Big Bounce America is returning to Jacksonville. | Jodie Bark / Big Bounce America
Published on February 20, 2025 at 3:45 pm
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An array of events are scheduled this weekend on the First Coast, headed by the 33rd Annual World of Nations Celebration.
Here’s a rundown.
World of Nations: Jacksonville’s annual multicultural festival showcases the diverse traditions, cuisines and performances of 35 nations. It is set for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Tailgaters Parking, 225 Talleyrand Ave.
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Tickets are $13 plus tax (ages 4-17) and $15 plus tax (ages 18+) via credit/debit cards and tap-to-pay only. Or buy them online at JaxWorldofNations.com. Public parking lots cost $10 to $13. Parts of Talleyrand Avenue, Bryan Street and Duval Street will be closed at or near the event all weekend.
Exhibit Come to Life: The Untold Story of Black Mandarin: The free event will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Mandarin Museum and Walter Jones Historical Park at 11964 Mandarin Road. The museum and Florida Blue’s ASPIRE Employee Resource Group will present exhibits and historic buildings including the 1898 St. Joseph’s Mission Schoolhouse for African American Children.
At noon, Michael A. Allen will present Hidden in Plain Sight: The Building of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor in the 1898 Schoolhouse. Others at the event will include Gullah Historian Elaine Jackson Ford, author Greg Estevez, sweetgrass basket weaver Regenia Foreman Woodie and Black Hikers Unite.
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St. Augustine Spanish Food and Wine Festival: Flagler College will present the festival Friday and Saturday in St. Augustine.
The Cava Reception & Wine Pairing Dinner will be at 6 p.m. Friday at the Flagler College Solarium and Rotunda at 74 King St. It includes dinner and a private musical performance. $700 per person.
The Grand Tasting event will be 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the college’s Markland House at 102 King St., with more than 100 Spanish wines. A VIP tasting event will take place at the Crisp-Ellert Art Museum at 48 Sevilla St. Tickets are $100 for the event and $250 for the VIP event.
West Augustine Wheelers’ Pub Sub Scramble: Bicycle enthusiasts will provide a scavenger hunt around town to get people to enjoy the city, support small businesses and ride their bicycles. It starts at 10 a.m. Friday and ends at 7 p.m. Sunday at Spinster Abbott’s on San Marco Avenue. Riders can get a list of the hunt’s objectives and ride instructions for $15 to $25 at Tonevendor and Sprockets Bike Shop, 34 Rio Vista Drive in St. Augustine. Or get a copy at @tonevendor or @sprockets_bikeshop.
Big Bounce America: The event features a 24,000-square-foot bounce house and six other inflatable attractions. It runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Westside Golf Center, 2301 Parrish Cemetery Road. Tickets are $22 to $45 depending on age
30th Annual Northeast Florida Scottish Games and Festival: The games are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Clay County Fairgrounds, 2493 State Road 16 W. in Green Cove Springs. The event celebrates Scottish culture, history and tradition with athletic competitions, authentic cuisine, history and live entertainment from Celtic bands Albannach, Syr and Poehemia. The games honor Clan MacLeod, with special guest Adrian Paul, the actor who brought Duncan MacLeod to life in the Highlander franchise. The concert starts at 6 p.m., followed by fireworks.
Melanin Market: The market will be noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at 822 A. Philip Randolph Blvd. The event celebrates Black History Month with live music, a parade, food, minority businesses and other events. Local, state, college and high school bands will participate in the 1 p.m. parade, starting at Matthew Gilbert Middle School on Franklin Street and ending on A. Philip Randolph Boulevard.
