Jacksonville Events Guide

Jacksonville's fall 2026 calendar runs from the Georgia-Florida Game on October 31 through the Jacksonville Fair, the Veterans Day Parade on November 11 and Holiday River Fest on November 28.

The City of Jacksonville Office of Sports and Entertainment lists three upcoming special events on its calendar as of October 2026: the Georgia-Florida Game on October 31, the Veterans Day Parade on November 11 and the Jacksonville Light Boat Parade on November 28 (City of Jacksonville Special Events). The Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair runs November 5 to 15, 2026, at its new fairgrounds of more than 82 acres on the Jacksonville Westside (Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair).

The Georgia-Florida Game is the big change in 2026. First played in 1926 and a Jacksonville tradition since 1933, the rivalry moves temporarily to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on October 31, 2026, at 3:30 p.m., while construction continues at EverBank Stadium, with Georgia as the home team (City of Jacksonville, Georgia-Florida Game). The city page points to GAFLJax.com for the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon and news on the rivalry's return to Jacksonville.

Six Jacksonville event guides go deeper: the Jacksonville Fair guide, the Jacksonville Veterans Day Parade guide, the Downtown Art Walk guide, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival guide, the Sea and Sky Air Show guide and the Springing the Blues guide.

The 2026 Jacksonville Veterans Day Parade steps off at 11:01 a.m. on November 11 on Water Street and ends 1.32 miles later at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

The Jacksonville parade route starts on Water Street in front of the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, heads east to Hogan Street, turns left on Hogan and right on Bay Street, then switches to the westbound lane of Bay Street past Lot S before turning onto A. Philip Randolph Boulevard to finish at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena (City of Jacksonville, Veterans Day Parade). The parade is free and open to the public.

With more than 2,500 participants each year, the city calls the Jacksonville Veterans Day Parade the largest observance of its kind in Florida. Spectators line Bay Street between Hogan Street and A. Philip Randolph Boulevard, and the city names Ford on Bay, near South Liberty Street and East Bay Street, as a popular central viewing spot. Parade participant applications closed on September 15, 2026, and all public viewing areas are first come, first served. The Jacksonville Veterans Day Parade guide covers its history and road closures in more detail.

Holiday River Fest on November 28, 2026, combines the Jacksonville Christmas tree lighting, the Light Boat Parade on the St. Johns River and a fireworks finale in one Downtown evening.

The posted schedule starts at 5:00 p.m. at Riverfront Plaza, 2 W Independent Dr, with the Christmas Tree Lighting at 6:25 p.m., the Jacksonville Light Boat Parade at 6:30 p.m., winners announced on the Holiday Stage at 8:15 p.m. and after-parade fireworks at about 8:30 p.m. (City of Jacksonville, Holiday River Fest).

The Jacksonville Light Boat Parade has run for more than 30 years, with decorated boats cruising along the Northbank and Southbank while spectators watch from the Downtown Riverwalks (City of Jacksonville, Light Boat Parade). The finale includes waterfall fireworks cascading from the Main Street and Acosta Bridges. Boats are judged in four categories: Vessels Under 30 feet, Vessels 30 feet and Over, Sailboat and Corporate. Entry is free, and boater registration for the judged competition closes Monday, November 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

The Jacksonville Jazz Festival was held over Memorial Day weekend in 2026, the First Wednesday Art Walk runs every month, and World of Nations was held in late winter 2026 at Ford on Bay.

The 2026 Jacksonville Jazz Festival ran May 21 to 24 over Memorial Day weekend and was held free at Ford on Bay, 288 E Bay Street, opening on Thursday, May 21, with the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition at the Florida Theater (City of Jacksonville, 2026 Jazz Festival announcement). The festival is produced by the City of Jacksonville Office of Sports and Entertainment, and VIP and Preferred premium seats are sold separately. The Jacksonville Jazz Festival guide traces the history of the Jacksonville festival.

Downtown Vision has hosted the First Wednesday Art Walk since 2003, and it runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, rain or shine, as a self-guided tour of Downtown Jacksonville galleries, businesses and restaurants (Downtown Vision, First Wednesday Art Walk). Artists, food trucks and live music gather in James Weldon Johnson Park, 135 W. Monroe Street, and the November Art Walk falls on November 4, 2026. The Downtown Art Walk guide covers its history and venues.

The World of Nations Celebration, which brings the City of Jacksonville and its multicultural partners together, was held February 28 to March 1, 2026, at Ford on Bay, and the city page says 2027 tickets and details are still to come (City of Jacksonville, World of Nations Celebration).

Summer brings the city's Downtown Jacksonville fireworks: the Office of Sports and Entertainment has already posted July 4, 2027, for the next Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration, with the time to be announced (City of Jacksonville, Fourth of July Celebration). The same special events site also has pages for the Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast, Unidos Jax and New Year's Eve (City of Jacksonville Special Events).

The City of Jacksonville now lists the next Sea and Sky Air Show for October 23 and 24, 2027, at Jacksonville Beach, and Springing the Blues retired after its 34th festival in April 2026.

The Sea and Sky Air Show is a free over-the-ocean show at Jacksonville Beach, 75 1st St N, and the city lists the U.S. Navy Blue Angels among the featured acts for the 2027 dates (City of Jacksonville, Sea and Sky Air Show). The same page notes that the City of Jacksonville does not coordinate the NAS JAX Air Show, a separate event at Naval Air Station Jacksonville. The Sea and Sky Air Show guide covers the history of the Jacksonville Beach show.

Springing the Blues was held April 10 to 12, 2026, at the Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach, and afterward its board of directors voted to retire the festival, saying the mission that began in 1991 had been accomplished (Springing the Blues). The Springing the Blues guide records its 1991 to 2026 run.

The City of Jacksonville requires a permit for three kinds of events: park events under 500 people, street events or block parties under 500 people, and public property events over 500 people.

Each kind of Jacksonville event follows a different process, and the city says the deciding questions are where the event is held and whether more or fewer than 500 people are expected (City of Jacksonville, About Permitting). Picnic pavilions in Jacksonville parks are reserved on the JaxParks Reservation Site for simple gatherings of fewer than 50 people.

A JaxParks Special Use permit is needed when a Jacksonville park event uses special equipment, a generator or amplified sound, draws 50 to 499 people, is open to the public, collects donations or fees, or includes alcohol. Alcohol permits are granted only to non-profit organizations. Sponsorship questions for city events go to the Office of Sports and Entertainment sponsorship manager at (904) 255-5424 (City of Jacksonville, Sea and Sky Air Show).

Last verified: October 14, 2026, on the City of Jacksonville special events website.