JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- From the excitement of the Coke Zero 400 to some relaxing music at the beach, here's a list of what's going on this weekend.
SATURDAY July 7, 2012
DAYTONA COKE ZERO 400: Enjoy the fireworks on and off the track as the stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series head to Daytona to celebrate the Independence Day holiday weekend. One of the most exciting NASCAR nighttime races on the circuit, the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola features the stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series battling for victory on the daunting 31-degree high banks of DIS. The 160-lap, 400-mile Independence Day holiday weekend classic will feature fireworks on and off the track with past winners including Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch and most recently David Ragan. Bring the whole family! Kids 12 and under are only $10 in all reserved grandstand seats and FREE in Sprint FANZONE. Adult tickets start at $45.
JACKSONVILLE FARMERS MARKET: Open every day of the year, dawn to dusk, save up to 70% or more on NE Florida's largest & fresh selection of local, ethnic, and specialty produce, agricultural and other food products. It's free to attend. The farmer's market runs this Saturday from 7 a.m. Through 7 p.m.
FIRST COAST ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW: First Coast Arts and Crafts will be hosting an event on Saturday, July 7 from 9 am to 5 pm at the St Johns County Ocean Pier Pavilion, 350 A1A Beach Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32080. Many items will be on display from local and regional artists and crafters. Food vendors will also be available. So come out and enjoy a day of shopping at the beach. There is no admission charge and parking is free.
SPIDER-MAN AT ADVENTURE LANDING: Come See Spider-Man Saturday at Adventure Landing locations! Enjoy a FREE meet & greet with great photo opportunities! 10am-Noon at Jacksonville Beach location. 3pm-6pm at Jacksonville Blanding location.
RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET: The Riverside Arts Market is every Saturday from 10 a.m. To 4 p.m. off Riverside Avenue underneath the Fuller Warren Bridge. It features crafts, art, live entertainment and more!
92 AT THE ZOO: From June 18 through August 31, 2012, when the temperature is predicted to be higher than 92 degrees, guests can enjoy half-off general admission with a coupon from the Zoo's official website at jacksonvillezoo.org. The discount applies this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note that this offer is not valid on Wednesday, July 4 or Saturday, July 21.
REFOCUS: ART OF THE 1970s: Head to MOCA Jacksonville downtown Saturday from 10 a.m. To 4 p.m. To view the REFOCUS exhibit featuring art of the 1970s. MOCA will examine the "Me Decade" that gave rise to Photorealism, Earthworks, and Conceptual Art and expanded the boundaries of Video, Performance and Installation Art.
NEMOURS BRIGHTSTART! FREE EARLY LITERACY SCREENING: On Saturday, July 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Jacksonville Main Library Downtown, Nemours is holding free early literacy screenings for 3 - 5 year old preschool children. Specially trained staff will work one-on-one with children to check their knowledge of print awareness, letter names, sounds, and listening skills. After the 10 minute screening, parents will receive a free copy of A Parent's Guide to Reading Readiness. Please call Angela McDermott for more information at 904.697.5125.
SWEET PETE'S GUMMY CLASSES: Participate in a taste test of gummis made from 3 different types of gelling agents. Learn to make gummis using candy molds and starch molding. Make all kinds of shapes! Choose your flavor and color. Take home lots of gummis and enjoy ice cream. Fun for all ages and very hands on! There are classes between 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
D.A.D. - DAD ALL DAY FATHERHOOD PROGRAM: Family Support Services of North Florida (FSS) offers D.A.D. - Dad All Day; a free fatherhood program for dads of all ages. Brings fathers together for learning, discussion & networking. Learn to be a great dad 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Find out how to be involved in your child's life & to develop stronger relationships with your family. Includes fathering skills & strategies, relationship & communication skills, and a network of dads discussing fatherhood. First Saturday of each month. It's a free gathering Saturday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Schell-Sweet Community Resource Center.
PLAY ALL DAY AT SLAMMER & SQUIRE GOLF COURSE: Now you can play as many holes as the day allows. Unlimited same-day golf is available at the Slammer & Squire in St. Augustine Saturday for $119. There is also a special Play All Day rate for Northeast Florida Residents.
WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT: Local competitive eater Jon Bello is attempting to beat the world record for eating the most Monster German Wieners. The attempt is Saturday at 6 p.m. at European Street café in Riverside and all are welcome to attend the free event and cheer him on! Donations and a percentage of sales go to the local Special Olympics.
WINERY TOUR AND WINE TASTING: Join San Sebastian winery for a tour Saturday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. After a short audio-visual presentation in the upstairs theater, you will enjoy a guided walking tour of the 18,000-square-foot wine production facility. The tour will be followed by a wine tasting. You will be taken through all the interesting steps of how to taste, savor and enjoy a selection of San Sebastian Premium Table Wines. The tours and tastings run about every 20-25 minutes, lasting approximately 45 minutes in length.
A CATTY SHACK RANCH NIGHT EVENT: Enjoy a stroll through the sanctuary and meet all the residents (Siberian tigers, lions, cougars, spotted and black leopards, two coatimundis and two arctic foxes) of the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary plus watch them eat! This event is Saturday from 6 p.m. To 8:30 p.m.
CLUB TEEN ICE SKATING: Saturday Night Club Teen Ice Skating at Jacksonville Ice & Sportsplex starting at 7 p.m. $10 entry. Ages 13 - 19. Snack Shack 1/2 price 7:00pm - 7:30pm. Doors open at 7pm. Live DJ, give-aways, video/arcade games, cosmic lighting, music videos, NHL sized ice surface. Everyone pays $10 entry fee.
FIRESTOCK 2012: Firestock 2012 benefits the family of fallen Firefighter Jason Bishop. It all starts Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Jacksonville Landing and features an extensive musical lineup!
THE FOUNDATIONAL AWAKENING ABUSE PREVENTION GALA: Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Pangea Live, there is the Shofar Magazine release party, an event to bring awareness to the effects of domestic violence.
SALTWATER GRASS FAREWELL SHOW WITH BONNIE BLUE & CHROMA: The performances at Freebird Live! Start at 8 p.m. Saturday in Jacksonville Beach.
MAD COWFORD LONG FORM IMPROV: Mad Cowford, Jacksonville's home for innovative, interactive comedy, serves the North Florida area with weekly performances in the heart of downtown Jacksonville. Saturday's performance starts at 8:15 p.m. at Northstar Substation.
GIRL'S NIGHT OUT: Ladies this one's for you! The Men of Chippendale's will be performing at Maverick's. Must be 18+ and show valid ID! If you are under the age of 21, you MUST pay an additional cover of $10 cash at the door!
PATRIOTIC PAWS PET ADOPTION EVENT: The City of Jacksonville's Animal Care and Protective Services will be holding this red, white and blue-themed adoption event at its headquarters at 2020 Forest Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $20 adoptions are available for those with a military ID or those in uniform or wearing red, white and blue attire. Food from the Gourmet Aviator will be available, as well as shopping, pet education and raffles.
SUNDAY July 8, 2012
SUMMER JAZZ SERIES: The summer Jazz series continues this Sunday at the Sea Walk Pavilion. Admission is free to the public and there will be vendors there with refreshments available for purchase. The entertainment begins at 5:00PM which includes Surge, Marcus Anderson and the headliners Marc Antoine & Brian Simpson. So bring a blanket and some lawn chairs and enjoy the evening. For more information about the series visit www.jacksonvillebeach.org.
SUMMER MOVIE CLASSICS: "To Kill a Mockingbird": View the 1962 black and white film "To Kill a Mockingbird" at the Florida Theatre Sunday at 2 p.m. It's $7.50 per ticket.
FC JAX DESTROYERS DOUBLE HEADER: MEN VS. MISSISSIPPI BRILLA: Come support both the men and women FC Jax Destroyers on July 8th at Jacksonville University Sunday. The men will play at 2:00pm vs. Mississippi Brilla and the women will play at 4:30pm vs. the Atlanta Silverbacks. One ticket is good for both games.
BEACH WALK AND TALK: Enjoy a guided tour of JaxParks oceanfront parks and portions of the Great Florida Birding Trail. (Meet at Nature Center) at Huguenot Memorial Park on Sunday, July 8 at 2:00 p.m.
First Coast News