No fooling, the Jacksonville area is looking at one of the busiest entertainment weeks it has seen since the days when COVID was just a rumor. With five big events on the calendar, the big question is whether it's possible to catch all of them.
5 p.m. Friday, noon Saturday and Sunday at Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach. Free
In 1993, long before she had met future husband Derek Trucks or founded Jacksonville's Tedeschi Trucks Band, Susan Tedeschi was a young New England blues guitarist whose band had won a coveted spot playing at Springing the Blues, her first Jacksonville show. She talked about it in December at Sun-Ray Cinemas. It seems that all of the bands stayed at the same hotel and she left her sliding glass door open when it was time to hit the sack. She woke up in the middle of the night to find a woman with a cigarette and a Jack Daniels standing over her. "She lifts my head and says, 'I love you, let's party!' I said 'Lady, I'm sleeping.'" Springing the Blues returns this weekend for the first time in three years. Tedeschi's not on the bill, but dozens of blues acts are, playing on two stages just steps from the beach. It's free, or you can buy VIP tickets for a closer view.
Noon to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday at the Clay County Fairgrounds. Continues through Sunday, April 10. $10.
The fair is back at the fairgrounds west of Green Cove Springs, with more than 30 rides, loads of fried foods, livestock shows, Ferris Wheel Speed Dating and tons of live music. They'll have Quiet Riot and Warrant on Friday; Lorrie Morgan and Deanna Carter on Saturday; Rodney Atkins and Tracy Byrd on Sunday; Sublime with Rome on Monday; Walker Montgomery, Kameron Marlowe and Jameson Rogers on Tuesday; and Shenandoah on Wednesday.
5 p.m. Friday (free), 3 p.m. Saturday ($49-$150) at Metropolitan Park
This event is noteworthy for several reasons. First, it's being held in Metropolitan Park, which has been all but abandoned for several years as the city negotiates to develop the riverfront near TIAA Bank Field. Second, it's got six-time world barbecue champion Tuffy Stone and four local barbecue teams cooking ribs, chicken, brisket and pulled pork and seven distilleries showing off their finest bourbons. And finally, there's live music on Saturday from Jon Pardi, John Michael Montgomery, Molly Hatchet, Larry Fleet and Dean Dillon. Fireworks wrap up the event following Pardi's Saturday night performance.
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in Callahan
It's the big event of the year in Callahan, the small town north of Jacksonville with a long railroading history. The festival raises money for maintenance of the town's 1881 Callahan Train Depot and brings in people from far and wide for live music, model trains, kids' games and food vendors. A classic car show runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of the festivities.
5 p.m. Thursday at Riverfront Plaza. Free.
The free after-work Jax River Jams concert series that started last year in the spot where The Jacksonville Landing used to stand returns for another round this year. It kicks off with a show by the Spin Doctors and Sister Hazel, with local act Dirty Bird and the Flu opening. Bring your own chairs and picnic blankets but leave your cooler at home; outside food and drink isn't permitted, but food trucks and local bars will be on hand. It's free, but you can pay $89 for VIP seating. The series continues April 14 with Boyz II Men, April 21 with Carly Pearce and April 28 with Manchester Orchestra.