The Gullah Geechee Heritage Festival takes over Armstrong Park in St. Johns County this Saturday.
Published on December 3, 2025 at 8:26 pm
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A cozy Christmas tale read aloud in Fernandina Beach, a beloved holiday tradition at Jacksonville Beach and the annual Gullah Geechee Heritage Festival are What to Do in the Jacksonville area this weekend.
Tea and Tales: A Christmas Memory
Friday
Story and Song | Fernandina Beach
Head to Story and Song Friday for a cozy afternoon with a staged reading of A Christmas Memory. It’s a tender and funny story about the bonds that shape us by Truman Capote, inspired by his childhood years with relatives in rural Alabama. Ron Kurtz and Arlene Filkoff will be joined by local actor Noah Sawyer to bring this holiday classic to life. And to make it even better, scrumptious tea and treats are included, so you can sip and snack while you enjoy the performance. (And if you can’t make this one, Tea and Tales happens on the first Friday of every month.)
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3 p.m.; 1430 Park Ave., Fernandina Beach; Tickets: $25; More info.
Deck the Chairs
Friday and Saturday
Seawalk Pavilion & Latham Plaza | Jacksonville Beach
Deck the Chairs continues for a second weekend at Jacksonville Beach, and it’s such a fun, easy way to get into the holiday mood. More than 40 lifeguard chairs have been transformed by local businesses, artists and nonprofits into glowing creative installations, and the whole thing supports arts education for students. It’s a great excuse to bundle up, grab a hot cocoa, and snap a few photos while everything is lit up against the ocean. On Friday evening, catch a performance of The Nutcracker ballet at the pavilion. And on Saturday, shop a Christmas market while student groups perform throughout the afternoon and evening.
Friday, Nutcracker: 6 p.m.; Saturday: Market: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Performances: 2 p.m.-8:20 p.m.; 11 Ocean Front N., Jacksonville Beach; Free and open to the public. More info.
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Gullah Geechee Heritage Festival
Saturday
Armstrong Park | Elkton, St. Johns County
Celebrate the vibrant culture of the Jacksonville area’s Gullah Geechee community at the 12th Annual Gullah Geechee Heritage Festival. Watch live performances throughout the day, sample traditional dishes and shop vendor tables full of handmade arts and crafts. If you prefer to stay on the move, start your day with a guides Rails to Trails Bike Tour (open to cyclists and walkers). Then spend the rest of the afternoon learning the history of the Gullah Geechee people while soaking in the festival’s sights, sounds and flavors.
Noon- 5 p.m.; 4950 Harvey Ave., Elkton; Free and open to the public; More info.
