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Money can get kind of tight during this time of year, but it doesn’t mean you have to completely sit out the holiday season. There are dozens of free holiday things to do, including several Christmas lights displays across Jacksonville as well as Christmas tree lightings, musical events and more. We’ve gathered more than two dozen holiday events coming to the Jacksonville area that you can enjoy for free. That’s not to say you won’t have to pay for food or drinks or photos with Santa, but you don’t have to spend a dime if you don’t want to.
Free holiday light shows in the Jacksonville area
Nights of Lights
Nov. 15-Jan. 11 in downtown St. Augustine. Free.
Three million lights are strung in the trees and buildings of St. Augustine’s historic district, with events planned nearly every day. Info: visitstaugustine.com
Deck the Chairs
Nov. 26-Jan. 1 at Seawalk Pavilion, Jacksonville Beach. Free.
Dozens of lifeguard chairs are decorated with holiday themes. The lights are on nightly from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., and events are scheduled throughout the event’s run. Info: deckthechairs.org
Parade of Trees
Dec. 1-31 at Spring Park, Green Cove Springs. Free.
Dozens of trees decorated by local families, businesses and groups are lit up until 10 p.m. every night in the riverfront park. Info: exploreclay.com
Free Christmas tree lightings, parades, holiday concerts and more
Holiday Spectacular
2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at the St. Johns Town Center. Free.
Santa arrives at the big outdoor mall, with fireworks and live entertainment from Bold City Classics. Info: simon.com
Swingin’ Into the Holidays
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at UNF’s Robinson Theater. Free.
UNF’s jazz ensembles bring big-band swing to holiday standards. Info: events.unf.edu
Black Friday Pajama Party
8 a.m, Friday, Nov. 28, on Fernandina Beach’s Centre Street. Free.
Daylong pajama party with live entertainment, visits with Santa and a 6 p.m. tree lighting. Info: fernandinamainstreet.com
Springfield Holiday Tree Lighting & Lantern Parade
5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, at Sesquicentennial Park. Free.
A festival with vendors and food trucks starts at 5 p.m., leading to a 6:30 p.m. parade. Info: sparcouncil.org
Jacksonville Light Boat Parade
6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, on the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville. Free.
The traditional start of Jacksonville’s holiday season features boats lit up for the holidays parading up and down the St. Johns River. Info: events.jacksonville.gov
Lighting of the Park
6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, at Orange Park Town Hall. Free.
They’ll read “The Night Before Christmas” before flipping the switch to light up the trees around Orange Park Town Hall. Info: townoforangepark.com
Walk Through Bethlehem
Dec. 5-6, 12-13 at East Pointe Church. Free.
Live animals, Roman soldiers, a marketplace and a manger help set the scene of Bethlehem on the night of Jesus’ birth. Info: epcjax.com
St. Augustine Christmas Parade
9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, starting at the Mission of Nombre de Dios. Free.
It’s the 68th year for Santa to arrive in one of Northeast Florida’s largest annual parades. Info: visitstaugustine.com
Christmas on Walnut Street Parade and Festival
10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in Green Cove Springs. Free.
The annual festival kicks off with a parade, followed by a day of vendors and live music at Spring Park. Tree lighting is scheduled for 8 p.m. Info: exploreclay.com
Friends of St. Augustine Amphitheatre Holiday Celebration
5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Free.
Face-painting, fake snow, games, carolers, Santa and a free showing of “The Polar Express.” Admission is free with donation of a non-perishable food item to benefit the St. Johns Ecumenical Council Food Pantry. Info: theamp.com
Lighted Christmas Parade
6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in Fernandina Beach. Free.
Kick off the season with an illuminated procession. Info: fbfl.us.
Cozy Choral Christmas Concert
7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church. Free.
Holiday music from the UNF Chamber Singers, Osprey Treble Chorus and Mantavoces FSCJ Choirs. Info: unf.edu
Jacksonville Holly Jolly Community Event
11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at Riverside Arts Square. Free.
Music, bounce houses, vendors and visits from Santa and the Grinch. Info: jacksonvillebusinessconnections.com
Christmas Concert Fundraiser for Parkinson’s
6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at Normandy Park Baptist Church. Free, but donations accepted.
Kathy Lowery, founder of the Westside Parkinson’s Support Group of Jacksonville, is joined by Camille Frontz, Angelina Eidson, Stetson Floyd, Stephen Quinn and Julia Connell for a holiday concert. Info: jaxhopeinc.org
Cocoa & Carols
5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, behind BestBet Orange Park. Free.
Free cocoa and performances from local children’s groups, plus a “jolly trolley” offering rides along the riverfront. Info: concertonthegreen.com
The Children’s Christmas Party of Jacksonville
9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. Free.
Tens of thousands of toys are given away to kids in one of Jacksonville’s enduring holiday traditions. Info: ccpoj.org
Hastings Hometown Christmas Parade and Holiday Market
10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, in downtown Hastings. Free.
10 a.m. parade starts at the Harris Community Center and moves down Main Street, followed by a holiday marketplace. Info: visitstaugustine.com
Tuba Christmas
1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Seawalk Pavilion, Jacksonville Beach. Free.
150 or so tuba, euphonium and sousaphone players oompah their way through holiday classics. Info: jaxtubaxmas.com
Middleburg Christmas Festival and Parade
2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Clay County Outdoor Adventure Park, Middleburg. Free.
Festival with vendors and live entertainment, followed by 6:30 p.m. parade. Info: exploreclay.com
Hometown Holiday
5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Clarke House Park, Orange Park. Free.
Shopping village, hay rides and an illuminated trail, all on the grounds of a historic home. Info: exploreclay.com
Regatta of Lights
6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, on the St. Augustine bayfront. Free.
Apparently, a few million lights in the historic district aren’t good enough, so St. Augustine is also throwing a lighted boat parade to celebrate the season. Info: visitstaugustine.com
Hometown Holiday in the Park
5 p.m. Dec. 13-14 at Clarke House Park, Orange Park. Free.
Hay rides, pony rides, pictures with Santa, live music and a shopping village. Info: townoforangepark.com
Totally Lit!
5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at James Weldon Johnson Park. Free.
The Jacksonville Jewish Center’s Hanukkah celebration will be held all over the city, with the sixth night in the downtown square. Info: jaxjewishcenter.org
RAP Luminaria
Dusk Sunday, Dec. 21, in Riverside and Avondale. Free.
The streets of Riverside and Avondale are lined with lighted bags in a Jacksonville tradition. Info: riversideavondale.org
(Almost) free things to do in Jacksonville this holiday season
These events aren’t quite free, but are either dirt cheap or will accept donations.
Very Shrimp Christmas
4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at 121 Financial Ballpark. $1.
It’s the off-season for Jacksonville’s baseball team, but the Jumbo Shrimp are throwing a holiday party anyway, with vendors, holiday movies and photos with Santa. Info: milb.com/jacksonville
Beaches North Pole Express
Dec. 12-13 at the Beaches Museum, Jacksonville Beach. Donations accepted.
On most days, you can find an old Florida East Coast Railroad engine at the Beaches Museum. For this event, it becomes the North Pole Express, with Santa and all. Info: beachesmuseum.org
Glow-in-the-Dark Chanukkah Celebration
6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Beaches Museum, Jacksonville Beach. Donations accepted.
Chabad at the Beaches throws a celebration that includes menorah lighting, games and latke. Info: beachesmuseum.org
Christmas at the Cabin
5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Beaches Museum, Jacksonville Beach. Donations accepted.
The Beaches Museum’s 1873 Oesterreicher-McCormick Cabin is the venue for an old-fashioned holiday celebration. Info: beachesmuseum.org
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.jacksonville.com ’
