Raise your hand if you’re ready for boating season to officially begin! 🙋🏼♀️ The official-unofficial start of Summer is upon us – Memorial Day! And with that comes boat days, beach days, island explorations, BBQ’s, three day weekends, and basically everything we love about Summer!
Trying to plan your Memorial Day in Jacksonville? Continue reading to get the inside scoop all the happenings this Memorial Day!
Memorial Day in Jacksonville

Green Cove Springs Memorial Day RiverFest
What’s more Florida than a day spent on the river? Outsiders think us Floridians are all about the beach but us locals know the real fun is on the rivers! Green Cove Springs – just a short drive from Jacksonville – is hosting a *family friendly* Memorial Day RiverFest!
Memorial Day RiverFest has become an annual tradition for 30 years celebrating and supporting local veterans and families throughout Northeast Florida! Come out and enjoy a Veterans Recognition Ceremony honoring veterans, 20+ local food trucks, 75 craft vendors that line the park, a Kids Zone with horse rides, giant inflatables, and so much more! You also will have free entry into the City’s spring-fed public pool and fireworks show over the St. Johns River to end the day!
Pro Tip: For visitor information, go to exploreclay.com.
🗓 May 30 | 10:00am-9:00pm
📍Spring Park, Saint Johns Avenue, Green Cove Springs, FL
🎟 FREE

Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Spend your whole Memorial Day Weekend with your favorite jazz artists at *queue jazz hands* the Jacksonville Jazz Festival! As one of the largest free jazz festivals in the country, there is a lot to jazz about it! Okay, jazz puns aside – this festival is sure to be a great one!
The festival has been going on since 1981 and continues to be a big hit! This year the festival is kicking off with a piano competition on Thursday night, and we are so ready!
Want the full experience? Check out their VIP experience and let the music take you!
Thursday, May 26 – Sunday, May 29
📍 Downtown Jacksonville

Staycation in St. Augustine
Take advantage of your long weekend away from work and responsibilities and take a staycation in St. Augustine! Our area here includes one of the most picturesque destinations in the country and we have it all right in our backyard!
Need ideas on what to do – besides lounging by the water and soaking up the sun? Check out our St. Augustine neighborhood page! A few highlights include shopping local at some of the great boutiques, taking a river boat cruise to view the city from the water, or go on a bar hop around the city! And for a place to stay? Check out The Local – we love staying there and know you will too!

Get on the Water
Peddle boats have taken over the Jacksonville area and we are here for it! We have great two options for you with Old Town Cycle Cruise in St. Augustine and Kraken Cycleboats in downtown Jacksonville!
Spend your Memorial Day in Jacksonville with friends on the water, peddling to your next drink, and partying it up with your crew! Peddle boat party boats are such a fun and unique way to see the city and spend time with friends and we are just obsessed! We suggest calling up all of your friends and throwing your party out on the water! Book soon before they all fill up!
Old City Cycle Cruise
📍Beaches Marina St. Augustine
Kraken Cycleboats
📍Friendship Fountain Jacksonville

Get Outside
Jacksonville is full of outdoor activities – more than just the beach – but also the beach if that is your jam! So many local businesses have made the beach their home with awesome rentals – like paddle boards and kayaks to wave runners – and experiences! No matter what your style of outdoor adventure is, Jacksonville has it! And there are sure to be a ton of Memorial Day Weekend specials!

Looking to get out of town? Head to Orlando or Tampa!
Oh yeah, those other globally known Florida destinations are only a car ride away! Orlando and Tampa are booming and have so much going on! The Orlando theme parks are known for all of their holiday specials and Tampa has some of the best beach bars around! Take a look at our Stuff To Do in Tampa Bay and Stuff To Do in Orlando pages to plan your perfect getaway!
More Memorial Day Events in Jacksonville
🇺🇸 5/30 | Memorial Day at Wicked Barley
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