Your Star-Spangled Family Weekend Starts Right Here

It’s a star-spangled weekend — one of the best weekends of the year on the First Coast! Kick things off Friday evening at Nocatee Station Field for the neighborhood’s free Independence Day Party, packed with live entertainment and patriotic fun just a golf-cart ride away. On the Fourth itself, head down to St. Augustine for Fireworks Over the Matanzas, where a free Big Band concert gives way to a dazzling 20-minute show synchronized over the bay. And for something delightfully offbeat, swing by Ripley’s America’s Weirdest Block Party for free live music, face painting, and quirky fun the whole family will love.

Independence Day Party
📍 Nocatee Station Field (Cartable 🛒)
🕐 6:00 PM | Friday
🎟️ Free
🧒 All ages
🔗 More info here

Celebrate America’s 250th right in Nocatee with live entertainment, patriotic activities, and family fun.

Fireworks Over the Matanzas
📍 Plaza de la Constitución, St. Augustine (~37 min 🚗)
🕐 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Saturday
🎟️ Free
🧒 All ages
🔗 More info here

A free Big Band concert followed by a synchronized 20-minute fireworks show over Matanzas Bay set to patriotic music.

America’s Weirdest Block Party
📍 Ripley’s Believe It or Not! (~33 min 🚗)
🕐 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM | Saturday
🎟️ Free
🧒 All ages
🔗 More info here

Ripley’s marks America’s 250th and its own 75th with free outdoor fun — live music, face painting, and quirky historical attractions.

Summer Night Market
📍 Ximenez-Fatio House Museum (~36 min 🚗)
🕐 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
🎟️ Free
🧒 All ages
🔗 More info here

Celebrate America’s 250th at this First Friday market with live music, local vendors, and festive outdoor programming.

Pool Party Summer Market
📍 Lightner Museum (~35 min 🚗)
🕐 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
🎟️ Free
🧒 All ages
🔗 More info here

A summer market mixing local shopping with a lively pool-party atmosphere in the museum’s historic courtyard.

Independence Day Party
📍 Nocatee Station Field (Cartable 🛒)
🕐 6:00 PM
🎟️ Free
🧒 All ages
🔗 More info here

Celebrate America’s 250th right here in Nocatee with live entertainment, patriotic activities, and family fun.

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

Stroll the Zoo at sunset with curated live music throughout the gardens and grounds.

Mermaid Meet & Greet
📍 St. Augustine Aquarium (~29 min 🚗)
🕐 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
🎟️ $15 adults / $10 ages 3–12
🧒 Children & families
🔗 More info here

Meet real-life mermaids at the aquarium and take home special keepsakes in this interactive character experience.

America250 Self-Guided Audio Tour
📍 Ximenez-Fatio House Museum (~36 min 🚗)
🕐 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
🎟️ $2.50
🧒 All ages
🔗 More info here

Tour the historic 1798 Ximenez-Fatio House at the special 250th-anniversary price of just $2.50 per person.

America’s Weirdest Block Party
📍 Ripley’s Believe It or Not! (~33 min 🚗)
🕐 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM
🎟️ Free
🧒 All ages
🔗 More info here

Ripley’s marks America’s 250th and its own 75th with free outdoor fun — live music, face painting, and quirky historical attractions.

Jacksonville’s 4th of July Fireworks
📍 Downtown Jacksonville (~34 min 🚗)
🕐 Fireworks after dark (gates 4:00 PM)
🎟️ Free
🧒 All ages
🔗 More info here

The First Coast’s biggest Independence Day fireworks show lights up the sky over Downtown Jacksonville.

Fireworks Over the Matanzas
📍 Plaza de la Constitución, St. Augustine (~37 min 🚗)
🕐 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
🎟️ Free
🧒 All ages
🔗 More info here

A free Big Band concert followed by a synchronized 20-minute fireworks show over Matanzas Bay set to patriotic music.

Jacksonville Beach Pier Fireworks
📍 Jacksonville Beach Pier (~30 min 🚗)
🕐 9:00 PM (test shot 8:45 PM)
🎟️ Free
🧒 All ages
🔗 More info here

The City launches its Independence Day fireworks right off the Jacksonville Beach Pier at 9 PM — grab a spot on the sand for a front-row show over the ocean.

Special Needs Art Club
📍 The Art Studio, St. Augustine Beach (~28 min 🚗)
🕐 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
🎟️ Free (pre-registration required)
🧒 Young children
🔗 More info here

An inclusive, welcoming art class where kids create projects with all supplies provided (pre-registration required).

Oakfest
📍 Colonial Oak Music Park (~32 min 🚗)
🕐 Fri–Sun, 7:00 PM
🎟️ Free
🧒 All ages
🔗 More info here

Celebrate the Oak’s anniversary with three days of free live music, food, and fireworks views — a family- and pet-friendly setting under a sprawling live oak.