Oakleaf High School sophomore selected to march in 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

From Oakleaf High School to the streets of New York City, one Clay County sophomore is getting the opportunity of a lifetime. Fifteen-year-old Brendan Bowens has been selected to perform in the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Bowens will join the Macy’s Great American Marching Band on November 26, 2026, representing Oakleaf High School and the Clay County community during the historic parade. A talented clarinetist, Bowens performs with Oakleaf High School’s Golden Regiment Marching Band and Wind Ensemble under the direction of Kayla Lemak. He also studies at the Lakeside School of Music , where he is expanding his musical abilities by learning the oboe while continuing to develop his clarinet skills. His musical journey started five years ago when he began teaching himself the clarinet through instructional videos, studying composers and learning to read music independently. Since then, his hard work has earned him several recognitions, including third place at the 2025 Clay County Concert on the Green , the Quincy Jones Award for Contribution and Creativity in Music , and three consecutive selections to the Clay County All-County Band from 2024 through 2026. He was also featured as a soloist at a Lakeside

A look back at Oakland: The origins of Jacksonville’s Historic Eastside

Shotgun house architecture in Oakland. Just east of Downtown Jacksonville lies one of the city’s oldest surviving African American communities. Known today as the Historic Eastside, or simply “Out East,” the neighborhood traces its origins to Oakland, a residential community established during Reconstruction following the Civil War.

Inaugural Jacksonville Chocolate and Coffee Festival arrives November 21

The inaugural Jacksonville Chocolate and Coffee Festival will take place Nov. 21–22 at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center in Jacksonville.

Celebration of Valor kicks off with 25 events honoring Jacksonville veterans

Jacksonville’s Military Affairs and Veterans Department launched the city’s annual Celebration of Valor.

Como Park Zoo Says Goodbye To Skeeter, Its Tallest Resident

Como Park Zoo in St. Paul said goodbye to Skeeter the giraffe this week. The beloved 16-year resident struggled with arthritis that made it hard for him to rest, so the zoo made the difficult choice to let him go humanely.

Jacksonville pole and aerial performers are turning Day of the Dead into a benefit for rescue dogs

Music, lights and performers from two local studios will fill the room Saturday, all to support a Jacksonville dog rescue.

VetFest Pours Bourbon for Veterans at Fleming Island's Corks and Barrels This Saturday

Bourbon, bands and a whole lot of community spirit are set to take over Corks and Barrels in Fleming Island this Saturday, as VetFest returns for its fourth annual run. The event is billed as an annual nonprofit, veteran-centric charitable gathering, dedicated to honoring, supporting and empowering people who have served the nation.

Hastings Community Center and Library Set to Open Nov. 13 After Two-Year Build

St. Johns County is throwing open the doors to a brand-new community center and library in Hastings next month, capping a project that broke ground nearly two years ago. The grand opening is set for Friday, November 13, at 9 a.m., and the public is invited to celebrate at the facility's location at 401 N. Main St.

Florida’s Oldest Diner Serves Its Famous Milkshake Out Of A 1932 Rail Car

A sandwich here stacks scrambled eggs, bacon, and ground beef on one bun. Yes, all three, together, on purpose. That wild creation comes from a Florida diner that has been flipping burgers inside an old railroad dining car since 1932. The milkshakes are hand-spun, and the onion rings get battered by hand.

Jacksonville Farm's Persimmon Festival Returns With Tastings, Live Music And $30 Gate Tickets

Eat Your Yard Jax is throwing open the gates of its Jacksonville farm this Sunday for its sixth annual Persimmon Festival, a day built around the orange, apple-sized fruit that's become the nonprofit's signature celebration of local food and sustainable living. Gate tickets cost $30, and the farm sits on 46 acres at 6500 Utsey Road, where visitors can expect persimmon tastings, live music, vendors and hands-on activities for kids.

Eat Your Yard Jax to host 6th annual Persimmon Festival

The sixth annual Persimmon Festival is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 1, in Jacksonville, offering food tastings and educational demos.

New Hastings Community Center and Library to host grand opening Nov. 13

The St. Johns County Public Library System and Health and Human Services will hold a grand opening for the new Hastings Community Center and Library at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 13.

‘Scream’ star Matthew Lillard coming to Jacksonville for bottle signing and Meet-and-Greet

Halloween weekend is about to get a little more exciting for fans of Scream ! Actor Matthew Lillard is making a stop in Jacksonville for a bottle signing and meet-and-greet at Total Wine & More at the St. Johns Town Center on Friday, October 30, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Lillard is visiting select Florida locations to promote his spirits brand, Macabre Spirits , and its newest release, Ghost Face Vodka. Lillard is best known for playing Stu Macher in the original Scream movie, making the Halloween-season appearance especially fitting for horror fans. What You Need to Know Before You Go The event is open to guests ages 21 and older, and a valid ID is required. No tickets are needed, but admission is first-come, first-served. Fans hoping to meet the actor should plan to arrive early. Lines may be cut off before the scheduled end time if demand is high, and other stops on the tour have reportedly drawn fans willing to wait hours for their chance to meet him. There are also a few rules to keep in mind: Lillard will only sign bottles of Ghost Face Vodka purchased at the Jacksonville location. Outside memorabilia, posters and

Deerwood Country Club Golf Course Renovation Expected to Open Fall 2027

Deerwood Country Club (Jacksonville, Fla.) will undergo an extensive golf course renovation scheduled to begin in October 2026 and reopen in fall of 2027. This project represents the final phase of a multi-million-dollar initiative aimed at enhancing the overall member experience at the historic private club, which has been a cornerstone of Jacksonville golf since its founding in 1960.

A 101-Year-Old Horror Classic Is Getting a Musical Revival in Jacksonville, Just in Time for Halloween.

The post 101-Year-Old Horror Classic Is Getting a Musical Revival in Jacksonville, Just in Time for Halloween first appeared on Crafting Your Home.…

Uniting local readers, an independent bookstore, and a Ponte Vedra resident

As we wind down this semiquincentennial year, Brian Kilmeade returns to the literary world with a new book. Jacksonville bookstore San Marco Books and More has been designated as the official bookseller for a highly anticipated, private event in Ponte Vedra Beach. The exclusive gathering features the FOX News broadcaster...

Jacksonville-area events to check out Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2026

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Halloween events, live music and family festivals are on the calendar around Jacksonville this weekend. Here’s a day-by-day look at what’s happening. Friday, Oct. 30. BOOOval Trunk or Treat — 5-8:30 p.m. in Lot Z at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Details. Not-So-Spooky Haunts...

Clay County cut may result in a library fee

The High Cost of Dying

Death, much like a newly paved lot in Riverside, has been thoroughly corporate-sanctioned, sanitized and inflated beyond all recognition. For decades, the standard exit strategy in Duval County has meant handing over a small fortune to a glossy funeral parlor for a heavy mahogany box, chemical embalming fluids that could survive a nuclear winter and a concrete vault designed to keep nature entirely out of the natural order of things. But a quiet, slightly rebellious counter-movement of death doulas, green burials and conservationists across Northeast Florida is tearing up the script. They are trading corporate funeral monopolies for hand-stitched shrouds, untreated pine boxes and a return to the oldest tradition on earth: letting the dirt take you back.

Celebrating Diwali - Light Beyond Lamps

Jacksonville – Come celebrate Diwali with lots of food, colorful decorations and the opportunity to learn about the ancient values and traditions of Diwali that carry on today. Open to all at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir located in the Arlington area. Tuesday November 10, 2026 from 12pm-6:30pm. 7500 Merrill Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32277.