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Jacksonville New Year's Eve route inspiration

Jacksonville New Year's Eve

Fireworks on the St. Johns, Jan 1 at the beach

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3 days through Downtown Jacksonville & Southbank, Jacksonville Beach.

Jacksonville New Year's Eve is a 3-day curated route with 2 destinations and 14 places to eat, see, and do. Preview stops and timing, then plan it in TripsCircle.

  1. 1
    Downtown Jacksonville & Southbank on the Jacksonville New Year's Eve route

    Destination 01

    Downtown Jacksonville & Southbank

    8 places

    Two nights on the river for the fireworks, steak dinners and San Marco.

    • St. Johns River New Year's Eve fireworks near Downtown Jacksonville & SouthbankPhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0

      St. Johns River New Year's Eve fireworks

      The city's free midnight fireworks over the St. Johns, launched near the Main Street Bridge and the Shipyards.

      Tip The show lasts about 12 minutes; the Main Street and Acosta bridges close from 11:45 p.m.

      SeeDowntownFree30 minMidnight
    • Southbank Riverwalk near Downtown Jacksonville & SouthbankPhoto: PicoOrdinalo · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Southbank Riverwalk

      Boardwalk along the south bank of the St. Johns with a straight-on view of the downtown skyline and Main Street Bridge.

      Tip Some sections can close for construction, so check before you settle in.

      OutdoorsSouthbankFree60 minBefore midnight
    • Friendship Fountain near Downtown Jacksonville & SouthbankPhoto: “Jonathan Zander (Digon3)” · CC BY-SA 3.0

      Friendship Fountain

      Lit 1965 fountain on the Southbank Riverwalk, facing downtown across the river.

      SeeSouthbankFree30 minAfter dark

    • Cowford Chophouse

      Steakhouse in the restored 1902 Bostwick Building on Bay Street, with a rooftop bar over the river.

      Tip Book early for Dec 31 and ask about the rooftop for the fireworks.

      EatDowntown$$$$2 hrDinner

    • Taverna

      Mediterranean and Italian restaurant on San Marco Square, with wood-fired dishes and a long wine list.

      Tip Closed Mondays.

      EatSan Marco$$$2 hrDinner

    • Intuition Ale Works

      Local brewery on East Bay Street near the stadium, with a rooftop deck looking back at the skyline.

      DrinkDowntown$1.5 hrEvening
    • Florida Theatre near Downtown Jacksonville & SouthbankPhoto: bubba73 · CC BY-SA 3.0

      Florida Theatre

      Restored 1927 Mediterranean Revival movie palace downtown, now a concert and comedy venue.

      Tip Check the calendar for a Dec 30 or Dec 31 show.

      DoDowntown$$2.5 hrEvening
    • Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront near Downtown Jacksonville & SouthbankPhoto: “Jonathan Zander (Digon3)” · CC BY-SA 3.0

      Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront

      Large hotel on the Northbank Riverwalk, just east of the Main Street Bridge and the fireworks barge.

      Tip Ask for a river-view room on a high floor.

      StayDowntown$$$
  2. 2
    Jacksonville Beach on the Jacksonville New Year's Eve route

    Destination 02

    Jacksonville Beach

    6 places

    A Jan 1 morning plunge, a diner breakfast and an afternoon on quiet beaches.

    • Jax Beach Polar Plunge

      The city's New Year's Day plunge into the Atlantic, held for over 30 years; more than 1,000 people went in for 2026.

      Tip Plungers gather on the beach by the SeaWalk Pavilion; confirm the start time with the city.

      DoJacksonville BeachFree60 minJan 1 morning
    • Jacksonville Beach Pier near Jacksonville BeachPhoto: Olga Ernst · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Jacksonville Beach Pier

      Long concrete fishing pier off the main beach, rebuilt after hurricane damage, with a small fee to walk out.

      DoJacksonville Beach$45 minMorning

    • Metro Diner

      Jacksonville-born diner, first opened in San Marco in 1992, known for fried chicken and waffles.

      Tip Expect a line on Jan 1 morning; put your name in before the plunge.

      EatJacksonville Beach$60 minBreakfast

    • Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park

      City park north of Atlantic Beach with about a mile and a half of beach, a freshwater lake and wooded trails.

      Tip There's a small entry fee at the gate.

      OutdoorsMayport$2 hrAfternoon
    • Little Talbot Island State Park near Jacksonville BeachPhoto: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0

      Little Talbot Island State Park

      Undeveloped barrier island with miles of beach, dunes and a trail through maritime forest.

      Tip The north end of the beach is the quietest.

      Outdoors$2.5 hrAfternoon
    • Lemon Bar near Jacksonville BeachPhoto: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0

      Lemon Bar

      Open-air beach bar at the end of Lemon Street in Neptune Beach, known for its frozen lemon drink.

      Tip Hours shorten in winter and depend on the weather.

      DrinkNeptune Beach$60 minSunset

The moments that shape this trip.

Planning Jacksonville New Year's Eve.

Stay downtown on the river. On Dec 30, have dinner at Taverna in San Marco and a beer on the rooftop at Intuition Ale Works. On New Year's Eve, book a steak at Cowford Chophouse, see a show at the Florida Theatre if one is on, then find a spot on the Southbank Riverwalk or at Friendship Fountain for the city's midnight fireworks over the St. Johns River. On Jan 1, drive 30 minutes east to Jacksonville Beach for the city's Polar Plunge, breakfast at Metro Diner and a walk out on the rebuilt pier. Spend the afternoon on the trails and empty beaches of Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park or Little Talbot Island, and finish with a drink at the Lemon Bar in Neptune Beach.

Good for Couples, friends and families who want a free river countdown and a mild-weather beach Jan 1.

When to go

The City of Jacksonville's fireworks start at midnight and last about 12 minutes. For the show welcoming 2026, they launched from a barge just east of the Main Street Bridge and from a lot at the Shipyards, visible from both riverbanks, Brooklyn and parts of Riverside. Watching is free. The Main Street and Acosta bridges close to traffic from 11:45 p.m. to about 12:30 a.m., and streets around Riverfront Plaza close from 10 p.m. The Jacksonville Beach Polar Plunge happens on the morning of Jan 1 and has run for more than 30 years; over 1,000 people went in for 2026, with the water around 64F and the air around 45F. Dec 31 is usually mild, with highs in the mid-60s F and evenings in the 40s.

Getting around

Downtown, the Southbank and San Marco are close together; the JTA Skyway is free and links the Northbank and Southbank, but check its hours on Dec 31. Boats are kept off the river between the Acosta and Main Street bridges during the show. Rideshare prices surge after midnight, so stay within walking distance of your viewing spot. Jacksonville Beach is about 30 minutes east of downtown by car via Beach Boulevard or J. Turner Butler Boulevard, and Jacksonville International Airport is about 25 minutes north of downtown.

Tips for your crew

  • Claim a spot on the Southbank Riverwalk by 11 p.m.; it faces the downtown skyline and the launch barge.
  • Bring a towel, sandals and a dry change of clothes for the plunge; the walk back up the beach is cold.
  • Book a river-view room at the Hyatt Regency early; it sits right by the launch site.

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