There are a ton of great ongoing activities that we highlight below! There are also several activities from our post last week that are still continuing including Venardos Circus, Nights of Lights, Colors of the Wild and more! Our featured event this week is for all the dads (or crafty moms) out there: The Home Depot Kids Workshop (details below).

Colors of the Wild
📍 Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens (🚙 ~45 min)
🕒 After dark (evening event)
🎟️ Yes | 💲 Zoo admission + event pricing
👶 All ages
🔗 https://www.jacksonvillezoo.org/colors-of-the-wild
A nighttime lantern festival featuring massive illuminated animals, winter lights, and immersive themed zones throughout the zoo.

Nights of Lights – Historic Downtown St. Augustine
📍 Historic Downtown St. Augustine (🚙 30–35 min)
🕒 After dusk (~5:30 PM)
🎟️ No ticket | 💲 Free
👶 All ages
🔗 https://www.visitstaugustine.com/event/nights-lights
Iconic holiday light display throughout historic downtown, with occasional live music and pop-up performances.

Code Ninjas Ponte Vedra Beach - YouTube Digital Directors Camp

📍 258 Solana Rd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (🚙 ~20 min)
🕒 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
🎟️ Ticketed | 💲 $112.27 per child
👶 Typically ages 7–14
🔗 https://www.codeninjas.com
A creative tech camp where kids learn video editing and content creation while producing their own YouTube-style videos.

808 Bounce: Holiday Open Play (Closed Sunday)
📍 130 N. Volusia St, St. Augustine (🚙 30 min)
🕒 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM
🎟️ Yes | 💲 $15 + tax per child
👶 Kids
🔗 https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122204182832716926&set=a.122095914842716926
All-day inflatable bounce fun with unlimited re-entry—come and go until closing.

Jax On Ice
📍 718 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville (🚙 ~35 min)
🕒 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
🎟️ Yes | 💲 $17 + fees
👶 All ages
🔗 https://www.jaxonice.com
Outdoor ice-skating experience with lights, music, and winter vibes—perfect for an evening family outing.

YMCA Nocatee Winter Specialty Camp
📍 YMCA Nocatee – 400 Colonnade Dr, Suite 120, Ponte Vedra (🚙 cartable)
🕒 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM
🎟️ Yes | 💲 Check YMCA site (typically $20–$40 / half day for members)
👶 Ages 5–11
🔗https://operations.daxko.com/Online/3154/ProgramsV2/Search.mvc

📲Contact: (904) 460-7544 | [email protected]
A half-day winter camp with creative projects, games, and themed activities to keep kids engaged during the break.

Urban Youth Park Winter Camp
📍 Urban Youth Park – 200 Sterling Plaza Dr #205, Ponte Vedra (🚙 ~8 min)
🕒 Full day 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Half day AM or PM
🎟️ Yes | 💲 $55 per half day
👶 Ages 5+
🔗 https://portal.iclasspro.com/theparknoc/camps/5?sortBy=name
High-energy winter camp featuring parkour, trampolines, ninja obstacles, Nerf games, dodgeball, and open gym time.

St. Johns County Parks and Recreation - Trails and Tails

📍 Nocatee Preserve, Ponte Vedra, FL (🚙 cartable)
🕒 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
🎟️ Ticketed | 💲 Free
👶 All ages (3-mile hike)
🔗 https://secure.rec1.com
A guided family-friendly nature hike with county naturalists through the scenic trails of Nocatee Preserve.

Home Depot Kids Workshop – Tow Truck ⭐ Featured Event
📍 The Home Depot (multiple locations; closest ~10 min)
🕒 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
🎟️ No | 💲 Free
👶 Kids
🔗 https://www.homedepot.com/c/kids-workshop
A free, hands-on kids workshop where children build and take home a wooden tow truck while learning basic tool skills.

Process Art for Kids & Teens
📍 St. Johns County Public Library – Southeast Branch (🚙 ~15 min)
🕒 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM (drop-in)
🎟️ No | 💲 Free
👶 Best for ages 5+
🔗 https://sjcpls.librarycalendar.com/event/process-art-kids-and-teens-16968
Open-ended art stations encouraging creativity through painting, collage, and mixed-media exploration.

Family Day: Boba Sloth Painting
📍 Painting with a Twist – Fruit Cove (🚙 ~10 min)
🕒 Multiple sessions throughout the day
🎟️ Yes | 💲 ~$30–$35 per painter
🎨 Ages 5+
🔗 https://www.paintingwithatwist.com/studio/jacksonville-fruit-cove/event/4172811/
Guided family painting class where kids and parents create an adorable boba-sloth canvas together.

Sweet Pete’s Chocolate Pizza Class
📍 Sweet Pete’s Candy – 400 N. Hogan St, Jacksonville (🚙 ~35 min)
🕒 1:00 PM
🎟️ Yes | 💲 $19.35 per person
👶 Ages 7+ (kids under 13 must attend with a paid adult)
🔗 https://www.sweetpetescandy.com
Hands-on chocolate-making class where kids design a “pizza” using tempered chocolate and candy toppings to take home.

Please let us know if you have any feedback or how we can improve. We want to make 2026 the best year yet!

The Carts & Rec Team

P.S.

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