Jacksonville Today Arts and Culture Editor Matt Shaw shares his arts and culture picks for the weekend.

Thursday and Friday

Jax Symphony Presents: At the Ballet II

Jacoby Symphony Hall | Downtown Jacksonville

After a Thursday evening Symphony in 60 performance, the Jacksonville Symphony will once again be joined by dancers from the Florida Ballet and the Jacksonville Dance Theatre for At the Ballet II, a matinee performance on Friday at 11, as part of the Symphony’s popular coffee series. Tickets and more info. 

Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday

Jacksonville Jazz Festival 

Metropolitan Park & Daily’s Place | Downtown Jacksonville

The annual Jacksonville Jazz Festival returns this weekend, kicking off on Thursday night with the revered Jacksonville Jazz Festival Piano Competition at the Florida Theatre before the festival proper begins at two locations: Daily’s Place and the fest’s former home: Metropolitan Park. Pop and R&B artists Joss Stone, Robin Thicke and Brian McKnight get top billing this year, but, as always, the fest’s jazz bonafides are unimpeachable – New Orleans trumpeter Nicholas Payton, smooth-jazz superduo the Baylor Project, emerging sax star Lakecia Benjamin, the legendary Kenny Barron and more perform throughout the weekend. For a deep dive, check out the Jacksonville Music Experience‘s guide to the Jazz Fest. The music runs from 4-11 p.m. on Friday and 3-11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. All shows are free to attend. Full schedule and more info. 

Saturday

Sarah Crooks: The Long Way(t) Home 

Jessie Ball duPont Center | Downtown Jacksonville

The latest Moving the Margins artist-in-residence, Sarah Crooks, shares The Long Way(t) Home, an exhibit of new works exploring our dynamic relationship with nature, at the Corner Gallery inside the Jessie Ball duPont Center. An opening reception is on Saturday at 5 p.m., with an artist talk beginning at 7:30 p.m. Free to attend. The exhibition is on view through August 21. RSVP here.