Published on April 23, 2026 at 9:47 am
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A play in Downtown Jacksonville, a critter encounter in Atlantic Beach and a celebration of trails in LaVilla are What to Do this weekend in the Jacksonville area.
The Pillowman by Lumen Rep Theatre
Friday + Saturday
WJCT Studios | Downtown Jacksonville
Prepare for an evening of suspense as Lumen Repertory Theatre brings Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman to the stage. This darkly comedic psychological thriller follows a fiction writer in a totalitarian state who is interrogated after a series of crimes begin to mirror the grisly plots in his short stories. Directed by Joshua Britton Andrews and starring Trevor Kluckman, Katie Johnston, Daniel Austin and Kate McManus, The Pillowman is part of Lumen Rep’s 2026 “Challenging” season, exploring heavy themes of censorship, creative freedom and the moral cost of art. After each performance, the audience is invited to stick around for Afterglow, an informal post-show gathering in the studio to mingle with the cast and crew over concessions.
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7:30 p.m. | 100 Festival Park Ave., Studio B. | Tickets: $45 | Tickets and more info
Wild Wonders
Saturday
Dutton Island Preserve | Atlantic Beach
Local naturalist Mike Rossi brings his “Animal Superpowers” program to Dutton Island Preserve this weekend, focusing on the weird and impressive survival traits of the reptile world. Rather than a standard lecture, this session blends live critter encounters with music and a bit of humor to show how these animals use color and specialized adaptations to thrive. If you’ve seen Rossi’s show before, you might still be surprised, with six new animals recently added to the show lineup. You are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs for the program at the pavilion, and be sure to hit the trails while you’re out there.
1 p.m. | Dutton Island Road West, Atlantic Beach | Free and open to the public | More info
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Celebrate Trails Day on the Emerald Trail
Saturday
Lavilla Link Butterfly Garden | LaVilla
Groundwork Jacksonville is marking Celebrate Trails Day this weekend in LaVilla. This is a sweet little community event. My fam and I rode our bikes to it last year, and I don’t think we otherwise would have known about this pollinator garden tucked away in the urban core. Created by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy to get people exploring their local trail systems, the event offers a chance to see the progress on the Emerald Trail firsthand, with two guided Black history walking tours, a tai chi session, sound bath, shelter dog walk, and more family-friendly fun. And it ends with a community butterfly release!
10 a.m.- 1 p.m. | 1076 W. Duval St. | Free and open to the public | More info
