There is something truly magical about the Holiday Season when the world is collectively focused on doing good and celebrating with loved ones.
While there is an endless list of options of things to do during this time with your family in Jacksonville, there are certainly a few stand outs. Here are my Top 3 Holiday Events, and bonus– THEY’RE ALL FREE!
Deck the Chairs
This non-profit event has been one of my favorites for the past several years. So much so, that my brokerage has participated in building a chair for the past 2 years! (See our 2019 build video here)
Each team is given a lifeguard chair, along with creative liberty as to how to decorate it. For several hours every night, the Beaches are lit up with incredible interactive works of art.
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As you can see, the sculptures have gotten bigger and better every year!
Not only is the event free to the public, but its length of duration and easy location allows you to squeeze it in to your busy Holiday schedule at liberty. Its super engaging for the entire family and features endless opportunities for photo opps.
See this post for the schedule of events and this post to know where to park when you go.
Girvin Road Lights
This one is by far one of the most magical Holiday events in Jacksonville.
Hundreds of thousands of lights are strung up in a single residential neighborhood, Blackhawk Bluff, off of Girvin Road. Using bows and arrows to shoot them up into the majestic oaks, the residents create what can only be described as a Holiday Spectacular.
Slowly riding through the streets with your windows down, sunroof open, or convertible top off will absolutely blow your mind.
Tips for Going
The one draw back with this free event is that it is in a residential neighborhood off a busy road. This translates into…traffic. And LOTS of it depending on what time you go. When I say lots, I mean it can sometimes equate to over an hour of sit time to get in or get through it.
Luckily, there have been some outstanding improvements to Girvin Road this year. Hopefully, that will streamline the traffic to some degree. Going on a weeknight or further out from Christmas will also help. As of the time of this post, the majority of the lights are set up and ready. Go now and beat the crowd!
Another good tip is to carpool. Make an event out of it with friends and family. My Mama and her friends have in the past rented a party bus and gone together. Less cars going through, and more fun!
Nights of Lights
Not only a breathtaking Holiday Event in Northeast Florida, St Augustine’s Nights of Lights has been ranked as one of the 10 best places IN THE WORLD to see lights by National Geographic!
Over 2 Million lights are strung around downtown, creating an old-world winter wonderland.
Wandering the streets is a fantastic way to take it all in for free, and there are also family friendly Holly Jolly Trolley tours available. If you’re lucky, you may even sneak a peek of Santa himself.
A mere glimpse into what you can expect can be seen in the video below. Hop on this trolley tour and enjoy the show!
And there you have it!
These are my Top 3 Must See and FREE Holiday Events in Jacksonville, Florida. They are my favorite things to do. What are yours?