Jacksonville Today Arts and Culture Editor Matt Shaw shares his top 3 arts and culture picks for the weekend.
![Finger Mullet fest image](https://jaxtoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/FMFF_Logo-1024x547.jpg)
Friday & Saturday
Finger Mullet Film Festival
Crisp-Ellert Art Museum | St. Augustine
Dedicated to nurturing the budding experimental film and art culture in St. Augustine, the second annual Finger Mullet Film Festival kicked off on Thursday and continues on Friday and Saturday with films and visual-art exhibitions that explore the theme of local waters. Friday’s program (beginning at 6 p.m.) includes a participatory performance by cyriaco lopes terri witek and Kevin Mahoney, as well as a screening of student-made and professional films that unpack the competing narratives of water as a vital resource and a mortal danger. Saturday’s slate (beginning at 6 p.m.) includes more films and live-music performances. It’s free to attend. More info here.
![Emancipation Celebration Day event image](https://jaxtoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ECD-2023-1024x577.png)
Saturday
Emancipation Celebration
James Weldon Johnson Park | Downtown Jacksonville
While Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery, emancipation was declared in the state of Florida on May 20, 1865 — two years after Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and 11 days after the end of the Civil War. This year, Jacksonville’s annual Emancipation Day celebration is again held at James Weldon Johnson Park. The all-day event, hosted by local media personality and incoming City Council member Rahman Johnson, features musical performances from R&B-soul group Dat’s Pressure Band, Nan Nkama Pan-African & Drum Ensemble, Jacksonville Arts and Music School, Taryn “Love Reigns” Warwood and Mal Jones, among others. Local food trucks and vendors will be on hand, with family-friendly activities, panel discussions and more, all designed to shed light on the historical significance of Florida’s observance of Emancipation Day. The festival is held from 4 p.m.- 9 p.m. It’s free to attend. More info here.
![Dancin' in the Street event image](https://jaxtoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Screen-Shot-2023-05-18-at-2.24.02-PM-1024x1021.png)
Saturday
Dancin’ In the Street
Beaches Town Center | Atlantic Beach
A Beaches tradition for more than three-and-a-half decades, the annual Dancin’ in the Street celebration kicks off on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Beaches Town Center (where neighboring coastal enclaves Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach merge). With more than a dozen local bands on two stages, art installations, food trucks and vendors, all squeezed into a roughly two-square-block radius, it’s one heckuva block party. Music starts at 11:30 a.m. with instrumental surf-rock outfit the Rip Currents. Country rockers Austin Park close things out at 8:45 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.