Still haven’t finalized your New Year’s Eve plans? No worries. There is plenty to do on the fly around the First Coast.
We’ll start with the two biggest events in downtown Jacksonville: the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and New Year’s Eve at the Landing:
Jacksonville Landing Courtyard
The New Year’s Eve celebration runs from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. The free event features live music, food, drink specials and fireworks. The event schedule includes:
- 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. G-Vibe Trio
- 8:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. Party in a Box
- Midnight fireworks by the City of Jacksonville
The Landing’s bars and restaurants also have entertainment and some private events. For a complete list of options at the Landing click here.
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. between the North Carolina State Wolfpack and Texas A&M University Aggies. Happy hour begins at 4:30 p.m. at the TaxSlayer Tailgate Party. A concert featuring country star Cole Swindell and postgame New Year’s Eve fireworks will follow the game.
MOCA 2018 New Year’s Eve Party
MOCA's Countdown Bash features a dance party featuring Mama Blue, DJ Catharsis, live art performances, eats by NOLA MOCA and an open bar throughout the night with Intuition Ale Works and Manifest Distilling. MOCA is across Laura Street from Hemming Park.
New Year's Eve Black & Gold Affair At Myth
Myth Nightclub on East Bay Street will feature an upscale environment with a red carpet, party favors, midnight champagne and balloon drop.
Jacksonville New Year's Eve Celebration By Party Legion
Another option is to ring in the New Year and close out the old with Party Legion's sixth annual event with The Influence Crew and friends at the Cuba Libre's Ultra Lounge on Atlantic Boulevard.
New Year’s Eve At Grape & Grain With The Band Be Easy
They'll be ringing in the new year with Miracle on the Square and The Band be Easy at the Grape and Grain exchange in San Marco.
A Roaring New Year's Eve At The Volstead
The downtown speakeasy’s New Year's Eve event will feature signature cocktails, a free champagne toast at midnight and dancing the night away with live music.
New Year's Eve Celebration At Cowford Chophouse
Live music, open bar and champagne at midnight will help mark the occasion at the downtown East Bay Street upscale steakhouse.
River & Post's New Year’s Eve Party: A Marlin & Barrel Masquerade
River & Post on Riverside Avenue will have a New Year's Eve Masquerade sponsored by Marlin & Barrel.
Black Sheep's New Year's Eve Roof-Top Celebration
The Black Sheep restaurant in Five Points is hosting a rooftop party with a new canopy. There will be a DJ and a toast at the stroke of midnight.
Jacksonville Symphony's New Year's Eve From Vienna
Conductor Courtney Lewis and the Jacksonville Symphony will be performing for New Year’s Eve. The evening begins with an elegant program of Viennese classics, followed by a New Year’s party with the Chris Thomas Band and capped by a view of the fireworks on the river at midnight from the vantage point of the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts.
St. Johns County: Beach Blast Off 2018
The Beach Blast Off takes place at St. Augustine Beach Pier Park with live music, food and drinks, a kids' zone, and a fireworks show.
The Comfort Zone offers over 30 food vendors and a beer, champagne and wine tent. Local bands will provide the music and a 65-inch TV will keep everyone up-to-date on the New Year's Eve festivities in New York City and around the world. There's face painting, a photo booth, and carnival rides. The Kids' Zone area includes several inflatables and hands-on activities.
The fireworks display to music takes place at 8:30 p.m., with the after-party continuing until 10:00 p.m.
Admission: Free entrance.
When: 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. Fireworks at 8:30 p.m.
Where: St. Augustine Beach Pier Park is located at 350 A1A Beach Blvd.
For more information call (904) 471-2122.
Nassau County: New Year’s Eve Shrimp Drop
The 4th Annual New Year's Eve Shrimp Drop in Fernandina Beach will feature live music, laser shows, kids' zone with bounce houses, food, and commercial vendors. Shrimp will drop at 7:00 p.m. followed immediately by fireworks.
Venue: Parking Lot B (between Shrimp Museum and Brett's Waterway Cafe)
Address: (South side of Brett's) Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034
Cost: free
On TV
If you’d rather curl up at home, WJCT Channel 7.1 (channels 8 & 440 on Comcast) has a full line up of New Year’s Eve fun.
It starts at 8 p.m. with Live From New York Lincoln Center for the New York Philharmonic New Year's Eve with Renee Fleming.
Then at 10:30 celebrate the 2018 Austin City Limits Hall of Fame with host Chris Isaak as Ray Charles, Marcia Bell and Los Lobos are inducted. Performers include Norah Jones, Robert Randolph, Gary Clark Jr. and more.
Watch ACL Hall of Fame New Year Special 2018 tomorrow night on @PBS. We celebrate inductee Marcia Ball with special guests Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Lou Ann Barton, Shelley King and Carolyn Wonderland. And much more! pic.twitter.com/CUpWLjeQ9x
— Austin City Limits (@acltv) December 30, 2018
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
