Settling Into Summer Break

⭐ Our Favorite Events This Weekend

Welcome to summer break — long days, slow mornings, and sometimes… very little breathing room 🫠. Time to get out of the house! This week we're especially excited about Family Seining at Guana — one of those rare activities that's equal parts adventure, education, and a reminder of how much natural beauty we have right in our backyard. The Farm Swap is another favorite, with chicks, bunnies, plants, and a laid-back farm atmosphere that feels like a completely different world from everyday life. And for creative kids, the Ocean Candle Crafting workshop offers a fun indoor option with something they'll actually be excited to bring home. Whether your family is in the mood for getting muddy, meeting animals, or making art, this weekend has a little bit of everything.

Kids Art Club: Ocean Candle Crafting
📍 Durbin Pavilion (~17 min 🚗)
🕐 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
🎟️ $25
🧒 Kids
🔗 More info here
Kids design and create their own ocean-themed decorative candles in this hands-on drop-off art session.

Family Seining
📍 GTM Research Reserve (~23 min 🚗)
🕐 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
🎟️ $3 per vehicle
👪 All ages
🔗 More info here
We love to pitch this event, because we encourage local families to visit this incredible natural beauty that is so close to our doorsteps. This is a great way to do it with the whole family. With professional guidance, you pull a seine net through Guana Lake to collect and learn about fish, crabs, and other aquatic species — all gear is provided. A great educational and fun memory.

Farm Swap
📍 Feed Mill (~38 min 🚗)
🕐 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
🎟️ Free
👪 Children & families
🔗 More info here
A farm swap is similar to a farmers market, but there is more swapping of farm-specific items, not just purchasing produce from vendors. There will be live chicks, turkeys, bunnies, plants, and more at this farm swap event and gathering, with pizza available starting at 11 AM.

Summer Tennis & Activities Camp
📍 Julington Creek Plantation Recreation Center (~20 min 🚗)
🕐 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
🎟️ $75 per day / $250 weekly
👪 Children & families
🔗 More info here

Pickleball is great, but Tennis remains the sport of kings. Get your kids started right. This action-packed camp featuring tennis, swimming, multi-sport games, fitness activities, and fun challenges like water balloon wars for all skill levels.

Summer (Multi-Sport) Youth Sports Camps
📍 Silverleaf Amenity Center, St. Augustine (~24 min 🚗)
🕐 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
🎟️ $70 per day / $260 weekly
🧒 Ages 5–14
🔗 More info here

Two rotating options — Tennis & Pickleball or Multi-Sport — with coach-led activities, organized games, and screen-free play.

Summer Break Art Camp: Animals
📍 Creative Me Art Studio (~24 min 🚗)
🕐 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
🎟️ $40-$225
🧒 Ages 5+
🔗 More info here (click “calendar” and scroll down)

Kids create two rainforest-themed art projects in this 3-hour morning or afternoon session, with snacks and supplies included.

Read, Move & Groove
📍 The Little Gym Fruit Cove (~20 min 🚗)
🕐 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
🎟️ $12
👶 Babies & toddlers
🔗 More info here

This active storytime combines reading, movement games, and songs in a festive morning of wiggles and giggles.

Kids Art Club: Ocean Candle Crafting
📍 Durbin Pavilion (~17 min 🚗)
🕐 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
🎟️ $25
🧒 Kids
🔗 More info here

Kids design and create their own ocean-themed decorative candles in this hands-on drop-off art session.

Can You Dig It? STEM Craft
📍 Main Branch, St. Johns County Public Library (~30 min 🚗)
🕐 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
🎟️ Free
🧒 Young children and accompanying adults
🔗 More info here

This archaeology-themed craft hour lets kids dig and discover fossils and artifacts while learning about American history.

Tunes and Blooms Y2K Throwback Night
📍 Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens (~40 min 🚗)
🕐 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM
🎟️ $17-$27 (Children 2 & under free)
👪 All ages
🔗 More info here

Stroll the Zoo and Botanical Gardens at sunset while live music with Y2K vibes plays across the grounds, for sure the best theme for this series yet. We can all agree Y2K era was the greatest.

Farm Swap
📍 Feed Mill (~38 min 🚗)
🕐 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
🎟️ Free
👪 Children & families
🔗 More info here

A farm swap is similar to a farmers market, but there is more swapping of farm-specific items, not just purchasing produce from vendors. There will be live chicks, turkeys, bunnies, plants, and more at this farm swap event and gathering, with pizza available starting at 11 AM.

Family Seining
📍 GTM Research Reserve (~23 min 🚗)
🕐 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
🎟️ $3 per vehicle
👪 All ages
🔗 More info here

Pull a seine net through Guana Lake to collect and learn about fish, crabs, and other aquatic species — all gear is provided.

Girl Scouts Popsicles in the Park - Interest Meet Up
📍 Veterans Park Playground, St. Johns (~22 min 🚗)
🕐 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
🎟️ Free
🧒 Girls (school-age)
🔗 More info here

Girls learn about Girl Scouts and troop opportunities while enjoying free popsicles, fun activities, and a chance to earn their first patch.

Children's Art Class
📍 Beach Art Studio, St. Augustine Beach (~43 min 🚗)
🕐 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
🎟️ Free | Pre-registration required
🧒 Ages 11
🔗 More info here

Kids create art projects with all supplies provided in this free monthly class, meeting the second Saturday of each month.

Toddler Time: Llama Llama Sand & Sun
📍 Painted Pallet Studio (~20 min 🚗)
🕐 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
🎟️ $15
👶 Toddlers
🔗 More info here

Toddlers listen to a story, paint a sandcastle craft, and explore art in this low-stress, family-friendly creative session.

Intro to Handtool Woodworking for Kids
📍 Ancient City Craftworks (~39 min 🚗)
🕐 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
🎟️ $30
🧒 Ages 7+
🔗 More info here

Kids learn woodworking fundamentals while developing patience, perseverance, and creativity in this hands-on workshop.

Florida Freshwater License-Free Fishing Days
📍 Anywhere in Florida
🕐 All weekend (June 13–14 freshwater)
🎟️ Free
👪 All ages
🔗 More info here

Fish without a license on these designated freshwater days — a great low-pressure way to introduce the kids to a new outdoor activity.