Holiday Events and Activities in Jacksonville, FL

The holiday season is here again, and you don’t want to miss out on any of the fun Jacksonville, Florida, has in store for you this year. We encourage you to put down the shopping lists, cookbooks, and travel itineraries to spend a day or two with your family and friends enjoying what Jacksonville has to offer. Check out this extensive list, put together by the team at Keith Pierson Toyota, of our top winter holiday events and activities in Jacksonville.

Light Shows

The holidays wouldn’t be the same without grandiose displays of colorful lights. That’s why Dazzling Nights at Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is a must-see event. The Arboretum &  Botanical Gardens will transform into an interactive light display almost a mile long and featuring festive sculptures, a luminescent sidewalk, and a 30-foot Christmas tree. Dazzling Nights is a phenomenal way to give your family a taste of the Jacksonville holiday spirit. Catch the event every night until New Year’s.

If you’re not up for a three-quarter-mile exhibition around the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, Jax Illuminations Drive Thru Holiday Light Show might be more your scene. The light show will take you around the Regency Square Mall for a merry and bright holiday display. You’ll only need your tickets and a car with a radio to enjoy this highly accessible and socially distanced 30-minute light show crafted from a million LED lights that dance along with the songs on your radio.

Then you can hop over to St. Augustine, where the holiday light fun continues aboard Ripley’s Red Train Nights of Lights Tours. Each ticket will get you a row on Ripley’s Red Train and a sparkling view of St. Augustine decked out in over two million dancing lights. This 30-minute train tour around the historic city will be available until Jan. 30, so you can relish the holiday spirit long into the new year.

Concerts and Ballets

Pair your holiday light adventures with a delightful performance from the Moscow Ballet at Nutcracker! The Magic of Christmas Ballet. This incredible production takes you along with Clara as she’s swept away through a whimsical world of sugarplum fairies, a handsome prince, and a devilish army of mice. See it for yourself at the Jacksonville Theater on Dec. 21, where the phenomenal Moscow Ballet is giving a live performance at 4 p.m. and again at 8 p.m.

If you’re in the mood for a thriving collection of classics, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Concert at the Times Union Center of Performing Arts’ Jacoby Symphony Hall is a favorite in Jacksonville. Complete your festive night with one of the nation’s top orchestras and its extensive song list of a mixture of both rock classics, taking inspiration from bands such as Led Zeppelin, and symphonic classics, such as the timeless “O Fortuna.” The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra will hold concerts throughout December and January.

The Jacksonville Symphony is putting on its Nutcracker production with its First Coast Nutcracker at the Jacksonville Center for Performing Arts. The First Coast Nutcracker showcases the incredible talents of more than 180 local dance students as they take center stage on the evenings of Dec. 16-18. These brilliant dancers, partnered with live music performed by the Jacksonville Symphony, bring the story of the Nutcracker alive for a truly mystical retelling of this Christmas classic.

Movies

Nothing sums up the joy of the holidays like bonding over a timeless holiday film. The 1 Lord, 1 Faith, 1 Baptism Outreach Ministry is hosting a Christmas Movie on the Lawn. Gather your loved ones, dig out the lawn chairs, and head to this free viewing of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on Dec. 17. You can come hungry and leave full of holiday cheer and good food from on-site food trucks. You might even win a door prize.

On Dec. 18, The Florida Theatre invites you to bring a food donation for a free and enchanting evening aboard “The Polar Express.” Renew your holiday spirit and rekindle the true meaning of yuletide when you bring nonperishable food items to support Feeding Northeast Florida, a partner of Feeding America. Each food item will give you free admission into the showing of the 2004 film “The Polar Express.”

Gingerbread Houses, Jams, and More

The holidays wouldn’t be the same without the Annual Gingerbread House Extravaganza at Old St. Andrew’s Church. Massive gingerbread creations, face painting, balloon art, and an appearance from Santa Claus are on the menu for this year’s Gingerbread House Extravaganza. All proceeds benefit the children’s programs of the Jacksonville Historical Society, so make sure you pick up a souvenir from the gift shop to show your support.

If you’re a jelly and jam lover, you won’t want to miss out on the Holiday Gift Class Christmas Jam, Sugar Plum Spice Jelly, Candy Apple Jelly event at the Jacksonville Canning Center on Dec. 19. Learn the ins and outs of canning, food preservation, and proper food safety protocols. Use your newfound canning skills to make unique homemade treats for your family and friends. Jelly and jam make perfect gifts for those sweet people in your life.

Spread even more Christmas cheer with caroling and room visits at the Jacksonville Nursing and Rehab Center. Gather your friends and join the amazing staff for an early morning of Christmas caroling and friendship building with the residents on Dec. 23 at 9:30 a.m. There’s no better way to indulge in the most wonderful time of the year than giving back to the community of Jacksonville.

So, we here at Keith Pierson Toyota have shared our list of top holiday events and activities in Jacksonville. Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know, and we’ll add it to our list of local events and attractions. In the meantime, be sure to check out our impressive inventory of new cars, trucks, and SUVs. Whether you’re planning a night out or loading up the car for a holiday light tour, Keith Pierson Toyota can take you where you need to go safely. We wish you a happy holiday and a great New Year.

Jacksonville_Misc_12-17-11-9771.jpg by Rob Bixby is licensed with CC BY 2.0

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