Fine Arts to Live Bands, It’s All by the Sand

Galleries & Museums

Prepare for an immersive art experience. Within a 15-minute drive of downtown Jacksonville, you’ll find no less than 12 museums and countless galleries and maker spaces throughout the region.

Stroll amongst 5,000 works and 2.5 acres of historic gardens at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. Painters, sculptors and artists whose work spans various mediums are on display. Classes for adults and children provide a chance to hone artistic skills or explore art history. Cross the bridge over the St. Johns River for a visit to the Museum of Science and History, where, along with interactive exhibits, you can partake in an evening yoga class under the stars of the planetarium.

Accredited as Jacksonville’s first institution by the American Association of Museums, MOCA Jacksonville’s original curated exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, student exhibitions, and creative programs that cultivate our diverse community. Stroll the three stories of masterpieces and grab a quick lunch at Charlie’s Cafe, an outdoor space in nearby James Weldon Johnson Park with revolving food trucks and live music, or Fizzies & Fare, with its light bites, over-the-top milkshakes, cocktails and 100s of sodas from around the globe, it’s a veritable Willy Wonka-esque candy store.

In addition to international artists, JAX is brimming with local artistic talent, from local college and university students to mural, assemblage, installation and mixed media professionals. Collective studio spaces such as CoRK Arts District and The Union Art Studios and Gallery often have special events that are open to the public.

Theater & Film

Performing arts take center stage in JAX. From Broadway blockbusters to rousing revues, Jacksonville Theater is worthy of an encore. The stunning Florida Theatre offers 200+ cultural and entertainment events every year for all artistic styles.

For some of the most popular shows of our time, head over to the Moran Theater at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts. You can catch Wicked, Hamilton, Rent, Waitress and others.

Discover Jacksonville’s historic African American community of La Villa at the Ritz Theatre and Museum. Constructed on the 1929 Ritz Theater movie house site, the Ritz presents performances at the artistic core of African American culture in Northeast Florida.

The “Winter Film Capital of the World,” Jacksonville channels its inner Hollywood as a place for filmmakers and film aficionados.

Each fall, the Jacksonville Film Festival celebrates celluloid for two days with local talent and a different theme each year. Bill Murray, Graham Greene and John Waters are some of the celebrities who have highlighted the event.

The Southeast Regional Film Festival blends three days of screen time with workshops for filmmakers, while the LOL Film Festival lightens up the mood with a focus on comedic works.

Historical Sites

For a region with its eyes on the future, we certainly don’t forget our past. And with perfect preservation of sites, buildings and history, JAX makes it easy to understand what makes our people tick.

The region’s most internationally recognized historic city, St. Augustine, is the United States’ oldest continuously occupied European settlement. Founded in 1565 by Spanish settlers, these “Ancient City” blocks ooze Spanish influence from their architecture, attractions and food (hint: don’t miss the Spanish cuisine as The Columbia or Spanish Bakery & Cafe). Starting at the Old City Gate near the Castillo de San Marcos and its waterfront cannons, wander the cobblestone pedestrian walkways of St. George Street with its quaint cafes, bars and boutiques.

Commemorating Florida’s only major Civil War battle in 1864, Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park, just a 30-minute drive from Macclenny, holds a reenactment of the Battle of Olustee every February. Go back in time as you experience exhibits and artifacts that tell the story leading up to the battle.

Named for North Florida’s early people, Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve holds 6,000 years of human history and is home to two preservations: The Kingsley Plantation, Jacksonville’s oldest home, and the Fort Caroline National Memorial, the memorial of the short-lived French Huguenot presence in 16th century Florida. Rent a Segway or kayak to check out the historic sites and wildlife.

In the 1920s, Jacksonville Beach was THE hotspot for vacations, hosting dignitaries, actors, mobsters and more. Bring that moxie to today where visitors and residents visit the Beaches Museum History & Park to learn more insight into our coastal past. With hundreds of archived photographs and artifacts, and a 1911 train and engine and original railway depot, you’ll see the beaches a new way. Don’t miss out on Chapel concerts, held throughout the year in the historic chapel on the museum’s grounds.

LGBTQ+ Community

The Jacksonville region is home to a vibrant LGBTQ+ population and is rich in businesses, attractions and organizations that are proud to amplify JAX pride.

Each October, celebrate River City Pride, Jacksonville’s largest gay pride parade and festival, which has taken place in JAX since 1978. The annual event lights up the historic Five Points district of Riverside in Jacksonville, featuring events including a parade, block party, pageant and festival to celebrate LGBTQ+ members and allies.

Foodie or not, you can’t miss out on the gay dining scene in Jacksonville. Find global flavors at gay-friendly restaurants around the city, including award-winning French bistro Orsay, popular lunch spot European Street Café or the delicious Green Papaya. For additional restaurants in the Jacksonville region frequented by the local LGBTQ+ community, read more from Daily Xtra Travel and Out Coast.

Entertainment-seekers have endless options in JAX. InCahoots and Park Place Lounge, two of the most popular spots in town for the LGBTQ+ community, offer a fusion of cocktail lounges and dance halls. InCahoots is Jacksonville’s most award-winning nightclub; Park Place is more laid back with pool tables, TVs and reasonably priced drinks. Hamburger Mary’s Jax is also guaranteed to entertain with live performances, drag shows and late-night eats.

Multiple local organizations provide support for JAX’s LGBTQ+ community. JASMYN and JAX Youth Equality are resources for local LGBTQ+ youth and their families, offering support services like health resources, advocacy and development opportunities. The LGBT Resource Center at UNF supports awareness and education, hosting panels and local events. Equality Florida represents LGBTQ+ communities throughout Florida to prevent harassment or discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.