Experience "The Phantom of the Opera" like never before: With a live-improvised organ score.
Published on October 29, 2026 at 12:43 am
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Two silent classic horror films with live musical scores, a “spine-chilling gothic tale” on stage, and Eat Your Yard’s Persimmon Festival are What to Do in the Jacksonville area this weekend.
The Phantom of the Opera (1925) silent film with live organ/ Nosferatu (1922) silent film with live score
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Friday/ Saturday
Jacoby Symphony Hall/Friday Musicale | Downtown Jacksonville/Riverside
Halloween is this weekend. Get into the spirit with not one but two silent horror classics screened alongside spooky live scores. First up is The Phantom of the Opera at Jacoby Symphony Hall, featuring organ accompaniment by Brett Miller. Playing the magnificent Bryan Concert Organ, Miller will perform a dramatic, real-time improvisation (how cool is that?) that brings every scene of the cinematic gem to life with incredible suspense and atmospheric sound. Then on Saturday (Halloween day), venture if you dare to the Riverside venue Friday Musicale for another silent classic, Nosferatu, scored live by an electronic-music, piano, and percussion ensemble led by local percussion prodigy Tony Steve.
Phantom: 7:30 p.m. Friday/Nosferatu: 3 p.m. Saturday | Phantom: More info and tickets / Nosferatu: More info and tickets
Feeding Beatrice
Friday-Saturday
Players by the Sea | Jacksonville Beach
Players by the Sea is staging Feeding Beatrice, a haunting mix of horror and sharp social satire by playwright Kirsten Greenidge. The story follows a young Black couple who buy a crumbling old mansion at a suspiciously low price, only to discover it’s already occupied by Beatrice, a mysterious ghost from another era with a sinister charm. It’s a compelling “spine-chilling gothic tale” that examines history and privilege with heaps of atmospheric tension. (Note: The show is recommended only for mature audiences.)
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Thursday – Saturday: 8 p.m. | 106 N. 6th St., Jacksonville Beach | Tickets: $35: general admission; $32: Senior/student/military | More info and tickets
Persimmon Festival
Sunday
Eat Your Yard Jax Farm | Westside
Celebrate autumn on the farm at Eat Your Yard Jax’s sixth annual Persimmon Festival, a fundraiser centered on my absolute favorite local fall fruit! The day features live music, persimmon tastings, local vendors, educational workshops, and plenty of activities for kids. You even get to meet farm animals. It’s a great Sunday afternoon out on the farm that supports local agriculture.
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | 6500 Utsey Road | Tickets: $25 online / $30 at the gate (Kids under 11 are free) | More info and tickets
