Holiday lights, T-Swift laser party, Peppa: Top 5 things to do this weekend in Jacksonville

Tom Szaroleta, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
·2 min read
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If you're one of those people who just love the holiday season, this is going to be a great weekend for you. If you're one of those people who don't care one way or the other about the holiday season, this is also going to be a great weekend for you.

We've got a big holiday light show opening up, the best fireworks show of the year, a former teen idol in concert, dancing pigs and a Taylor Swift dance party on the books.

Dazzling Nights

Dazzling Nights will bring back the laser forest this year.
Dazzling Nights will bring back the laser forest this year.

More than a million holiday lights are twinkling in the forests of the Jacksonville Arboretum for the third holiday season. There's also a 40-foot snowglobe perfect for snowball fights, neon flowers, a laser-beam forest and a nightly “snowfall.” Dazzling Nights Jacksonville is open nightly until Dec. 29. Tickets are sold on a timed basis, but you can stay as long as you like once you enter the grounds. $22-$27.

More light displays: Jacksonville Zoo, arboretum, Beaches planning holiday light shows

More holiday events: Guide to parades, light shows, festivals, concerts and Nutcrackers

Light Boat Parade

Decked out in red, white and blue lights, a boat makes its way past Riverfront Plaza as part of the annual Light Boat Parade.
Decked out in red, white and blue lights, a boat makes its way past Riverfront Plaza as part of the annual Light Boat Parade.

The parade of dozens of brightly lit vessels up and down the St. Johns River has been the traditional start of the holiday season for more than 30 years (except for the years when the city tried to tie it into Gator Bowl festivities). The boats will parade in a circle between the USS Orleck dock and the Fuller Warren Bridge, and good viewing spots can be found on both banks. Stick around afterward for the “waterfall” fireworks show from the Main Street and Acosta bridges. It starts at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Shaun Cassidy

Shaun Cassidy is at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall this weekend.
Shaun Cassidy is at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall this weekend.

The former teen idol has had a pretty good career behind the scenes as a Hollywood writer and producer. So why, at age 65, would he go on the road and play live concerts? Because, to borrow a line from one of his hits, that's rock 'n' roll. Cassidy will play his old favorites and share stories from the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall stage at 8 p.m. Saturday. $49.50-$89.50.

Peppa Pig's Sing-Along Party

Peppa Pig has a TV show and a Central Florida theme park, plus a live show that's coming to Jacksonville this weekend.
Peppa Pig has a TV show and a Central Florida theme park, plus a live show that's coming to Jacksonville this weekend.

George, Mummy, Grandpa and all of the "Peppa Pig" gang will be at the Moran Theater in downtown Jacksonville at 2 p.m. Sunday for an afternoon of singing and dancing. If you're a little kid, this is just about heaven. $39.50-$87.50.

Taylor Swift Laser Dance Party

Taylor Swift has played several concerts in Jacksonville over the years. This weekend, the Florida Theatre is planning a laser dance party featuring her music.
Taylor Swift has played several concerts in Jacksonville over the years. This weekend, the Florida Theatre is planning a laser dance party featuring her music.

Shake it off, shake it up, shake it any way you like as the Florida Theatre cranks up Taylor Swift tunes and shoots lasers at its newly renovated ceiling while patrons dance in the aisles. Doors open at 6 p.m. Sunday and the party starts at 7. $30.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Fun things to do this weekend in Jacksonville, Florida