by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
Here’s this year’s sampling of the parties and events you can attend for New Year’s Eve, from the Gatorbowl and club events to places to eat as you ring in the New Year!
December 31st, New Year’s EveWinn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl ParadeDowntown Jacksonville: 3 p.m. $10 Reserved Parade SeatYou are invited to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade. The “Still Rockin’ at 60”-themed parade features colorful floats, high school bands, college bands, giant helium balloons, and entertaining specialty units. The units will be routed through the Northbank in downtown Jacksonville.
Gator Bowl Pep RalliesThe Jacksonville Landing CourtyardVisiting Team Pep Rally: 1:30 p.m.Home Team (ACC) Pep Rally: 5:30 p.m.Get pumped up for the Toyota Gator Bowl Classic! Excited fans are invited to show their team spirit at the Pep Rallies at The Jacksonville Landing. Join the bands, cheerleaders, and mascot in the excitement on New Year’s Eve.
Alltel Stadium Entertainment Zone: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.$10 at the gate or FREE admission with “THE PATCH” (Go to www.gatorbowl.com to learn more)
Enjoy the thrill and excitement of college football as thousands of out-of-town fans come together to celebrate their team in a festive and family-oriented entertainment atmosphere. Truly a party where team spirit abounds, there will be pep rallies, cheerleaders and bands from both Universities that will be sure to ignite the passion in every college football fan. A multitude of interactive games to test your athletic skills, a variety of inflatables for kids of all ages to enjoy and all of your tailgating concession essentials make this a Tailgate Party not to miss!
ALLTEL Stadium: 12:00 Noon
Check out the New Year’s Eve Party in the Jacksonville Landing Courtyard Festivities include live entertainment at The Landing stage. Club Paris will be injecting some style into the Landing festivities with Fred’s New Years Royal Black and White Tie Party! Packages range from $30 for first floor admission up to the most excusive VIP lounge. Call 904-918-3999 for VIP details and 904-633-9477 to reserve other tickets. At Twisted Martini a variety of VIP packages are available, with champagne menus all night, party favors, live feed of Times Square on 10 TV’s and 4 big screens. As usual they only serve the finest premium sprits. Space is limited so make your reservations today. (904) 353-8464
Count down to 2007 with a spectacular fireworks display over the St. Johns River to light up the night sky and celebrate the New Year. Watch the New Year’s Eve Fireworks Spectacular at Midnight from the Landing or anywhere else in Downtown Jacksonville with a view of the river. Presented by The City of Jacksonville. VyStar Credit Union 5K Run is at 2PM at the Jacksonville Landing. The VyStar Financial Group 5K Run is a great way to get involved with all the excitement the Toyota Gator Bowl has to offer. If running, walking, or biking is your thing, this race is for you. The race is held right before the Gator Bowl Parade, and runs along the parade route through downtown Jacksonville. Each entrant will receive a VyStar Credit Union 5K Run T-shirt. Cost: $17 until December 24, $20 December 25-30 and $25 on race day.
At Aromas the cigars are included at this semi-upscale wine and cigar bar. Black Tie, Black Jeans, Who Cares!! The starts at 9PM at both locations (Southside and Ponte Vedra) with party favors and a champagne toast. Call (904) 280-2525 (PVB)/ (904) 928-0515 for ticket reservations.
The Atlantic will have party favors, a special sushi menu and the traditional champagne toast. They’re open through 4AM www.the-atlantic.com (904)249-3338
Just a $10 cover will grant you access to all of Bourbon Street Station, Crazy Horse Saloon, Mardi Gras, the Latin Quarter, the Blue Room and the Varsity Club. Expect lots of prizes, with one giveaway every 15 minutes starting at 9PM, including a 2 karat diamond tennis bracelet and $10,000 in cash prizes. A complimentary champagne toast will happen at midnight. (904) 641-8777
Have a funky blues New Year with Mofro at Freebird. New Year’s Eve Mofro plays with the Lee Boys. Cost is $28 prior and $30 the day of the show. 246-BIRD (2473) Latitudes Café and Martini Bar. All you can eat and drink, live music, party favors and a champagne toast for just $60 in advance or $70 at the door. (904) 247-6606
Ocean Club party ‘till 4AM, with a balloon drop and champagne toast at midnight. Watch a live feed of Times Square for the big ball drop www.oceanclubjax.com (904) 242-8884
If you haven’t been to Square One, New Year’s Eve just might be the time to check it out. Located in the San Marco shopping district of Jacksonville, it’s where you can celebrate the New Year in style with El Toro Loco, party favors and the standard champagne toast.
The infamous Tradewinds Lounge will be partying New Year’s in St. Augustine. It’s the the oldest lounge in the oldest city. Limited seating with live music by Matanzas. 124 Charlotte St.(904)829-9336
For a quintessential Florida experience, head to Whitey’s Fish Camp in Orange Park. Once again the Boogie Freaks will entertain. There will be giveaways all night, a balloon drop, champagne toast and breakfast at midnight. Come in a boat and stay all night! Bloody Mary’s served in the AM. Call (904)269-4198
Most every hotel with a restaurant and bar will be holding some kind of New Year’s bash, get a room so you can just trundle up to bed after getting completely snockered. The beaches have a myriad of bar/hotel options. Here’s just two of the places you can go in Ponte Verdra and Amelia Island:
At the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, you can take in New Year’s Eve at their Glacial Gala at the Polar Bar featuring a martini ice luge. Take a walk in the ice garden, enjoy live music, dancing, extravagant buffet, open bar, complimentary champagne and midnight fireworks. Cost is $175 per person. There are also packages that include rooms. Call (904) 277-1028 for info. You can party, eat fabulous food or both at the Marriot Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra. Packages run from $49-$99. Choose from two venues within the hotel. There will be a Vegas style casino for entertainment as well as live acts and all the usual drinks and favors. (904) 285-7777.
You’ll need to make a reservation at any of these restaurants for New Year’s Eve. Call quickly because they fill up fast. All the costs don’t include tax or gratuity.
The Grape (904) 555-5555 and Simon’s (904) 555-5555 are both wine bars that will feature a great spread for New Year’s Eve. Call for reservations, they are both filling up fast. The Grape will have a six course wine dinner at $100 a person, including a champagne toast. Simons will have a multiple course dinner paired with wine and a midnight toast as well.
If you’re heading for an Irish pub keep in mind that most of them celebrate New Year’s twice. Once at 7PM, when Ireland rings in the New Year, and once at Midnight. Fionn MacCools VIP package will include an open bar and a three course meal at $100 per person. Don’t Tell Amy will be the live entertainment from 9PM on. Culhane’s will have two seatings, one at 7PM and one at 9PM for $60 a person. Expect a sumptuous set menu. The Casa Marina Hotel & Restaurant (904) 270-0025 will be holding a Greek themed New Years with music from Greek Wave. Leg of lamb, whole roasted snapper, baklava and a chocolate fountain are the main attractions. The cost is $100 per person.
There’s going to be a great party at the Beaches Woman’s Club at 2nd Avenue North and Penman Road for New Year’s Eve. It will be catered by JJ’s Bistro of Ponte Vedra and for an evening with Rod Stewart Tribute Artist Kenny Holliday. There will be a complimentary Champagne Toast at midnight. The proceeds of the evening will go to benefit Make A Wish foundation to finish off their Children Of Light campaign.
Please come out and celebrate this great cause. Tickets are $65.00/each. If you wish to purchase a ticket; please call Donna LeTellier at 537-1629 to reserve.
Take in New Year’s at the “Pelican Club” for a trip down memory lane to the nightclub era, the 20’s thru the 40’s. The show starts at 8:30pm - 1:00 am at Players By The Sea Tickets are $50.00 in advance Limited VIP seating available ON THE STAGE!!! Table for 2 including a bottle of Champagne is $150.00 Martini Bar, Beer, Wine, after show hor doerves and sodas included.
Not everyone lives to see the new year when Murder Mystery Players, Inc. serve up hearty laughs with a special New Year’s Eve at Dave & Buster’s. This fun-filled, interactive, murder mystery includes dinner as well as the performance. The evening begins at 8:00pm. Audience members have a chance to win prizes and decide who did what to whom. New Year’s Eve will never be the same as guests enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres, a chef-crafted four-course meal, complimentary power card, champagne toast, midnight celebration, and a hilarious mystery performance. The package price is $130.00 per couple + tax and gratuity. To make reservations for this hilarious evening of murder mystery and audience participation, call Dave & Buster’s at (904) 296-1525. Reservations are required, as seating is limited. www.mysteryplayers.com.
Get to the Comedy Zone for a night of laughs, food, drinks and dancing. A lavish buffet in GiGi’s with prime rib and crab legs, favors, a champagne toast and comics Ronnie Bullard, Tim Statum and Al Ernst are part of the evening. Tickets are $69.97 per person plus tax. You can also separately arrange to stay at the Ramada Inn. (904) 268-8080
30th Annual, New Year’s Bluegrass Festival! Don’t miss these 3 days inside Georgia’s Jekyll Island Convention Center. If you love Bluegrass, December 28th Audie Blaylock & Redline, The Steep Canyon Rangers, The Primitive Quartet, The Larry Stephenson Band and Nothin’ Fancy. Friday, December 30th Williams & Clark Expedition, The Gary Waldrep Band, The Village Singers, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver Pine Mountain Railroad. Saturday, December 30th The Carolina Road Bank, The Bluegrass Brothers, The Cherryholmes Family, The Josh Crowe Band, The Lewis Family, Jesse McReynolds & The VA Boys, Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys! Go to www.aandabluegrass.com for tickets and details. (707) 864-7203. At Club Paris, Sexy and scantily clad “Santa’s Helpers” will be everywhere on the 23rd, and they’ll be watching you to decide if you’ve been naughty or nice this year. If you didn’t make the nice list, don’t worry! You can drink your troubles away holiday drink specials served up by naughty elves. Regular drinks are only $2 and martinis are ½ price until 11 PM! Ladies! Come in looking your best! They’re picking out the hottest females for sexy and scandalous presents. Admission is FREE until 11. This is a Christmas party that will put Club Paris permanently on Santa’s naughty list. Call (904) 918-3999 for your VIP reservations!
Friday, December 29th, join Rain’s end of the year blowout party. It’s a special stiletto Friday; all ladies in stiletto heels get all their drinks for $1 all night.
Join Endo Exo for a Santa Party on the 22nd with Adam Wright and Larry Banks and a Pili Pili Reggae Part on the 23rd..
If you have other plans on New Year’s but you love the funk of Mofro, you can catch them at Freebird on the 29th with Gunga Din and on the 30th with the Gamble Brothers Band. Cost is $18 prior and $20 the day of the show. 246-BIRD (2473)
This Friday, December 22nd, is the Salt Life Christmas Bash at The Ocean Club! There will be four bands including BOUND, and two DJ’s. Drink specials are available throughout the night. With everyone in town for Christmas, it will be a blast. Doors open at 8pm.
River City Social & Travel Club’s Annual New Year’s Eve Pub Crawl can help you bar hop in three different neighborhoods (The Beaches, Southside and Orange Park) without getting a DUI. Starting at one of four stops in each area, you will be transported via bus to a different pub, bar or restaurant every hour until arriving at your last destination, located at or near your starting hotel/bar, in time for your champagne toast to ring in the new year. The cost is only $39.95 if purchased NOW and $49.95 shortly, pending availability. They highly recommend you get a room, and to make it even easier by arranging for reduced rates at various area hotels. Go to http://www.rivercityclub.com/ for more information or call (904) 505-4746.
The Got Milk? Half Pint Judges Contest will be at 3PM on December 31st in Downtown Jacksonville. Five winners from a contest conducted by the Florida Dairy Farmers and the Gator Bowl Association will be selected to judge the 2006 Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade. The contest is open to all Jacksonville-area children between the ages of 6 and 12. Kids entering the contest are asked to complete the sentence: “When I’ve got milk? I’ve got a smile because...” The winners of the contest are declared Got Milk? Half Pint Judges. They are responsible for selecting one favorite float from the 2006 Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade, from a kid’s point of view, to receive the Got Milk? Half Pint Award. The little judges will receive “Got Milk?” items and prizes and will ride in the 2006 Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade to be held on Sunday, December 31, 2006. Contact: Pat Corda (904) 798-1700
At Adventure Landing from 10:00AM-2:00PM on New Year’s Eve Day kids will like the The Annual Noon Years Eve Balloon Drop with over 500 prize filled balloons for 3 different age groups: 4 & Under, 5 – 8 & 9 – 12. Unlimited Go-Karts, Laser Tag & Mini Golf from 10:00AM-2:00PM for only $10.00. Special must be purchased to participate in balloon drop (4 & under FREE). Visit www.adventurelanding.com or call (904) 246-4386 for more information!
See the Tybee Beach Fireworks at the Tybee Island Pier in Georgia on the corner of Tybrisa St. & Strand Ave. Fireworks will launch at midnight to celebrate the New Year. Come early to capture that perfect spot in the sand. Free parking. Earlier in the day you can take the Polar Bear Plunge, meeting at 9AM to take a plunge into the icy Atlantic precisely at Noon. Last year over 3,000 people participated some in costumes, even a wedding dress or two.
by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
I’m originally from Virginia, so Florida winters always bug me. I miss snow, winter jackets and cozy nights by the fire. Our weather is nice when company is in town, however, because it opens up a whole new category of fun activities to do with your visitors. Instead of having to find a nice warm place to hang out, you can actually go outside, experience some nature and see things only Florida has to offer. Because sightseeing with little ones can be tricky, here are some fun indoor and outdoor things to do with visiting kids:
There are tons of terrific places to see Florida flora and fauna right here in town. Arlington’s own Tree Hill Nature Center is a 50-acre site that boasts natural history museum, four nature trails, a 250 seat amphitheater and gardens filled with plant and wildlife. The little piece of heaven has cool animal exhibits and, at times, animal encounters that let you get up close and personal with goats, tortoises and even baby alligators. For more information visit www.treehill.org.
If alligators are your thing, the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine is a great place to get your fix. This 100 year-old attraction has wowed visitors of all ages with its amazing collection of rare and exotic reptiles, birds and mammals. Learn about conservation, watch an alligator get his dinner and meet Maximo, a 15 foot “Saltie” croc who tips the scales at 1250! To take a peek at Maximo and plan your next trip to this unique zoological park visit www.alligatorfarm.us.
Of course, if you really want to see a variety of animals, there’s nothing like the Jacksonville Zoo. With more than 2000 rare and exotic animals to see and learn about, the zoo has grown into one of the First Coast’s most popular attractions. Earlier this year the zoo opened their 2.5 acre play park with animal exhibits, botanical mazes, play areas, an animal care yard and much more. This addition is a godsend if you have elementary school kids staying with you since they will play until you physically drag them away. Don’t forget to take a train ride before you head home. You’ll get to hear interesting facts about life behind the scenes and see animals from a whole new perspective. Go to www.jaxzoo.org for more information.
Ever the popular hangout spot, Adventure Landing has something to offer for kids of all ages. Between laser tag, arcade games, mini-golf, batting cages and go-karts, families can spend all day at the facility and still need more time to do it all. Check out their website at www.adventurelanding.com for ticket information and daily specials that can save you big!
Jacksonville parks are a great way to allow kids to let off some steam while giving adults a chance to see a bit of the city. Kid Kampus at Metropolitan Park is a unique 10-acre facility that allows kids to climb and slide on miniature Jacksonville landmarks while giving grownups a chance to see a lovely view of the St. Johns. For those into extreme sports, Ray Greene Park has a BMX bike track and Cuba Hunter Park boasts a 10,000 square foot skateboard facility. To find out more about these and other parks in the area visit http://www.coj.net/Departments/Parks+and+Recreation.
Did you know those cool animatronic characters you see at various theme parks could very well have been made right here in Jacksonville? Sally Animatronics has been supplying attractions, theme parks, museums, retail stores and restaurants with realistic characters, animatronics and dark rides for more than 20 years. Free tours of their downtown robot factory are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information, and to make a reservation, visit www.sallycorp.com.
Combining history and (weird) science is Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Museum in St. Augustine. This always-popular attraction displays more than 800 exhibits that will shock, amuse and amaze kids of all ages. The museum, which is located in a historic castle on San Marco Avenue, is open 365 days a year and group rates are available. For ticket prices, hours of operation and even a printable coupon visit http://www.staugustine-ripleys.com.
If you’ve got a toddler or two visiting, you may want to check Toddler Town, Olly Koala’s or Pump It Up. Toddler Town (904-363-6330) is located on the Southside and gives kids 5 and under a fun place to go and play with other kids in a cheerful, welcoming environment. All of the toys are educational and promote imagination. Ollie Koala’s (904-242-2444) is a family entertainment center, located in Jacksonville Beach, which features yummy food, toddler-friendly rides, arcade games and much more. Also on the Southside is Pump It Up (904-646-1441), a cool facility that takes giant inflatables out of backyards and fairgrounds and puts them in a clean, inviting, climate-controlled environment. Kids are free to jump, bounce, slide and climb along with their peers while parents either relax and look on or join the fun.
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