If you spent time enjoying any of the beautiful community festivals in 2016 at the Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach, you might want to listen up. It seems as though a certain part of the community isn’t getting down with the new wave of festivals — and they are actively seeking to shut them down.

If you live at the Beaches or just love the festivals, we urge you to go to tonight’s 6 p.m. city council meeting, as they are discussing the future of these festivals … and the word is they are on the chopping block.

Without these events, local businesses, vendors, musicians, sound engineers, production companies, talent buyers and more will lose work. Apart from that, the Beaches community will lose a huge piece of our culture that brings people together and showcases music, arts and businesses.

Additionally, most of the festivals have a huge charity component. The 2016 Beaches Oktoberfest raised over $30,000 for local charities including a $20,000 contribution to Communities In Schools. The Beaches Oktoberfest also featured a Beach Clean Up which helped clean over 8 miles of coast line and dispose of over 35,000 cigarette butts after the decades most devastating hurricane. 

There has been far too much growth and progression with the city to give up now. The opposition is already letting their voices be heard, so if you want to see the festivals in the future, let them know! If you’re planning on attending, please show up around 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. If you can’t make it, call them and politely voice your concerns.

Address: 11 3rd St N, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250