60+ things to do in Jacksonville in December — and that doesn't even include holidays
You'd have to look long and far to find another list of fun things to do in Jacksonville in December that doesn't include a single Nutcracker, "Messiah" performance, holiday parade, light show or visit from Santa.
Well, here's one. We didn't forget about all of that other stuff; we just gave a calendar of its own. So if you’re looking for holiday events, visit http://bit.ly/2023JaxHolidayEvents. If you’re looking for fun stuff that just happens to be occurring in December, keep reading to find concerts, comedians, shooting cowboys, a blockbuster Broadway musical and a genuine big-top circus.
Twinkle, twinkle: Jacksonville Zoo, arboretum, Beaches planning holiday light shows
Jacksonville holiday calendar: Parades, light shows, festivals, concerts and Nutcrackers
Events
‘The Master Chief: Part One’
Dec. 1 at the USS Orleck Naval Museum
What better place to watch a movie about the Philippine Navy than aboard a retired warship that spent plenty of time in those same waters? Info: jaxnavalmuseum.org
First Coast Design Show
Dec. 1-3 at the Prime Osborn Convention Center
The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital’s annual event features antique and art dealers, a tea room, lectures, workshops, a gala and a children’s fashion show featuring patients from the hospital. Info: womensboardwch.com
Springfield Saturday
Dec. 2 at the Delores Barr Weaver Campus of Hope
Jacksonville nonprofit Rethreaded opens its doors for tours and a fund-raising concert by Jacksonville’s Mama Blue. Info: support.rethreaded.com
Gullah Geechee Heritage Festival
Dec. 2 at Armstrong Park in Elkton
Celebrate the Gullah Geechee culture, which stretches along the coast from north Florida to North Carolina with Lowcountry cooking, ring shouters and some serious Double Dutch. Shuttles will run from parking lots at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds. Info: visitstaugustine.com
Palatka Porchfest
Dec. 2 in Palatka
Jacksonville had its Porchfest last month, now it’s Palatka’s turn to present live music from front porches. They have 14 acts playing for free in a historic riverfront neighborhood. Info: palatkaporchfest.com
Let’s Move Jax
Dec. 2 at Klutho Park
Fitness festival for all ages includes vendors, workshops and plenty of activities, including golf, tennis, baseball, cheerleading, kickball, soccer, flag football, to join in. Info: imastarfoundation.org
Brick Universe LEGO Fan Expo
Dec. 2-3 at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds
It’s amazing what some folks can do with those little plastic blocks. This expo features lifesize sculptures, mosaics, interactive displays and plenty of build-your-own opportunities. Info: brickuniverseusa.com
Judy Silverstein Grey and Taylor Baldwin Kiland
Dec. 5 at the BookMark, Neptune Beach
Book signing with the authors of “Unwavering: The Wives Who Fought to Ensure No Man is Left Behind.” Info: bookmarkbeach.com
Playin’ Hooky with Studio Ghibli
Dec. 7 at Sun-Ray Cinema
Four anime classics in one day -- “Spirited Away,” “Howl’s Moving Castle,” “Princess Mononoke” and “The Boy & The Heron.” Info: sunraycinema.com
Tree of Life and Candlelight Service of Remembrance
Dec. 7 at the Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring
Dec. 12 at the Stephen R. Chapman Family Community Campus, St. Augustine
Community Hospice & Palliative Care decorates its grounds with lights and ivory ribbons bearing the names of lost loved ones for a remembrance ceremony. Info: communityhospice.com
World Changers Veterans Benefit Concert
Dec. 8 at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Patriotic event includes a speech by “World Changer” author Karen Vaughn and a performance by Eagles tribute band The Long Run. Info: theamp.com
Krampus
Dec. 8-9 at 13th Floor Haunted House
Christmas can be creepy, too. The folks who scare thousands every Halloween season are opening a holiday-themed haunt for two nights. Info: 13thfloorjacksonville.com
Papercutting workshop
Dec. 14 and 17 at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
Papercut artist Hiromi Moneyhun leads workshops showing how you can turn a single piece of paper into a gift-worthy 3-dimensional piece of art. Info: cummermuseum.org
Wheel of Fortune Live
Dec. 20 at the Moran Theater
A touring version of the popular game show comes to town. The show has no Pat or Vanna and will not be televised, but you can register online or at the venue to be randomly selected from the crowd to spin the wheel and buy a few vowels. Info: floridatheatre.com
‘Taxi Driver’
Dec. 20 at MOCA Jacksonville
You talkin’ to me? Robert De Niro gives one of the creepiest performances ever in the 1976 Scorsese classic. Info: mocajacksonville.unf.edu
Venardos Circus
Dec. 20-Jan. 1 at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre
A huge red-and-white striped bigtop tent will be the venue for 26 performances of the old-fashioned animal-free circus, including Christmas, New Year’s, bilingual and sensory friendly shows. Info: theamp.com
Florida Peacemakers Cowboy Mounted Shooting State Championship
Dec. 29-30 at the Clay County Fairgrounds
Guys riding horses really fast and shooting targets with pistols – who wouldn’t want to watch that? Info: claycountygov.com
New Year's Shrimp Drop
Dec. 31 in Fernandina Beach
Love to greet the new year but just can't stay up until midnight? Fernandina Beach has got you covered — they'll drop a huge lighted shrimp to mark midnight Greenwich Mean Time (that's 7 p.m. in these parts). Info: ameliaisland.com
New Year's Eve fireworks
Dec. 31 over the St. Johns River, downtown Jacksonville
If you want to be picky about it, the fireworks don't actually start until the stroke of midnight, so they really don't belong on a list of December events. Fireworks will be launched from a barge anchored between the Hyatt and DoubleTree hotels and from the Acosta Bridge. Info: specialevents.coj.net
Concerts
Three Dog Night
7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at the Thrasher-Horne Center. $39-$89.
They’re down to just one of the original three dogs out front, but have a catalog that allows them to play nothing but hits all night long. Info: thcenter.org
Patterson Hood
Dec. 2 at Intuition Ale Works
Celebrate Intuition’s 13th birthday with a free concert by Drive-By Truckers singer Hood. Info: intuitionaleworks.com
Bret Michaels
7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $39.50-$99.50.
What are the odds that he takes off the bandana? Slim to none. The sometimes Poison singer does a solo show, with Night Ranger opening. Info: theamp.com
Wood Brothers
8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $41.
Chris and Oliver Wood play a sort of Americana music with a jazz twist. The Watson Twins open the show. Info: pvconcerthall.com
Kevin Quinn
7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, at the Murray Hill Theatre. $15-$40.
Former Disney Channel kid (“Bunk’d,” “Adventures in Babysitting”) is on tour to preview songs from his new album, “Real Me.” Info: murrayhilltheatre.com
Andy Summers
8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $49.50-$79.50.
Summers’ guitar parts were always the most interesting aspect of “Roxanne,” “Don’t Stand So Close To Me,” “Every Breath You Take” and other hits by The Police. He’s also got 13 solo albums. Info: pvconcerthall.com
Albert Castiglia
8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, at Café Eleven, St. Augustine, $20-$30.
Miami blues guitarist cut his teeth playing behind Junior Wells, Sugar Blue, Pinetop Perkins and other legends. He’s released a dozen records of his own and is the reigning Blues Music Awards’ Blues Rock Artist of the Year. Info: originalcafe11.com
Dark Star Orchestra
6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $37.50-$49.50.
Strictly speaking, DSO is a Grateful Dead tribute act. But they’ve been doing it for decades and played more than 3,000 shows, each one recreating a set that the Dead did at some point. Info: theamp.com
The Outlaws
7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $49.50-$139.50.
The Tampa-based Outlaws were major players in the Southern rock movement with “There Goes Another Love Song,” “Green Grass and High Tides” and other hits. The Artimus Pyle Band, featuring the former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer, opens. Info: pvconcerthall.com
Ann Wilson
8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11, at the Florida Theatre. $44.50-$74.50.
The soaring voice behind all those Heart hits has a new band, Tripsitter. This is the final date of the tour, and the last show before Wilson reunites with Heart for a series of West Coast New Year’s shows. Info: floridatheatre.com
Allman Betts Family Revival
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, at the Florida Theatre. $49.50-$99.50.
There are about a million acts out there playing Allman Brothers Band songs, but none with the sons of Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts and Berry Oakley (and, for a few dates, the daughter of Butch Trucks). They’ll play one set of Allman’s songs, one of Betts’, with a band that includes Wet Willie’s Jimmy Hall, Jeff Beck bassist Tal Wilkenfeld and the Dickenson brothers from North Mississippi Allstars. Info: floridatheatre.com
The Mountain Goats
8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at Intuition Ale Works. $45.
John Darnielle is bringing a full band to the Bier Hall for an all-ages show. Info: intuitionaleworks.com
Steve Miller Band
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $54-$184.
He’s a picker, he’s a grinner, he’s a lover, he’s a sinner – and he’s sold out the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Blues guitarist Samantha Fish opens. Info: theamp.com
Writers’ Round
Dec. 16 at Blue Jay Listening Room, Jacksonville Beach
Songwriters Rambler Kane, Kyle Keller and Jordan Foley show how it’s done. Info: bluejayjax.com
Agnostic Front
8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Jack Rabbits, $27.
Bands don’t much more hardcore punk than Agnostic Front, who have been raging since 1980. Murphy’s Law, another veteran New York hardcore act, opens. Info: jaxlive.com
Rod Wave
8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18, at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. $76.50-$196.50.
Rod Wave got his start creating mix tapes and playing clubs in his native St. Pete. Now he has four platinum albums and five million Youtube followers. Ari Lennox, Toosii, G Herbo and Eelmatic open the show. Info: jaxevents.com
Maroon 5
7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, at Daily's Place. $129.
A quick glance at Maroon 5’s tour schedule makes one wonder who booked it — Viet Nam, Jacksonville, Bahamas, South Africa, Bahrain. The show, which takes place the night before the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, is sold out. Info: dailysplace.com
LPT
9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31, at Underbelly
Close out the year with Jacksonville’s favorite salsa orchestra, then step out the door to watch the city’s midnight fireworks show. Info: underbellyjax.com
Tributes
Sorry, Pearl Jam ain’t coming to town this month. But you can hear their music, and that of ‘60s AM radio, when tribute acts come to town.
The Sixties Show features a live band, archival newsreels, vintage gear and a trippy light show to recreate the sounds of the 1960s. It’s at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall on Dec. 9. $43.50-$68.50.
Jeremy’s Ten, a Pearl Jam cover band, is at Underbelly on Dec. 16. $15.
Comedy
Michael Carbonaro
7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at the Florida Theatre. $32.50-$59.
Carbonaro’s shows are a little bit comedy, a little bit magic and a whole lot of entertaining. Info: floridatheatre.com
Desi Banks
7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Florida Theatre. $30-$55.
It’s a long way from the Morehead State football team to the comedy stage, but Banks has made the transition, selling out theaters and clubs. Info: floridatheatre.com
'Whose Live Anyway?'
7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at the Florida Theatre. $39-$59.
Joel Murray, Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops and Jeff B. Davis are improv masters and can make just about anything funny. Info: floridatheatre.com
River City Comedy Showcase
6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the Comedy Zone. $10.
Local and regional comics get their turn in the spotlight at the first-Wednesday-of-the-month showcase. Info: comedyzone.com
Other shows coming to the Comedy Zone in December:
Dec. 1-2: Funny Marco
Dec. 8-9: Ms. Pat
Dec. 10: Watch Jazzy
Dec. 15-17: Michael Palascak
Dec. 20: Ben Brainard
Nurse Blake
8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at the Florida Theatre. $39.50-$79.50.
There’s nothing particularly funny about hospitals and doctors’ offices – unless you’re Nurse Blake and turn your trauma center experiences into 3.5 million social media followers. Info: floridatheatre.com
Ben Bailey
8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at Café Eleven, St. Augustine. $35-$50.
The “Cash Cab” guy does a little improv, a few sketches and tells stories from a long and funny career. Info: originalcafe11.com
Lewis Black
8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at the Florida Theatre. $35-$75.
The angriest man in comedy is also one of the hardest-working, doing nearly 200 shows a year. Info: floridatheatre.com
Tony Hinchcliffe
7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Florida Theatre. $29.75-$139.75.
Leave your cell phone in the car for this one – they'll kick you out if they catch you using one. Info: floridatheatre.com
Matt Matthews
8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29, at the Florida Theatre. $39.50-$99.50.
Got a deep, dark secret you really want to share? Matthews will incorporate his online “Confessions with Matt” bit into his live show. Info: floridatheatre.com
Fortune Feimster
7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, at the Florida Theatre. $29.50-$165.
You might recognize the curly-headed comic from her Netflix stand-up specials or late-night talk show appearances. Info: floridatheatre.com
Classical and jazz
Antonio Vergara Quartet
Dec. 1 at Friday Musicale
Saxophonist Vegara is a recent UNF and is making a name for himself on the local jazz scene. Info: fridaymusicale.com
Tchaikovsky and Barber
Dec. 1-2 at Jacoby Symphony Hall
Kevin Fitzgerald conducts the Jacksonville Symphony and guest pianist Joyce Yang for the symphony’s only non-holiday show of the month, featuring works by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Samuel Barber and Piotr Tchaikovsky. Info: jaxsymphony.org
The Queen’s Six
Dec. 15 at St. Paul’s By the Sea Episcopal Church, Jacksonville Beach
The British vocal group has serious bona fides — members have performed at Prince Harry’s wedding and the funeral services for Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth. Info: beachesfinearts.org
Classic Jazz Greatest Hits
Dec. 13 at the Fine Arts Recital Hall at the University of North Florida
UNF has one of the finest jazz programs in the world. Faculty members Gary Smart, Marc Dickman and Bill Price invite friends to play classic jazz from Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong and the like. Info: unf.edu/coas
‘La Boheme’
Dec. 30-31 at Lewis Auditorium, St. Augustine
Close out 2023 with the First Coast Opera performing fully staged production of Puccini’s masterpiece. Info: firstcoastopera.com
Theater
‘Willy Wonka: The Musical’
Nov. 24-Dec. 23 at the Spotlight Events Center, Fleming Island
Grab your golden ticket and Everlasting Gobstopper for a musical trip through a magical candy factory. Info: spotlighteventscenter.com
‘The Book of Mormon’
Dec. 1-3 at the Moran Theater
The nine-time Tony Award-winning musical returns for five performances. Info: fscjartistseries.org
‘Assassins’
Dec. 8-16 at the Florida Ballet
Jacksonville’s 5 & Dime theater company presents Stephen Sondheim’s controversial musical about nine people who tried to kill the president. Info: the5anddime.org
'On Your Feet! The Musical – The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan’
Dec. 9 at the Moran Theatre
The rhythm is gonna get you with this “jukebox musical” about the team behind the Miami Sound Machine hits. Info: fscjartistseries.org
Sports
Jacksonville Icemen
Dec. 1, 2, 16, 20 and 22 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
Jacksonville’s hometown hockey team welcomes the Orlando Solar Bears (Dec. 1), Trois Rivieres Lions (Dec. 2), South Carolina Stingrays (Dec. 16, Dec. 22) and Florida Everblades (Dec. 20) to town for ECHL action. Info: jacksonvilleicemen.com
UNF Ospreys basketball
Dec. 2, 5, 9 and 16 (men’s), Dec. 13, 20, 29 (women’s) at UNF Arena
The men’s and women’s teams tune up before entering Atlantic Sun Conference play. Info: unfospreys.com
Jacksonville Jaguars
Dec. 4, 16 and 31 at EverBank Stadium
The Jaguars welcome Cincinnati on Dec. 4, Baltimore on Dec. 16 and Carolina on New Year’s Eve. Info: jaguars.com
Jacksonville University Dolphins basketball
Dec. 14, 18 and 30 (men’s), Dec. 4, 11 and 15 (women’s) at Swisher Gymnasium
If you’ve never been to a JU home game, you really need to check out how loud the tiny Swisher Gymnasium can get. Info: judolphins.com
WWE: NXT Live
Dec. 15 at the Jacksonville Armory
Wrestling with a card that includes Carmelo Hayes, Tiffany Stratton, Wes Lee, Ilja Dragunov, Lyra Valkyria and Dragon Lee. Info: wwe.com
Edward Waters University Tigers basketball
Dec. 16 and 18 (men’s), Dec. 16, 18 and 30 (women’s) at Adams-Jenkins Community Sports & Music Complex
You can catch the men’s and women’s teams playing at home, or watch them play on the road without leaving town (the women’s team plays at JU on Dec. 4 and the men’s team visits UNF on Dec. 5). Info: ewutigerpride.com
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
Dec. 29 at EverBank Stadium
Who is playing in the annual bowl game? We won’t know until Dec. 3, but the ACC and SEC will be represented. Pep rallies will be held the day before the game at Deck the Chairs in Jax Beach. Kickoff is at noon, and ESPN will carry it live. Info: taxslayergatorbowl.com
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 60+ fun (non-holiday) things to do in Jacksonville in December
