Arts and Culture
Downtown Jacksonville’s rich arts and culture amenities shape the scene for Northeast Florida. Theaters and performance venues offer more than 28,000 seats and experiences, from national acts to Broadway shows to community theater. Museums and galleries provide insight into contemporary art, local history, science and innovation, while buildings and infrastructure serve as a canvas for a wealth of public art. These diverse offerings create an inclusive and vibrant scene that contributes to the urban lifestyle and draws visitors from around the region.
Sports and Entertainment
Downtown is home to the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars and other sports teams, major concerts and much more! TIAA Bank Field – home of the Jaguars – is located in the Sports Complex. The stadium boasts two swimming pools, state-of-the-art LED-HD scoreboards, cabanas, live DJs, VIP suites and various food options for all sporting events. Connected to the south end of TIAA Bank Field is Daily’s Place, the newest entertainment destination in Downtown Jacksonville. Constructed in 2017, Daily’s Place brings high-quality, year-round events such as concerts, festivals, corporate and social events.
Additional premier sporting venues include 121 Financial Ballpark and the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. In addition to sporting events, the multi-purpose VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena hosts concerts, comedy shows, conventions, family shows and more.
The Elbow
Cultivated around the historic Florida Theatre,
The Elbow is Downtown Jacksonville’s entertainment district in the Central Core. Committed to creating an authentic entertainment experience, The Elbow offers a host of diverse and walkable culinary, nightlife, live music and performance venues.
Events
Downtown offers a wide array of entertaining events for locals and visitors alike. Whatever your interests, the urban core will have something for you. Below is a list of some of the most popular, recurring events happening Downtown.
Downtown Jacksonville Art Walk: Produced by
Downtown Vision, Inc., this monthly event spans more than 15 blocks and includes more than 40 galleries, museums, cultural venues, restaurants, bars and businesses, plus street performers, live music and dozens of artists in Hemming Park. It's held from 5-9 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, rain or shine.
Jacksonville Jazz Festival: Each Memorial Day weekend, local jazz enthusiasts and aficionados from around the world unite at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival to celebrate the music, art and culture of America’s music. Check out the
festival history for more on the legacy of the event.
Florida vs Georgia Football Game: The annual Florida-Georgia rivalry game is an iconic national event that brings the Jacksonville community together to celebrate college football like no other city in the country. A tradition since 1933, it has become a showcase for one of the rivalries that make college football great. Check out the
event’s history for more information on this yearly-anticipated weekend.
Veterans Day Parade: The Jacksonville Veterans Day Parade is one of the largest parades in the Southeast: It features more than 4,000 participants including grand marshals, senior military officials, active-duty and retired military personnel, veterans groups, local high school marching bands, military organizations, decorative floats, giant balloons, JROTC units and more.
4th of July Fireworks: Each year, the St. Johns River in Downtown Jacksonville transforms into a glistening stage for fireworks, live music, and more. The annual Fourth of July Celebration Downtown includes live performances, family-friendly activities, food and drinks, and fireworks over the river.
World of Nations Celebration: This international and multicultural festival of arts, cuisine and music offers wonderful sights, sounds and tastes from a diverse array of nations, all within easy reach. Each year, the celebration hosts dozens of booths featuring arts and crafts as well as authentic food from various nations.
Jacksonville Light Boat Parade: Boaters deck the hulls (pardon the pun) and ring in the holiday season in this long-standing Northeast Florida event on the St. Johns River. Captains and crews of motor-assisted vessels of all shapes and sizes are invited to decorate and display their boats to the thousands of spectators who view the parade along the North and South banks.
TEDxJacksonville Annual Conference: TEDxJacksonville — created in the spirit of
TED's mission of ideas worth spreading — programs events year-round with an annual live, local and thought-provoking conference. The goals: opening minds and inspiring ideas.
Gate River Run: A Jacksonville tradition since 1978, this official USA 15K Championship Race draws thousands of runners from the U.S. and beyond to compete on a course running through Downtown Jacksonville.
See more details here.
Jacksonville International Auto Show: Located at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, the Jacksonville International Auto Show is a premier showcase of the newest model year import and domestic vehicles — cars, vans, crossovers, hybrids, light trucks and sport utilities.
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Held at TIAA Bank Field, this annual holiday-season event dates to 1946, making it the sixth-oldest college bowl. It's also the first one ever televised nationally.
Monster Jam: Some of the world's most recognizable trucks go on high-revving, high-flying display during this adrenaline-charged family event held at TIAA Bank Field. Don’t forget your earplugs.
Riverside Arts Market: Under the Fuller Warren Bridge and along the St. Johns River, you'll find a place where our community comes together. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday, visitors enjoy farm-fresh produce, artists, artisans and more. Admission and parking are free.
Jacksonville PorchFest: This grass-roots music festival is held on the welcoming front porches of residences in Historic Springfield, just outside of the Downtown boundary. The family-friendly, free event features musicians from a wide array of genres, as well as a variety of food, drink and art vendors to round out the experience. PorchFest brings important attention to Springfield’s historic architecture and ongoing revitalization and highlights the breadth of musical talent here in Jacksonville. Proceeds from the event are dedicated to
SPAR’s arts programming and education fund.