One Spark 2014 will kick off in one week, flooding Jacksonville with an estimated 150,000 visitors.
The event, which runs from April 9-14, stretches 20 square blocks with 77 venues and displays from more than 630 projects for visitors to enjoy.
Festival-goers cans also expect the expansion of a two-block food village on Laura Street between Adams and Bay streets.
“Sponsored by the San Marco Dining District, many of those restaurants will be out there serving food along with many of our food trucks as well,” said One Spark spokeswoman Meredith Johnson. “Well also have a few food trucks in our after dark lot which is the Jax Chamber parking lot.”
A beer village offering two beers from Jacksonville-based Intuition Brewery crafted specifically for the festival will also be featured this year. These brews can be previewed at the brewery during their tapping party on Wednesday, April 2.
Open containers of alcohol will be allowed in designated areas within the festival and kiosks will be set up throughout for beer purchase.
Johnson encouraged attendees to visit the website and create a voter registration account, making it easy for visitors to check in and begin analyzing upon arrival. Otherwise, visitors will have to register on-site.
Visitors can also bookmark creator projects on the website, helping attendees map out the venues of their interest. Maps of exhibitors can be found on the website or on their iOS app.
The venues within the festival’s footprint include restaurants, office buildings, and retail storefronts, among others.
“I’m probably feeling more anxious than anything else to see how it goes and what the results are,” said first time creator Cabe Nolan.
Nolan, who will be stationed right outside the Jacksonville Landing, will be marketing Two Way Resume, a resume-formatting website.
“I believe I will definitely generate some interest and hopefully some funds to continue the marketing and expanding to new users,” he said.
Johnson suggests guests park at the free lot next to the Prime Osborn Center and take the skyway into the city or at an EverBank Field lot where guests can take a shuttle to Hemming Plaza.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has yet to release traffic patterns or detour routes, but Johnson suggests parking outside the footprint of the festival. Trolleys and transportation through Uber are also available.
"We're gearing up, said Johnson. “We’re going to have a great festival this year and were really excited.”
For more, visit BeOneSpark.com.
You can follow Scott Harrison on Twitter @Sharrison983.
