JACKSONVILLE Festival Guide • One Spark • Jax Cocktails • Cummer Garden Month • No Meat March • Hellzapoppin free monthly guide to entertainment & more | march 2014 | eujacksonville.com 2 MARCH 2014 | eu jacksonville monthly contents MARCH 2014 festivals art + theatre page 4-9 local festivals page 26 garden month at the cummer page 10-13 out-of-town festivals page 27 art events and exhibits page 12 festival fashion page 28 theater events page 14 one spark page 29 hellzapoppin page 38 3x5 film festival music on the web life + stuff page 8 katherine archer www.eujacksonville.com page 16 unity plaza update page 30 diablo sez page 17 what’s new page 32-35 music events page 23 life on autopilot eu staff page 24 family events on screen page 25 eco events page 36-37 movies publisher page 25 on the river page 38 mee mee tv William C. Henley managing director Shelley Henley dish page 18 dish update creative director page 19 no meat march on the cover Rachel Best Henley page 20-22 cocktails Photograph by Ryan Smolka from copy editors page 23 what’s brewing Bonnie Thomas Erin Thursby the 2013 Big Ticket Festival. Read Kellie Abrahamson about this year’s Festivals on music editor food editor pages 4-14. Kellie Abrahamson Erin Thursby contributing photographers Richard Abrahamson Ryan Smolka contributing writers Faith Bennett Regina Heffington Kristen Birden Morgan Henley Shannon Blankinship Jen Jones Jon Bosworth Heather Lovejoy Aline Clement Liza Mitchell Brenton Crozier Joanelle Mulrain Jack Diablo Alex Rendon Jennifer Earnest Kristi Lee Schatz Jewel Harrell Madeleine Wagner Published by EU Jacksonville Newspaper. P.O. Box 11959, Jacksonville, FL 32239. Copyright 2012. Repro- duction of any artwork or copy prepared by EU Jack- sonville is strictly prohibited without written consent of the publisher. We will not be responsible for errors and/ or omissions, the Publisher’s liability for error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. Articles for publication are welcome and may be sent to info@ entertainingu.com. We cannot assume responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. For in- formation concerning advertising phone 904-730-3003 or email [email protected]. eujacksonville.com | MARCH 2014 3 years of light at the St. Augustine Lighthouse. keepsakes, is now a thriving international retail George’s Music Springing the Blues, April 4-6 In partnership with the Junior Service League’s enterprise offering an assortment of colorful Lighthouse 5k Run, this special event is a great clothes, fun accessories and unique gifts, all of night of fun for the whole family! Admission to the which represent the company’s belief to inspire lighthouse is free from 4-9 pm. Explore the light others to give, love, and laugh. The Natural Life station grounds, climb the 140-foot lighthouse Music Festival has followed a similar path. Pro- tower and discover maritime history inside the duced by Natural Life for Children, a 501c3 orga- Victorian-era keepers’ house. Kids will love the nization, the festival raises funds for charity and face painting, temporary tattoos, and other free offers a free, family friendly event for the com- activities. Snacks, sodas and beer will also be munity. Musical acts include The Willow Wacks, available for purchase in the lighthouse courtyard. Grammy-nominated Della Mae, X-Factor finalist Come out for the race and stay for the celebra- Rion Paige, Grammy-nominated Sarah Jarosz, tion! staugustinelighthouse.com Honey Honey and The Autumn Defense. commu- nityfirstnaturallifemusicfestival.com March 7-9 ST. AUGUSTINE CELTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL Find the Celt in you as you take in March 21-23 ST. AUGUSTINE LIONS 33RD AN- the sights, sounds and tastes of centuries of NUAL SEAFOOD FESTIVAL Seafood, live bands, European history. Celtic clans from around and art & crafts for the kids! Musical acts include: the world show their ancestral pride. Highland Bill Doyle Quartet featuring Linda Cole, Katherine Games athletes demonstrate their mind-boggling Archer, Lonesome Bert & the Skinny Lizards, strength. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade marches WestWend (from Knoxville, TN), Mayhem the through the streets of the Oldest City’s Historic Magnifico Magic Show, Go Get Gone and Col- District, and vendors offer up Celtic cuisine. lapsible B. Note: Arts & Crafts Village closes at celticstaugustine.com Sundown. No pets or coolers allowed on festival grounds. $3 Adult Admission, Children 12 & March 15-16 ANNUAL ORCHID SHOW Show under Free! Hours: Friday 3-9 pm; Saturday 10 orchids, see orchids, buy orchids, or simply take am-9 pm; Sunday 11 am–6 pm. Francis Field at in the beauty. Garden Club of Jacksonville, 1005 25 Castillo Drive next to the Visitor’s Center in Riverside Avenue, www.jaxorchidsociety.org Downtown St. Augustine, lionsfestival.com photo by fran ruchalski George’s Music Springing the Blues, April 4-6 March 15 METRO PCS GREAT ATLANTIC March 21-23 MEGA CON It’s not just about comic SEAFOOD FESTIVAL Great seafood, dozens of books! Gamers, cosplayers, anime and more will be vendors and a Kids Play area make this annual represented. Featured guests include Stan Lee and beachfront festival the unofficial kick-off to anoth- Will Wheaton. Orlando, FL, megaconvention.com er season of fun-in-the-sun. Great live music with Seven Nations, The Paul Lungren Band, Canary March 28-29 RAILROAD DAYS FESTIVAL 2014 photo by fran ruchalski In The Coalmine, Split Tone, Jackson Vegas and The Historical Society’s theme is aimed at the Rathkeilter. Free event, noon until 10 pm. Seawalk history of the railroad which opened up the Pavillion, Jacksonville Beach, www.greatatlantic- interior of Nassau County and much of the rest February 27-March 9 STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL children 11-17 and adults 65+ are $3; children musicfest.com of the wilderness of the south and west. David There will be a Strawberry Queen, a midway, and under 10 and active duty military are free. In Yulee’s Florida Railroad began at new Fernandina, diverse live entertainment (rockers from STYX St. Augustine, on the Beautiful Prince of Peace March 16 COMMUNITY FIRST NATURAL LIFE was finished through central Nassau County by and violinist Shoji Tabuchi show the range of that Grounds, off San Marco Avenue, near the Giant FESTIVAL Created as a way to give back to the mid-1856 and completed to Cedar Key by 1861. diversity). Plant City, flstrawberryfestival.com Cross. 101 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, Jacksonville community, the Natural Life Music wnhsfl.org thecathedralfestival.com Festival began in 2001 as Crafternoon, a com- February 28-March 2 CATHEDRAL FESTIVAL munity-crafting event led by Natural Life Founder March 29 NORTH FLORIDA FOLK NETWORK AT Includes a midway of rides, food, entertainment March 1 ST. AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE & and CEO Patti Hughes. Natural Life, then a small, RAM Riverside Arts Market (RAM), VIP Produc- and more for the whole family. Adults are $5; MUSEUM’S ANNUAL NIGHT FEST Celebrate 140 home-based operation creating sentimental photo tions, and North Florida Folk Network (NFFN) AREA FESTIVALS Spring always brings warming temps, swirling pollen and outdoor festivals. Northeast Florida has a bevy of great opportunities to take the family out for good food, fresh air and live entertainment. 4 MARCH 2014 | eu jacksonville monthly Fernandina Shrimp Festival, May 2-4 present the 2nd annual NFFN day at RAM. Fea- quality brokerage boats of all styles are displayed tured acts will be Charley Simmons, Road Less and available for purchase. The broad selection Traveled, Larry Mangum and Joey Kerr, and Dixie includes power boats, sailboats, yachts, kayaks Rodeo. Performers on the Hilltop stage will be and marine accessories. If you enjoy boating and Tom Edwards, Jacob Creel, Side Track Duo, New sailing you must attend. Friday 10 am-8 pm, Sat- Moon Ramblers and Hoobieu. Music from 10:30 urday 10 am-8 pm, Sunday 10 am-6 pm. Tickets: am until 3:30 pm. nffolk.com $10 Adult; kids are free. GPS address: 1410 Gator Bowl Blvd Jacksonville, FL 32202 (Plenty April 3-12 CLAY COUNTY FAIR A midway, agricul- of close parking). Metropolitan Park & Marina. tural fair and entertainment venue all rolled into http://southeastusboatshow.com/ one. Ronnie Milsap, The Swon Brothers and Kellie Pickler are part of the line-up. There will be pig April 12-13 BRADFORD COUNTY 16TH ANNUAL races, and it will be adorable. claycountyfair.org STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL Family fun, entertain- ment, free Train Rides and Bounce House. If April 4-6 RHYTHM & RIBS Award-winning Bar-B- you’re into running, try out the Strawberry 5k. Que from 7 regional and national BBQ champions, If not, head to the food vendors for BBQ Spiral great live music, arts, crafts and vendors. Also Taters, Hillbilly Home Brew, Arepas, Gyros, games for kids, rides and activities. Francis Field Smoothies, and more. Crafts will also be on dis- at 25 Castillo Drive next to the Visitor’s Center in play for purchase. It’s pet friendly! bradfordcount- Downtown St. Augustine. rhythmandribs.net ystrawberryfestival.com April 4-6 GEORGE’S MUSIC SPRINGING THE April 12-13 THE OYSTER JAM MUSIC FESTIVAL BLUES In 1990, Sam Veal and a handful of friends The Oyster Jam is a huge, down-home oyster held the first Springing the Blues Festival in a roast and music festival with over 15 bands rock- small pergola near the old Jacksonville Beach ing on the river. The combination of live music, Flag Pavilion. The event featured six acts and craft beer and the oyster roast along the St. Johns lasted one day. Twenty-four years later, Springing River is a tradition to our unique culture. The the Blues Festival is one of the most highly antici- festival hosts an Arts Village full of art and exhibi- pated music events in Florida.