Last Updated on May 30, 2022
The Jacksonville Bicentennial celebrates the city in Northeast Florida, located approximately 40 miles north of St. Augustine and 70 miles northeast of Gainesville. Jacksonville has a population of over 902,000 people. The city is known for its laid back, relaxing atmosphere, as well as its museums, parks, beach, and its location along the St. Johns River – the longest river in Florida.
In 1822, land that would become Jacksonville was donated by settlers to create a town. Jacksonville is named after Andrew Jackson, Florida’s first provisional governor, who later became the seventh President of the United States – though he never visited his namesake town.
Jacksonville quickly became a hub for commercial activity due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and its location on the St. Johns River. Primary exporting included produce, lumber, and cotton, and imports consisted of manufactured products from the North.
The city was founded in 1822, and this year, 2022, marks the Jacksonville Bicentennial anniversary. To celebrate its 200th birthday, Jacksonville is holding a celebration on June 11. The event will take place all day in Downtown Jacksonville, primarily in James Weldon Johnson Park, Laura Street, and Riverfront Plaza.
The Jacksonville Bicentennial celebration will run from 12 pm to 10:30 pm and include family-friendly fun activities, events, and food – starting with a street festival at James Weldon Johnson Park from 12 pm to 3 pm. There will be an arts market and historical exhibits. The festival will also include food trucks and live performances.
The Jacksonville Public Library and The New Jacksonville Art Center will be hosting an art exhibition titled “My Jacksonville” at the same time. On Laura Street, there will be a variety of art-related activities going on in the afternoon, including artists painting street scenes and a live mural painting.
At 3 pm, the Jacksonville Bicentennial Opening Ceremony will begin with a reading of the original proclamation to name the city. At 4:15 pm, there will be a parade down Laura Street from James Weldon Johnson Park to Riverfront Plaza. Riverfront Plaza will host a bicentennial concert celebration and fireworks show. The concert starts at 5 pm and will feature multiple bands, including Let’s Ride Brass Band, The Honey Hounds, Love and Theft, and Flipturn. The fireworks display will begin at 10 pm.
All events are free and open to the public, so if you find yourself in Jacksonville during its bicentennial celebration, make sure you stop by!
Learn more about the event from Jax 200.
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