Are you ready to experience some of the best festivals in Jacksonville, Florida?
Jacksonville is a city that combines a thriving culture and culinary scene with a coastal town that’s great for swimming and surfing.
You can experience both in this lively Florida destination.
I have compiled a list of the top festivals in Jacksonville for you to enjoy. Grab your loved ones and head south for an unforgettable vacation.
These are the 10 must-see festivals in Jacksonville this year.
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Best Jacksonville Festivals at a Glance:
- World of the Nations Festival: Go on an adventure around the world without ever having to leave Jacksonville
- WasabiCon Festival: The biggest pop culture event where you connect with other fans and celebrate your fandom of anime, cosplay, and Kpop
- Jacksonville Jazz Festival: One of the most highly anticipated events for more than 40 years with a groovy lineup that includes Brian McKnight, Joss Stone, and Grammy-nominated The Baylor Project
- Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival: It´s a shrimptastic good time of mouthwatering seafood, contests for all ages, a themed festival parade, kid’s fun zone, an Arts and Crafts exhibition and so much more
Keep reading to get the full guide to the best Florida festivals in Jacksonville for 2024.
1. World of the Nations Festival
The 2024 World of Nations Celebration will mark its 31st year.
Over the course of two days of the event, attendees can immerse themselves in the customs, art, and food of various countries.
There will be food trucks and international cuisine where you can try out all kinds of delicious types of global cuisine, workshops, fun dance lessons, and music from around the world.
Why We Love This as One of the Best Jacksonville Festivals
This festival is an opportunity for Jacksonville to highlight the diverse international communities present in the area.
Each year, the event attracts 75,000 visitors, including 12,000 school children who attend as part of their field trips.
Nations Represented in This Festival Are:
- The Bahamas
- Cambodia
- People’s Republic of China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Palestine
- Republic of Panama
- Peru
- Philippines
- Puerto Rico
- Spain
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turkey
- U.S.A
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Venezuela
It’s one of the best ways to explore and go on an adventure around the world without ever having to leave Jacksonville.
What to Know Before You Go to This Jacksonville Festival
- Date: February 24 from 10 am to 7 pm and February 25 from 10 am to 6 pm, 2024
- Venue: 225 Talleyrand Ave., Jacksonville, Florida 32202
- Cost: $8 + fees each when purchased online, children 3 and under are free. Visit the website for more information.
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2. Riverside Craft Beer Festival
Prepare to indulge in a variety of tasty craft beers from local, regional, and national breweries at the Riverside Craft Beer Festival.
This year they will be featuring more than a hundred craft beers so you know that there is something for every beer lover.
The event will also feature live music from 12-4 p.m. keeping the good vibes going all afternoon long.
Why We Love This as One of the Best Jacksonville Festivals
In addition, Jacksonville’s top food trucks will be there at the event, selling delicious treats for minimal cost.
This festival is considered one of the top things to do in Jacksonville, Florida in February.
Plus you will be drinking for a good cause so you can feel hoppy about indulging in this festival in Jacksonville. It is benefiting Community PedsCare® , a charitable cause that supports children with lifelong illnesses.
So come out and cheers to charity!
What to Know Before You Go to This Jacksonville Festival
- Date: February 25, 2024
- Venue: Riverside Arts Market, 715 Riverside Avenue, Underneath Fuller Warren Bridge
- Cost: Starting from $55. Visit the website for more information.
3. Food Truck Festival
Get ready for an extraordinary culinary adventure!
It will be organized by Jacksonville Business Connections this year and is one of the best festivals in Jacksonville, Florida.
It is a free event however, you can buy tickets for voting and sampling and have your say in who you think should win. It is the battle of the best!
Why We Love This as One of the Best Jacksonville Festivals
The impressive selection of food trucks will offer an array of dishes from across the city, satisfying every palate, from juicy burgers to spicy tacos to much more!
Additionally, local musicians will take the stage and entertain the crowds with their beats, creating a festive atmosphere all day long. But that’s not all!
There are plenty of family-friendly activities planned, such as face painting, games, contests, and a bouncy house to keep everyone entertained. Including your furry family members since this is one of the Florida festivals in Jacksonville that is pet-friendly.
What to Know Before You Go to This Jacksonville Festival
- Date: March 10th, 4 p.m.- 7 p.m.
- Venue: Riverside Arts Square 725 Riverside Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32204
- Cost: Free to attend
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4. Springing the Blues Festival
Springing the Blues, which is presented by Sawgrass Asset Management, is one of the best musical events that is going to happen again this year in the Seawalk Pavilion of downtown Jacksonville Beach.
This three-day event is surely going to make you groove to the tunes by national, regional, and local blues artists.
Why We Love This as One of the Best Jacksonville Festivals
Springing the Blues is one of the most popular festivals in Jacksonville and one that is celebrating its 32nd year!
Locals love the talented artists, the incredible food, and the overall vibe of this outdoor blues music festival.
It is located right at the waterfront with the option for VIP seating where you can get up close stage front and even kick back in your own armchairs with drink service. This is definitely one festival in Jacksonville you don´t want to miss!
So, be sure to buy your passes in advance before they are all sold out.
What to Know Before You Go to This Jacksonville Festival
- Date: April 5th, 6th, 7th 2024
- Venue: Jacksonville Beach’s SeaWalk Pavilion
- Cost: The ticket price starts from $109. Visit the website for more information.
5. Jax River Jams
Jax River Jams is one of the most sought-after festivals in Jacksonville.
It is an amazing concert series that takes place every Thursday in April and is open to the public free of charge!
Why We Love This as One of the Best Jacksonville Festivals
In previous years, the event has featured top acts like Boys II Men and Carly Pearce.
This year Rodney Atkins, Bishop Briggs, Earthgang, and Andy Grammer are some of the national headliners for this four-week concert series along with many other local and regional openers that will put on a stomping good show.
What to Know Before You Go to This Jacksonville Festival
- Date: April 4, 11, 18, 25, 2024
- Venue: Riverfront Plaza, Downtown Jacksonville
- Cost: Free to attend
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6. Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The Jacksonville Jazz Festival has been a highly anticipated event for more than 40 years!
This festival unites music enthusiasts for an unforgettable weekend featuring food, drinks, and of course, music!
Why We Love This as One of the Best Jacksonville Festivals
The Jacksonville Jazz Festival takes over the streets of downtown Jacksonville and beyond, treating attendees to the delightful sounds of their favorite artists and groovy tunes.
The festivities begin in May 2024 with the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition on Thursday, followed by three days of free live entertainment in the heart of downtown Jacksonville!
Trust me, you don’t want to miss this festival as they bring in some of the most talented musicians in the world.
Come out and enjoy performances from featured performers like Brian McKnight, Joss Stone, Gregory Porter, The Huntertones, the Grammy-nominated The Baylor Project and many more to be announced.
The energy will be buzzing with the sweet sounds of jazz over the Memorial Day Weekend in Jacksonville.
What to Know Before You Go to This Jacksonville Festival
- Date: May 23 – 26, 2024
- Venue: Downtown Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville, United States
- Cost: Ticket Price to be released soon. Visit the website for more information.
7. Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival
The historic downtown Fernandina Beach hosts the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, which provides a variety of activities for the whole family!
You can indulge in delicious fresh seafood and shrimp dishes prepared by local non-profit and civic organizations.
The festival offers an eclectic mix of retail shops, pubs, and restaurants to enjoy on Amelia Island.
Why We Love This as One of the Best Jacksonville Festivals
The Arts and Crafts exhibition features items like jewelry, photography, and pottery and is one of the most popular things to do in Jacksonville with over 135,000 people coming out to enjoy this Florida festival.
You can also explore 75 booths of antiques and collectibles or let your kids have their own fun in the Kids Fun Zone.
The festival parade takes to the streets on Thursday, May 2 at 6 pm with a groovy theme of peace, love, and shrimping paying tribute to and celebrating shrimping in the 60s.
Shrimp boats will be decorated to battle it out for the top honor in the Decorated Shrimp Boat Contest plus many more contests. From an ice cream eating contest, beard contest, pirate costume contests for all different ages and even a pirate in training contest for the wee ones.
It is a shrimptastic good time making this one of the best Florida festivals for all ages.
What to Know Before You Go to This Jacksonville Festival
- Date: May 3 – 5, 2024
- Venue: Fernandina Beach, FL 32034, United States
- Cost: Free to attend
8. WasabiCon Festival
The biggest pop culture event, “WasabiCon,” is coming to Jacksonville this year.
This three-day event will feature local artists, exhibitors, gaming, panels, contests, and many other activities.
Why We Love This as One of the Best Jacksonville Festivals
Its over 165,000 square feet of anime, cosplay, tabletop gaming, Kpop, and video games where you can connect with other fans and celebrate your fandom.
They offer 3-day passes with advance discounts that are available until the end of August.
While daytime programs and events are suitable for all ages, evening sessions are intended for adult audiences.
What to Know Before You Go to This Jacksonville Festival
- Date: October 11-13, 2024
- Venue: Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center
- Cost: Starting from $25. Visit the website for more information.
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9. PorchFest
The PorchFest is an event that takes place in the neighborhood of Historic Springfield, located just north of downtown Jacksonville, Florida.
This is one of the Florida festivals in Jacksonville that is not only family-friendly but it is pet-friendly too.
Why We Love This as One of the Best Jacksonville Festivals
This is where a number of outstanding bands come to perform on porches throughout the afternoon.
The entertainment route will be closed off so you can safely get out and ride your bikes through the blocks or walk with your family to enjoy this cool experience. You are encouraged to bring your lawn chair, and blankets and chill out in front of the porches.
PorchFest event is free to attend, and many food trucks, craft beer, and wine are available for you while you’re there.
What to Know Before You Go to This Jacksonville Festival
- Date: Held annually on the first Saturday of November
- Venue: Springfield Historic District, Jacksonville, FL, United States, Florida
- Cost: Free to attend
10. Welcome to Rockville
Now Rockville is technically not in Jacksonville but it’s the largest rock music festival in Florida that I could not leave off of the list!
Welcome to Rockville is returning to Daytona Beach at Daytona International Speedway for a four-day event in May 2024 and is only an hour and a half away from Jacksonville.
Why We Love This as One of the Best Jacksonville Festivals
The festival will feature over 90 artists performing, including Foo Fighters, Slipknot, The Offspring, Machine Head, Limp Bizkit, Anthrax, Motley Crue, Judas Priest, and the incredible list goes on and on.
This is the ultimate of all Florida festivals for music lovers who are looking for a rockin’ good time. This festival in Florida offers camping so you can rock and roll all weekend long as well as hotel and pass bundles.
What to Know Before You Go to This Jacksonville Festival
- Date: May 9-12, 2024
- Venue: Daytona International Speedway
- Cost: Weekend 4-Day General Admission, $319.99. Visit the website for more information.
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My Final Thoughts on the Best Festivals in Jacksonville, Florida
As you can see, there are so many fun and unique things to do around the city of Jacksonville.
Be sure to work you way down the list and let me know how your festival adventures go!
Until next time, Happy Florida Travels Hipster!
About the Author
My name is NikkyJ. I’m a wife, a mother, a pharmacist turned theme park blogger, USA Today 10Best Contributor, and a writer who loves exploring all the hidden gems of Florida!
I was born and raised in Leesburg, Florida which attributes to my passion about for this amazing state.
I want to show you how you can create your own memories while discovering the Sunshine State!
Connect with me on Instagram!
(Original Article Date: March 15, 2023/Updated by Editor on March 22, 2024)