Jelly Roll, Bert Kreischer, Spooktacular: Top 5 things to do this weekend in Jacksonville
As if October wasn't creepy enough already, now we've got a Friday the 13th to deal with. Fortunately, there's plenty to do while avoiding bad luck this weekend, with a big fair up in Callahan, the zoo getting spooky after dark, a downtown Hispanic festival and a couple of big-name concerts at the arena.
Northeast Florida Fair
Head up to Callahan for the Northeast Florida Fair, with midway rides, livestock shows, a mullet contest and fried food on a stick. The fair, which runs through Oct. 22, is off U.S. 1 in Callahan. It's open 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, noon to 12:30 a.m. Saturday and noon to 11:30 p.m. Sunday. $8.
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Spooktacular(s)
If you're going to put on a big event in October, "Spooktacular" is a pretty good name for it. So good, in fact, that the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and the Jacksonville Symphony are both using it. The zoo's Spooktacular is an after-hours event with scary and not-so-scary-themed attractions along the zoo's pathways. It's open from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday and again Oct. 19-22 and 26-31. $25-$30. The symphony's Spooktacular, at 3 p.m. Sunday at Jacoby Symphony Hall, is themed "stories for kids by kids" this year, with the symphony performing stories created by kids in Duval County Public Schools. $8-$10.
Jelly Roll
Performers have been trying to mix hip hop and country for several years now, with some fairly horrifying results. Jelly Roll put out more than a dozen albums before "Need a Favor" topped the country and rock charts and people started taking notice. He's the headliner for a sold-out show Friday night when his Backroad Baptism Tour stops by VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Struggle Jennings and Chase Rice are also on the bill. Showtime is 7 p.m. Friday.
Viva La Fiesta
Charlie Aponte spent more than 40 years as a singer with El Gran Combo, a hugely popular Puerto Rican salsa orchestra. That makes him the perfect choice to headline the Viva La Fiesta Jax Hispanic festival, which runs from 4-10 p.m. Saturday at James Weldon Johnson Park in downtown Jacksonville. Caribe Groove, Venezuela Marka Foundation and La Legítima are also scheduled to perform, along with traditional dancers and a DJ. Free.
Bert Kreischer
Bert Kreischer is one of the hottest comics in the business, selling out arenas, hosting podcasts, starring in Travel Channel specials and releasing best-sellers, mostly while shirtless. Kreischer, who grew up in the Tampa area and partied his way through Florida State University, is at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 7 p.m. Saturday. $36.75-$76.75.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Fun things to do this weekend in Jacksonville, Florida
