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    Deck the Chairs

    4.8 (26 reviews)

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    Astrida M.

    12/19/24 The first night of our trip, we decided to go see the Deck the Chairs exhibition to get into that Christmasy mood in Jacksonville. It was around 11pm after we had dinner. We drove over to the area and found parking very easily. There is no charge for this exhibition. It is the size of a couple of short blocks to walk around in. It is well kept up with paved sidewalks. There were lots of families walking around at that time and it is well lit up so we were not scared to be out there. We found it relaxing and fun. There were nice exhibits that would appeal to all ages. We would go see it again next time we are in that area.

    Charlotte P.

    Shout out to Jacksonville Beach! This years Chair display was so good! I have lost count the number of times I have celebrated the season with a visit to Deck the Chairs. The sea fog had just started to drift in as we arrived. It was a great backdrop for the glow of the displays. One of my favorite experiences is always seeing the small children dance and celebrate as they go from display to display. The school exhibits were my favorite. So much work, creativity and dedication to their creations. Until next year! Cowabunga!!!

    Linda B.

    Finally got to see this! Incredible display at its finest with so many groups represented! Spectacular visuals and great displays leaves you in the holiday spirit and wanting to return!

    Mindy P.

    If you are looking for something to add to your Christmas time traditions, Deck the Chairs is the perfect holiday family night or cozy date night experience. Loads of magical twinkling lights and Christmas music create an idyllic scene. Each life guard chair has been transformed into its own little holiday wonder, with decorations and lights galore! Some have places for photo opportunities built into their exhibit as well. It's a free event and free parking at the beach! Go check it out!

    Michelle D.

    Since moving to Jacksonville in 2014, I have visited Deck the Chairs every year. If I have company in town, I make sure they check it out too. Local businesses and organizations decorate a lifeguard chair with Christmas decorations. Usually there is a theme for each chair. For example, the military had a chair this year which represented every branch. One of my favorite staples is the big Christmas tree made of lights that changes colors based on the beat of the song that is playing. This puts me in a trance, and I can't stop watching because I never know the pattern of colors coming next. There were several interactive children's exhibits. I saw one little girl get in a playhouse and convinced both her parents to get in the tiny space with her. So cute! This annual Jacksonville Beach event will put everyone of all ages in the Christmas mood. This year there were some adorable exhibits made with recyclable goods. Loved the concept! If you've never visited, make sure next December you stop by and check it out.

    Rachel T.

    Deck the Chairs exceeded my expectations. This was described to me as "decorated lifeguard chairs", but it is SO much more. These Christmas displays are huge!! And there are so many! I can't believe this was a free attraction either. Parking at the beach is free until March too. What a fun night for the whole family! There was plenty of Christmas music, and everyone was in a festive mood. I want to say there were hundreds, if not thousands of people the night I went. It was packed elbow to elbow. We browsed the Seawalk pavilion grounds slowly taking in all the sights and sounds. They do a light show display every hour on the hour. Under one tent they had concessions and merchandise, but we didn't go under it since it was so busy. Jacksonville Beach is so lucky to have this amazing free festival during the holidays!

    Very nice Christmas lights by the beach. We stopped by on the way to Amelia Island and I was surprised. Every station is made with beach chairs. Lights, music... gets you on the Christmas vibe!

    Mark R.

    I have to say every year it gets better and better with deck the chairs. A huge shout out to angels construction for the outstanding job they did with building the Grinch, which had a long line for people wanting to take pictures. Their attention to detail was outstanding, and their support for the community is beyond reproach. I was most impressed with this veteran owned business giving back to the community in such a creative and loving way. They even assisted the high school students and expressing their creativity in a way that gives back to the people of Jacksonville. If you have not, then you must go if you have been it's time to return.

    So fun!
    Alexa A.

    We came here the day after thanksgiving around 7 pm. It was super busy and parking was hard to find. A lot of families with small children. I think if we came a little later, around 8 or 9 pm, it would be less busy. The lights are amazing! We come every year. The beaches go green lights were super cool, they used SO MANY water bottles to make their tunnels. Really cool seeing all the educational aspects too! Great photo ops throughout.

    Amado G.

    It's really cool and fun to see things like this going during times where it's uncertain to go out. But Deck the Chairs is always one of my favorite events every year. I'm originally from New York so things like this take me back to Manhattan during the Christmas times. Each chair was decorated Awesome. They even had a section of nothing but recyclable things which I thought was outstanding. From water bottles to plastic bags to bottle caps. If you haven't made your way to these lights I'd suggest you do so. It's nice and cool with lights the kids will enjoy.

    Karen C.

    Free, family friendly event for the holidays. Great place to take friends and family who might be visiting for the holidays. Several places close by to grab a drink or bite to eat also.

    Anita S.

    With plenty of free beach parking nearby, Deck the Chairs is one of the most fun and simple ways to experience a lights display in the area. With plenty of built in photo ops, a few interactive displays, and a booth to visit for treats, this free event is can't miss. Stroll through and then grab a bite from somewhere nearby for a full night of holiday cheer.

    Julie A.

    Love this little free event. So many beautifully decorated chairs and interactive Christmas photo opps! Deck your instagram with cute family holiday photos. i came here alone to relax and soak in the festivities. Highly recommend it!

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    Ask the Community - Deck the Chairs

    Review Highlights - Deck the Chairs

    I'm originally from New York so things like this take me back to Manhattan during the Christmas times.

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    St Augustine Lions Seafood Festival - The old wooden schoolhouse.

    St Augustine Lions Seafood Festival

    2.5(11 reviews)
    27.4 mi

    the reason the parking is free is so you can come in and spend an arm and a leg on the nasty food…read more I ate at "gyros" and 2 crab cakes with a salad was $25 i asked if i could just have one crab cake and of course they did but did not want to adjust the price at all. We also got some shrimp mac and cheese ($20) that was cold and at the end of the day just kept me in the bathroom. Stay FAR AWAY from this event and spend your money literally anywhere else to eat and get a 10x better deal and won't get sick. There was even a vendor the got featured on food network in 2007 (almost 20 years ago) and wants $45-$50 for everything like if your not standing in dirt eating on a paper plate. Big scam festival and hope they don't come back.

    4 of us friends took a bus trip (Lamers) to this festival…read more There were many food tents that had quite long lines. Prices were reasonable to somewhat high. Tents for shopping were plentiful with a huge variety of items to choose from. There were tents with items to buy in a large field as well as many along the streets in the main area of town. The old wooden schoolhouse is still an interesting attraction. Pirates were everywhere which were fun to see...the most handsome pirate looked a lot like Jack Sparrow. He was very handsome, polite and kind enough to let me take a few photos of him.

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    Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival - The 57th Annual Topsy Smith Memorial Beard Contest 2026

    Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival

    4.3(18 reviews)
    26.6 mi

    Really enjoyed the festival. Had been to Amelia Island at least 5 times and finally made it to the…read morefestival. There are very good vendors at this one. Truly a focus on art. A large quantity of non profit food booths that raise money for great causes. Located in a beautiful community with extremely friendly people. Plenty of restrooms and also portapots. Entertainment at the waterfront. Boat cruises. Florida's oldest bar. Mostly paid parking during the 3 day festival. Many nice restaurants located throughout. No charge to go to the festival if you don't need to park.

    Oh MY!!! Seriously, I have lived in Jacksonville almost 8 years now and I didn't know about this…read moreevent! Crazy. First- it is chaos, they estimated this year to have 150k visitors for the festival- that's right one hundred, fifty THOUSAND people descending on this little coastal town. They had so many vendors, mostly arts and plenty of food and drinks, not to mention all the great businesses in historic downtown! I went with my mom, we arrived around 10am and it took 30 minutes to find parking. Plenty of local business offered parking for a fee- but it was $10 (a church), $20- most perimeter businesses) & $30 for prime parking right off the main drag. Somehow my refusal to park in a paid lot worked out and we found a vacant street parking spot a few blocks away. AKA- be prepared to walk a lot and also prepared to pay for parking. The the festival- the entire main drag is shut down and every side street for a block both north and south filled to the brim with arts, antiques, garden art and more! They have two festival booths for shopping tshirts and other shrimp inspired merch. Mom ended up buying a pink shrimp festival t-shirt. I LOVED all the various art! Metal, glass, photography, painting, pottery, jewelry- you name it! Mom scored various items from $3 to $50 and I bought copper jewelry from 2 different artists. One from Key Largo- Metal and Fire Designs, I found a gorgeous torch patina cuff bracelet and big, gorgeous earrings. Another woman who lives in Clearwater (originally from Maui) does enamel coated metal jewelry- Uli Kai Designs- she was marvelous! I had a difficult time picking out one pair and ended up buying two! Crabby Patty Pottery was there too, a Fernandina local Potter & so many more. People come from all over too- Georgia, the Carolina's, all over Florida- it's really incredible. Years ago I went to a food festival in Jax and was very disappointed, this event was insanely better and I am adding this to my calendar for next year! Now that I have been, I will be more prepared! Oh & the food!!! Most of the food was on the waterfront, at the end of the main drag- plenty of food tents set up and mom and I had garlic parmesan shrimp from the Shrimp Pie boat. Long line, but moved quickly! I am grateful it was overcast most of the day- it was warm, but tolerable. A Gorgeous day for a festival! I'll have to check the brochure to see if they said how many vendors were there, because it was crazy! Highly recommend, wear comfy shoes, bring a hat, sunscreen and a bag for purchases!

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    Shrimp & Grits: Georgia Shrimp Festival

    4.7(6 reviews)
    53.1 mi

    This was the first time I went to the event and our first trip to Jekyll Island. Less than 1.5 hr…read moredrive from JAX, this was an easy day trip. Festival admission is free, but there is a daily parking fee for the island, which was $15 on the day of the festival, $5 more than on a non-event day. The festival is held in their historic district. The roads are blocked off. I love that it's set up this way. It's way less chaotic, and visitors don't have to deal with trying to avoid both vehicles and crowds. Vistors staying off-island can park at designated spots at the airport and take the shuttle to the festival. We brought our bikes and parked our vehicle at Great Dunes Beach, which was less than a two miles bike ride to the festival. The festival was incredibly well organized and clean. There was a hand washing station and both porta potties and restrooms are located throughout the festival. There were ample tables and chairs set up. Lots of shaded areas. If you wanted to eat picnic style, bring a blanket. There was plenty of lawn space. Lots of food vendors and other options even if you're not a shrimp and grits fan. We were there on a Sat between 11 am - 3 pm. It's less busy in the morning, but the vendors we visited were very efficient, so even if the lines were long, they moved quickly. We thought the food prices were reasonable for the portions. For beverages, you should walk around first since a can of pop/water can range from $2-$5. Same with the beer. There were two main places selling beer for $7/ticket. But if you want a Budlight, you can get one at the Snack Shop of $4. There are live music, tons of festival merchandise, and local crafts & food for purchase from the Artist Market vendors. There are also permanent shops such as Cotton & Copper & Doc's Snack Shop located on the festival grounds. If you've never been, it's definitely worth checking out and not too bad of a drive from JAX.

    Once a year for 3 days Jekyll Island has their Shrimp and Grits Festival! Artist, food/alcohol…read morevendors, non-profit and tourism information set up along the inter-coastal. There are bands set up in 3 locations and they estimate 45,000 people come. It cost $12 to drive on the island and then parking is just a school bus ride away from a parking lot. We brought our bikes so we found parking and biked in; our preferred mode. We bought shrimp/grits from Jekyll Island Club resort, said to be best of show for $12 but they had all kinds of food-pizza, burgers, hotdogs, Latin Fusion, ice cream, cookies, funnel cakes etc. we then biked down to beach and saw some cool kites.. Something good they have done here is build a large walking/biking path at the ocean to get people out and about!

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    Shrimp & Grits: Georgia Shrimp Festival - Shrimp & Grits Festival. 10.25.2024. Merch.

    Shrimp & Grits Festival. 10.25.2024. Merch.

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    Jacksonville Jazz Festival - Food trucks & Cooling stations

    Jacksonville Jazz Festival

    4.3(24 reviews)
    16.1 miLaVilla
    $

    Jazz Fest returns to Metro Park!! I realize that this is…read moreprobably just a temporary venue while the Jax Landing space gets figured out, but thank you City of Jax - this is the perfect spot! And on top of that, they added Daily's Place too!! Seats, covered seats - away from the heat & elements! And lots & lots of parking ($15) at the stadium. Also - thank you for the variety of food trucks and having the buses available for Cooling Stations. We all mourn the recent loss of David Sanborn - Jax has done a good job adding new artists & juggling the schedule after this tragedy.

    We've been attending the Jax Jazz Fest for more than 15 years. We come down from Atlanta and…read morepurchase the "VIP Experience" every year. We just got back from the 2025 fest, and it was the most disappointing of all. Background: The Jax Jazz Fest (JJF) used to be a wonderful experience. Not anymore. They used to provide 3-5 different stages with all types of jazz, smooth, Latin, Cool, Swing...you name it. It used to start around 11 am and go into the night. No more. It's down to one stage with R&B and HipHop artists and some Jazz sprinkled in. It's no longer a Jazz Festival. Gates open around 5 pm most days, so it's less than half the musical choices it used to be. It gets worse. The VIP thing is a joke, an expensive joke. We paid $ 1,200 for the two of us for the 4-day event. It's actually 3 days since the first day is only one performance, usually a little-known act. We parked a half mile from the venue in the VIP lot...and walked in the blistering Florida heat. Through sandy, gritty former parking lots and abandoned former industrial sites. We were filthy from the waist down by the time we finished our hike to the gate. There is only one gate, leaving you with yet another 200-yard walk through the crowd to the undersized VIP tent, which, of course, was full, with nowhere to sit, since it was undersized for the VIP crowd size. Drinks. We paid $60 with a couple of dollar tip for two "signature drinks" that were unidentifiable. Twenty-six bucks each plus tax. You read that right. Watered down and loaded with ice, they were terrible. They stopped providing drinks as part of the admission a few years ago, but the price remained unchanged. A total money grab from the event organizers. The food is unlimited, but doesn't change all day...so how many times are you going back for the same piece of chicken you ate a few hours ago? You'll eat once, pick a little the second go round, and you're done. You'd think they would bring out different choices, some fruit, sliders, wings, maybe some pasta as the day wears on, but no. Same food all day long. So, unlimited food is limited by the poor selection that remains unchanged. Kool and the Gang and Maysa saved the weekend, as did Trombone Shorty. Also, we long ago started staying at the beach in case the JJF disappoints, which is has begun to do more often, so coming from Atlanta, we at least have some beach time. Sunday was rained out for the most part, as was Saturday last year. Do you think they would provide us with a credit for next year's "VIP Experience" since we spent over $300 on the tickets for that day? Nope, tough luck. We're done. No more VIP, since there's nothing VIP about it. Oh, and to be clear, you have to buy the VIP before they announce who is playing, or you pay more for waiting. It's sad what this has become, as we had many happy times in the past.

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    Deck the Chairs - festivals - Updated May 2026

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