3rd from 6pm-8pm and admission is free. Visitors can vote for their favorite trees and wreaths and there will be a silent auction for these items. Mr. and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance and visitors can participate in cookie decorating. The festival is open daily from 9am-9pm, except for the last day, December 12th, when the hours are 9am-3pm.
For a touch of nostalgia visit ABET to see Little Women from December 3rd-18th. ABET (Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre) is a not-for-profit theatre with something for everyone. Showtimes are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, students, and military. There is a special family rate of $5 for children 12 and under when accompanied by an adult.
If you live in near Julington Creek, be sure to check out the Holiday Boat Parade on December 4th at 7pm. There are cash prizes for this boat decorating competition. Or, if you missed seeing the Messiah on the 3rd, there will be another one the this night with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra at 8pm at Jacoby Symphony Hall. Tickets can be ordered online.
Children won't want to miss a performance of The Polar Express on December 5th at 3pm at Jacoby symphony Hall. Pre-concert activities begin at 2 pm, including the Symphony Guild’s Instrument Zoo.This show is recommended for children ages 5-12. General admission ticket price is $7. Reserved tickets are $20 adult, $18 child.
On December 7th, Tthe Cummer Shop at Ethan Allen at St. Johns Town Center will be featuring Holiday Baubles and Bubbles, with glass blowing demonstrations by JU students and complimentary champagne.
Holiday Pops is a Jacksonville tradition. Here you can enjoy holiday favorites and the voice of soprano Kishna Davis. This show, sponsored by Stein Mart, runs December 1th-12th.
The Children's Christmas Party of Jacksonville will be held on December 11th from 9am-12:30pm,( or until all toys are gone) at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. Jacksonville's children, 12 years of age and younger, who otherwise might not receive toys for Christmas, will be treated to a fun day in celebration of this important holiday. There is plenty of free parking. Accessible public transportation is nearby. If you are interested in supporting this important event and making a difference in the lives of Jacksonville youth, please consider a personal or corporate donation.
Visit the Cummer Art Museum on December 14th for ArtVentures Family Night from 4pm-8pm. This free evening, sponsored by blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, offers an opportunity to watch demonstrating artists and to create some art, also.
A traditional favorite, The First Coast Nutcracker, will be performed December 17th-19th. This performance will entertain the whole family, with internationally renowned principal dancers Klara Houdet of the National Ballet of Canada and Ogulcan Borova of the Cincinnati Ballet, area young dance corps and Tchaikovsky’s melodies played by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.
With such an abundance and variety of activities going on in northeast Florida, theonly problem will be deciding which ones to enjoy!
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