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2021 Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve Celebrations in Jacksonville

Jacksonville —

Celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and ring in the New Year in Jacksonville with the following events:

Jacksonville Holiday Market for Makers, The Glass Factory, November 20-21. Over 90 vendors will showcase their arts, crafts and homemade goods.

The Alhambra Theatre and Dining: A Christmas Carole, Now - December 24. Based on the Charles Dickens classic, the Alhambra Theatre’s musical follows Ebenezer Scrooge on his magical Christmas Eve adventure.

Dazzling Nights™, November 19 - January 9. Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens will become a magical wonderland sparkling with dazzling lights, lighted forests, artistic displays and sculptures in this family-friendly adventure. Tickets must be purchased beforehand.

Deck the Chairs, November 24 - January 1. Jacksonville Beach will showcase American Red Cross life-guard chairs decorated in coastal designs and lights. Wednesday, November 24, marks the kick-off with a festival of music, hot cocoa, judging and lighting ceremonies.

Pete’s Bar Thanksgiving Day Celebration - November 25. A Jacksonville holiday tradition for over 30 years, Pete’s Bar will gather residents and visitors to Neptune Beach on Thanksgiving Day for food, drinks, and live music.

Music on Main: Tree Lighting and DANKA, November 26. Food and drink will be sold beginning at 5:30 p.m. with the band beginning at 6:00 p.m. Bring a lawn chair.

Christmas in the Cathedral District: Let There Be Light, November 27 - December 31. The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville, First United Methodist Church, Historic Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, St John’s Episcopal Cathedral Morocco Temple, Bedell Law Firm, and Elena Flats will be lit up with lights visible from I-95 and the Acosta, Main Street, Hart and Mathews Bridges.

The Jacksonville Light Boat Parade, November 27. This 30-year holiday tradition will feature decorated vessels of all shapes and sizes floating along the north and south banks of the St. Johns River. This year’s Light Boat Parade will feature 904 Pop Up, Jacksonville’s largest Small Business Saturday event featuring over 200 local artisans.

Totally Lit-A Hanukkah Celebration at James Weldon Johnson Park, Sunday November 28 - December 6. James Weldon Johnson Park, Gili’s Kitchen, Catering and Bakery and the Jacksonville Jewish Center will celebrate this annual celebration of Hanukkah and its related traditions.

Go Tuk’n Holiday Tours - Holiday Light Tours begins December 3. Snuggle under furry blankets and sit on heated pads to see the lights in Downtown, Avondale, Riverside, and Springfield.

Riverside Avondale Luminaria Night - December 12 will host Tuk’n’s around Riverside and Avondale. Spectators can purchase their Luminaria kits from the RAP group as they line parks.

19th Annual Gingerbread House Extravaganza - December 4 - 22. The Jacksonville Historical Society will host its 19th Annual Gingerbread Extravaganza which includes the traditional exhibit at Old St. Andrew’s Church as well as a holiday gift shop, bake shop, silent auction and an online contest to vote for your favorite display. Tickets include a short tour of the Merrill House Museum.

Holiday Tour of Homes - December 5. The Junior League of Jacksonville will tour homes, porches, and businesses in the Avondale and Riverside decked out in holiday décor. Take-away activities will be available at each location.

Holiday Pops, December 9-12. The Jacksonville Symphony will present Christmas classics from the Symphony, singers and dancers from Douglas Anderson School for the Arts. There will also be an indoor snowfall.

Beaches North Pole Express, December 10-11. Beaches Museum will host the event presented by VyStar Credit Union. Guests will meet Santa and the Conductor on Friday, December 10, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to write letters and take photographs with Santa Claus as they enjoy the festivities in History Park.

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens ZOOLights, December 10-12, 17-19, 22-24 and 26. The 10th annual ZOOLights will transform the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens as the animals nestle for a long winter’s nap. The night will come alive with twinkling replicas of the animals, Wildlife Carousel rides, musical performances, carolers, and a visit from Santa Claus.

Riverside Avondale Luminaria, December 12. Residents of Riverside Avondale gather to visit parks and churches by walking along sidewalks illuminated with candles.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker, December 12. This holiday mash-up will be showcased at The Florida Theatre. Directed and choreographed by Jennifer Weber, The Hip Hop Nutcracker is a contemporary dance spectacle set to Tchaikovsky. The evening production is performed by all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers.

Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular, December 15. Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular comes to The Florida Theatre. Cirque Musica athletes and dancers from around the world perform to holiday favorites.

Christmas at the Cabin, December 16. The Beaches Museum will host carolers under a festival of lights. Live entertainment begins at 5:30 p.m. and will include dancers from First Coast Dance, St. Paul’s Contemporary Choir, Rhythm Theory Dance Ensemble and the Community Presbyterian Bell Choir.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra, December 16. The legendary prog rock-fueled symphony performs holiday classics at the Veterans VyStar Memorial Arena.

First Coast Nutcracker December 17 - December 19. Jacksonville’s 40-year tradition includes the backdrop of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, December 21. The beloved classic can be seen at the Florida Jacksonville theatre for a 7:00 p.m. performance.

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, December 31. The annual college football game will be played at the TIAA Bank Field.

New Year’s Eve Celebration, December 31. The City of Jacksonville invites everyone to welcome 2022 at its annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks. The waterfront and skyline will serve as a backdrop for the display of fireworks that begins at midnight.

New Year’s Eve: Rhapsody in Blue Eyes, December 31. Tony DeSare and the Jacksonville Symphony celebrate the songs of Sinatra, and Gershwin’s extraordinary Rhapsody in Blue before ringing in the New Year with The Chris Thomas Band at the Civic Auditorium. Doors open at 9:00 p.m.


Lucia Viti

Lucia Viti

Lucia Viti is a seasoned journalist, photojournalist, and published author and works as a reporter for WOKV News. Lucia is a graduate of the University of West Virginia with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism.

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