on location: south ❖ JACKSO NVILLE More Than Beaches From theater fare to sports events, groups have plenty of entertainment options in this Northern Florida city on the water By Dave Bodle hat’s not to like about Jacksonville? Florida’s largest city has everything from entertainment and history to sports and, yes, W beaches. Groups of all sizes and interests are discovering Ken McCray Ken that Jacksonville really does have it all. EverBank Field is home to the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars. Jacksonville, or “JAX,” has a long history in the entertainment and music business. Back in 1916 there were 30 movie companies that called Jacksonville home. Unfortunately, the locals thought that the studios were just too loud. The movie companies packed up and moved to California. The rest is history. This minor setback did not keep entertainment away for long. Beginning in 1956, Elvis Presley performed in Jacksonville eight times. At one of The King’s early appearances, a local judge sat through the performance. He believed it necessary to monitor Presley’s body movements and assure they were not too suggestive. I’m wondering how Visit Jacksonville Visit that worked out. The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra performs September to May. Fast forward to the present and you’ll quickly see that Jacksonville Landing on the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville is a hub of continuous entertainment. Whether it’s live music in a lounge setting or full-blown concerts, Jacksonville Landing has a jam-packed events cal- endar. Its group program provides a Preferred Customer Discount Book- let and Food Court Vouchers with savings on shopping and dining. A visit to jacksonvillelanding.com provides all the details. An extremely popular venue is the historic Florida Theatre. Built in 1927, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With a rich history of vaudeville and early concerts, it continues to host leading Visit Jacksonville Visit Enjoy dinner and a show at Alhambra Theatre & Dining. musical, dance and spoken-word concerts. Take a look at the schedule on floridatheatre.com. The Alhambra Theatre & Dining, built in 1967, is a nationally known symbol of entertainment in the Jacksonville area. One of the few dinner theaters that remain, the Alhambra has featured a host of legendary per- formers and draws talent from across the country. (alhambrajax.com) The Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts is home to the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Its concert series produces the clas- sics, opera, gospel, big band and ballet. The venue’s popular THE ARTIST SERIES brings traveling Broadway shows, comedy and con- Visit Jacksonville Visit certs to Jacksonville. The minor league Jacksonville Suns team offers group plans. 24 June 2014 LeisureGroupTravel.com on location: south ❖ Through JaxEvents.com it’s easy to see who’s playing, explore riety of group plans, including food options. group options and reserve your space at the Times-Union Center. Last but not least of the entertainment venues available through But details also are available for the following six venues: JaxEvents.com is the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, which hosts The new Ritz Theatre and Museum was constructed on the top horse competitions. same site as the 1920s Ritz Movie House. The latter was located in In the world of sports entertainment, Jacksonville is a major golf the African-American community of La Villa. With destination for both the PGA Tour and visiting both an educational and entertainment mission, golf groups. The area’s golf is certainly well the Ritz preserves the cultural and historical her- known for the PGA Tour’s The Players Cham- itage of the community. Regularly scheduled en- pionship in May. Held at TPC Sawgrass in tertainment and rotating exhibits are part of that nearby Ponte Verde, it’s a fan favorite and often mission. referred to as the “Fifth Major.” Tickets and pack- Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, a ages for The Players in 2015 will be online at vis- multi-purpose arena, is the site of major concert itjacksonville.com. events and festivals throughout the year. With- Those five days in May are always an excit- out a bad seat for up to 15,000 attendees, the ing time in Jacksonville. However, for thousands venue has hosted everything from NCAA men’s of visiting golfers, it’s the more than 1,200 holes basketball to Elton John to the Craft and Import of golf and one significant attraction--the World Beer Festival. Golf Hall of Fame & Museum. Located at Prime F. Osborne III Convention Center is World Golf Village in nearby St. Augustine, it a popular destination for meeting and convention Jacksonville Visit shares the history of golf and the individuals who planners. However, youth performance groups The 1927 Florida Theatre was the played a significant part in the sport’s growth largest movie palace in Jacksonville. are also taking notice as it regularly hosts the Di- and popularity. For the visiting golfer, there’s a amond Cheer & Dance Competition. Regardless of your group’s in- monthly Hall of Fame Challenge, a closest to the pin contest, a golf terest, check out what’s happening at the center. You just might find simulator and putting course. an expo or event that fits your itinerary. Special Hall exhibits include “Bob Hope: Shanks for the Memory” Home to the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars, EverBank Field has and “Nancy Lopez: Pride, Passion & Personality,” a recent addition. hosted more than professional football games in the powerful AFC The newest permanent exhibit is “Honoring the Legacy: A Tribute to South. EverBank Field also hosts the annual Florida-Georgia football African-Americans in Golf.” From difficult beginnings to the chal- game. It may be better known as “the world’s largest outdoor cocktail lenges of today, the exhibit chronicles struggles and triumphs of no- party.” If you’re reading this in mid-June, there’s a good chance that table golfers, among them Charlie Sifford, Althea Gibson, Joe Louis Colt Ford, Big & Rich or Miranda Lambert will be performing with nu- and Tiger Woods. merous other headline talents at the Florida Country Music Superfest. Jacksonville is a delightful combination of older Florida and newer It’s planned to be an annual country music showcase event. Florida, a blend of history and hip. It all mixes with a dining scene If you’re keeping score, five of the seven venues associated with that goes from international elegance to classic Southern and plenty JaxEvents.com have been mentioned. In addition to EverBank Field, of flavor stops in between. these last two are all about sports. The Baseball Grounds of Jack- Begin planning for Jacksonville and the Beaches at visit- sonville is home to the Jacksonville Suns, the Class Double-A jacksonville.com/travelprofessionals. Contact Bob Meyer at 800- Visit Jacksonville Visit Southern League affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Suns offer a va- 733-2668, ext. 503. LGT The Jacksonville area, a PGA Tour destination, abounds with first-rate golf courses..