5 fun things to do this weekend in Jacksonville: Hockey, circus, one last 'Nutcracker'

Tom Szaroleta, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
·3 min read

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, you probably have a three-day weekend coming up. But if you're looking for things to do on Monday, good luck; some movie theaters are open, but not much else. Fortunately, there's a circus in St. Augustine with daily shows, lots of pretty lights to look at and a Nutcracker that's just a few days late to tide us over until the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl next week.

Venardos Circus

The Venardos Circus is at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre for the rest of the year.
The Venardos Circus is at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre for the rest of the year.

Dec. 20-Jan. 1 at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre 

A huge red-and-white striped big-top tent in the St. Augustine Amphitheatre parking lot will be the venue for more than two dozen performances of the old-fashioned animal-free Venardos Circus, including Christmas, New Year’s, bilingual and sensory-friendly shows. Doors open an hour before showtime. $16.95-$59.95.

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'I am Groot'

What do you do to make it special when your hockey team has a home game three days before Christmas? If you're the Jacksonville Icemen, you don special jerseys honoring the Marvel Universe of movies, of course. The Icemen welcome the South Carolina Stingrays to VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 7 p.m. Friday for Marvel Night featuring Groot. $22-$52.50.

‘How the Big Band Stole Christmas’

Hey, maybe the Grinch has been framed all these years. The 18-piece Crescendo Amelia big band and friends put on a full theatrical production at Amelia Community Theatre in Fernandina Beach, with actors, singers, dancers and Santa to bring Christmas back to the people. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday and 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. $45-$55.

Pretty lights

Dazzling Nights is a professional light show at the Jacksonville Arboretum.
Dazzling Nights is a professional light show at the Jacksonville Arboretum.

There are plenty of homes in the area decorated with elaborate light displays, but if you want to see how the pros do it, you have several options:

  • Dazzling Nights Jacksonville is at the Jacksonville Arboretum through Dec. 29. It’s a walk-through display and timed tickets are only sold online. $22-$27.

  • Nights of Lights is in St. Augustine’s historic district through Jan. 28 with tons of activities. Free.

  • Deck the Chairs displays decorated lifeguard chairs at Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach with a nightly light show through Jan. 1. Ten of the chairs are also in downtown Jacksonville’s James Weldon Johnson Park.

  • Colors of the Wild is at the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens through February. It’s not necessarily a holiday show, but the Grinch, Santa and others will be around through Christmas. $25-$30. 'I

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet

There is one last "Nutcracker" performance coming to Jacksonville.
There is one last "Nutcracker" performance coming to Jacksonville.

For those folks for whom the holiday season just isn't long enough, there's a bonus "Nutcracker" coming to the Florida Theatre on Wednesday, two days after Christmas. "Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet" features Ukrainian and international ballet dancers and larger-than-life puppets. It's at the Florida Theatre for two performances, at 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 27. $35.50-$178.50.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Five fun things to do this weekend in Jacksonville, Fla.