By: Ben Strickland, Fall Marketing Major
The cobwebs, the costumes, and the events are in full force in Downtown Jacksonville. Not only is Everbank Stadium hosting the Florida-Georgia game on Saturday, but Halloween falls on the preceding Friday, making for a jam-packed weekend full of events. If you’re more interested in the ghouls and goblins, Downtown has a buzzing itinerary just for you.
Jumping into the spook early on the 29th, Kanine Social will hold its annual Halloween Party; the Florida Theatre will host the Florida Ballet’s showing of “Dracula”, and Altea on Southbank will have a Halloween Bash. Whether it’s with dogs, dance or a casual social gathering, this is a great opportunity to kick-start the spooky vibes early leading into the weekend.
Ruby Beach Brewery’s Cookie Decorating Class takes place on Wednesday at 6 p.m.. If you’re interested in cookie decorating, this is the perfect opportunity to get started or improve on the basics with a seasonal twist.
On the eve of the holiday, Myth Nightclub haunts the dance floor with one of its themed events: Emo Nite invites black skinny jeans and colorful costumes alike onto the dance floor. Get there in time to grab some limited edition merch before it’s too late!
Halloween reaches its apex on Friday night with several other music-centric events. Hardwicks Bar will have its Hardwicks Horror show, Decca Live hosts TOBEHONEST, and The Volstead will have a Vampire’s Ball, all happening once the sun falls below the St. John’s River horizon. Be sure to wear your costume, as these events encourages them or have costume contests with prizes for best dressed. For the music scene, Intuition Ale Works will have a free Halloween Show featuring the Pink Stones starting at 7 p.m.
To end off the weekend, PlacemakingJax presents the first annual Pumpkin Smash, providing an eco-friendly and community-driven way to discard your aging Jack-O-Lanterns. Instead of throwing them in the trash, the Pumpkin Smash turns the pumpkins into nutrient-rich compost that keeps local soil healthy.
All through the weekend, don’t forget to stop by Sweet Pete’s for some delicious treats themed for the holiday!