Jacksonville’s Biggest Birthday Party Ever: Register for free day-long celebration, commemoration
Even if you believe you’ll be around to celebrate Jacksonville’s Semiquincentennial in 2072, this is the year to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the city’s founding, and Saturday, June 11 is the day to join the free, family-friendly event (registration at Eventbrite encouraged).
The party begins at noon at James Weldon Johnson Park (across from City Hall) with performances by the John Lumpkin Trio; LPT, a Riverside-based Afro-Cuban band; Nan Nkama Pan-African Drum and Dance Ensemble; Mr. Joe, a musician and storyteller, and the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus. Concurrently, the park and surrounding streets will be the site for a Chalk Van; the Kidz Art Wall, sponsored by VyStar Credit Union; an art exhibit, local artists painting the scenes real-time, and The Imposters character actors, all sponsored by Farah and Farah; as well as wheelchair art demonstrations and a mural painting.
From noon to 5 p.m., Laura Street will be alive with history exhibits, booths, vendors, food and beverage trucks, history tours by AdLib Tours, and more. Visit jax200.org for more details. And don’t forget to register for the free event on Eventbrite!
The Bicentennial Commemoration Ceremony begins at 3 p.m. in James Weldon Johnson Park, where the original founding petition of 1822 and a Mayoral Proclamation will be read, along with recognition of descendants of the Cowford 61, the residents who signed the June 15, 1822, petition to name the city after Andrew Jackson. Following the program, the Navy Band Southeast will lead the community in a march down Laura Street to Riverfront Plaza, where Miss Jacksonville Allison Reade will sing the national anthem at 5 p.m.
Riverfront Plaza is the place to be to take in live performances, beginning with Let’s Ride Brass Band, followed by Honey Hounds, Love & Theft, and FlipTurn. For a VIP event including front of stage seating, food, and meet and greet, purchase tickets to The 1822 at 904Tix.com. At 10:15 p.m. fireworks, sponsored by the City of Jacksonville, will light up the sky from the Acosta Bridge for the evening’s grand finale.
The party’s over. Now what?
The community is invited to help fund a permanent marker to remember the city’s bicentennial. The Jacksonville Historical Society is accepting donations for a 250-lb. bronze bell, to be installed in a downtown location later this year.
Bicentennial Bell Chair Aaron Gibson-Evans noted, “I’m often asked if the monument will be Jacksonville’s version of the Liberty Bell, and the answer is yes. Given the interest to date, and the anticipation of increased community involvement, the Bicentennial Bell is destined to become a unifying and celebrated landmark dedicated to equality, representing a renewal of civic pride.”
To date, nearly two dozen organizations and individuals have contributed to the bell, and funding for the $150,000 project is being sought through a possible matching grant as well. Visit jax200.org/bicentennial-bell/ for details.
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