Block Parties

Lauren Titus
5 days ago
2 min read

Downtown Jacksonville Sip & Stroll on Jacksonville's Southbank Riverwalk. Photo by Toni Smailigic.

According to a recent study by Pew Research, 23% of adults under 30 don’t know a single one of their neighbors. If you’re looking for a way to inspire community connections and meet your neighbors, maybe it’s time to throw a block party.

An outdoor public party can be a fun opportunity to create a sense of belonging and shared goals among residents. These gatherings help develop relationships among strangers while socializing and sharing food, often accompanied by live music.

If you want to connect with your community at large in Jacksonville or St. Augustine, there are a number of events held throughout the year that foster a sense of local identity and bring people together. These block parties, like Amplified Avondale, are open to the public, whether you live in or are visiting the neighborhood.

“Music in Avondale started about three years ago when the Avondale Merchant Board was looking for a way to bring more people to the shops,” says Ron Rothberg, owner of Art Bikes Avondale. “The board asked me to help and that’s when we created Amplified Avondale on St. Johns Ave. We were able to attract the support of Community First Credit Union, our presenting sponsor for the last two years. Our mission is simple; we are all volunteers who want to build community. We do that every month with music and art.” Fortunately, these outdoor public gatherings also feature plenty of good food, a key to a block party’s success.

If you’re ready to get to know more neighbors in the community, add these free-to-attend block parties to your calendar.

Amplified Avondale presented by Community First Credit Union of Florida

Last Friday of the month along St. Johns Ave. in the Historic Avondale business district, with live music, art and food.

Downtown Jacksonville Sip & Stroll Presented by PNC Bank

Third Thursday of the month on the Southbank Riverwalk from Friendship Fountain to Chart House, featuring live music, food trucks and carts, bars and a picnic area. Resumes September 18.

West King Wednesday

Third Wednesday of the month on West King St., a collaboration of community, culture and small businesses of West Augustine featuring food, music and vendors.

Uptown Friday Night

Quarterly event on San Marco Ave. in St. Augustine held the last Friday in April, July, October and January with food, drink, shopping, live music and pop-up vendors.

First Wednesday Art Walk

Monthly since 2003, held in downtown Jacksonville’s Northbank core in and around James Weldon Johnson Park, with works by local artists, live music, food trucks and biergarten.