Beach Season, Blueberries & Flying Taxis 🏖️

Good morning, Jacksonville. ☀️

Beach weekend is officially here — and it could not be better timed. The Opening of the Beaches is Sunday, the blueberry festival is Saturday, the wildfire smoke is (slowly) clearing, and Everclear is playing tonight. This one is stacked.

Before we get into it — if you're close to Clay or Nassau County, check air quality before heading outside this weekend. More on that below.

Let's go. 🧡

— Austin

In today's edition:

Governor DeSantis signed new legislation this week that officially puts state dollars behind Florida's aerial taxi program — and it's more real than it sounds.

The bill (HB 1093) allows the Florida Department of Transportation to fund up to 100% of the cost of building vertiports — think of them as landing pads for electric, battery-powered aircraft that take off and land vertically, kind of like a helicopter but quieter and without the carbon footprint. The goal is to eventually give Floridians a short-hop aerial alternative to gridlock on roads like I-4.

The state's already picked a testing hub: SunTrax in Polk County. And while the I-4 corridor between Orlando and Tampa is getting most of the early attention, this legislation opens the door for vertiport development all across Florida — including here.

Here's what this means for you:

None of us are hopping an air taxi to St. Augustine this weekend. But five to ten years from now? Don't be surprised if we are.

Read the full story →

Most adults with ADHD don't realize how deeply it affects their daily life—from emotional regulation to working memory. This free personalized quiz reveals your ADHD trait score across 5 key areas and shows you exactly where to focus first. Takes 10 minutes, changes everything.

Take the free quiz

The biggest fire in our region is the Railroad Fire along the Clay–Putnam County line — two blazes that merged earlier this week into a single 4,000+ acre fire near Bostwick. As of Wednesday it's roughly 65% contained, with aerial tankers and tractor plows still on scene. Nassau County has a few additional fires mostly well-contained, and most NE Florida counties (except St. Johns) are under burn bans.

Smoke drifted into Duval County Wednesday morning. Conditions stay dry through the weekend, so fire danger remains elevated.

Quick reminders:

Hurricane season is still five weeks away (June 1), but Colorado State University dropped their early forecast this month — and for once, it's the kind of news we like to hear.

CSU is predicting a below-average 2026 Atlantic hurricane season: 13 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and only 2 major hurricanes (Category 3+). The main driver? A moderate-to-strong El Niño expected to develop by peak season, which typically increases wind shear across the Atlantic and makes it harder for storms to form and intensify.

The probability of a major hurricane hitting the Florida coastline is estimated at 15% — below the historical average of 43%.

Here's the caveat (and CSU said it themselves): it only takes one storm to make it an active season for you. Last year's Hurricane Melissa was a Cat 5 that caused $9 billion in damage in Jamaica. So we enjoy this forecast — and we still prep.

NOAA's official outlook drops in late May, and we'll cover it here.

Summer doesn't officially start for another two months, but in Jacksonville, this is the weekend that counts.

Opening of the Beaches Weekend is one of the city's best traditions, and the 2026 version is looking like a full Saturday-Sunday celebration. Here's what's happening:

Saturday, April 25:

Sunday, April 26:

More info at jacksonvillebeach.org

If you want something a little different this Saturday, the 27th Annual Bostwick Blueberry Festival is worth the drive — and it's about 45 minutes from Jacksonville.

This is one of those quintessentially Florida community events where volunteers spend the whole week baking 600+ blueberry pies and sorting 1,100 pounds of fresh-picked blueberries. The money raised goes toward scholarships for local kids, so it's genuinely feel-good.

📅 Saturday, April 25 | 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Free 📍 Bostwick Community Center, 125 Tillman St, Palatka, FL 32177

Pancake breakfast with homemade blueberry syrup runs 8 a.m.–noon. Blueberry ice cream, homemade pies, arts & crafts vendors, live entertainment, and fresh-picked blueberries by the pound. Free parking and shuttle service.

Note: Organizers confirmed the festival is proceeding as planned despite nearby wildfire smoke. Worth checking air quality conditions before heading out if that's a concern.

More Details →

🎸 Everclear w/ Dyer Davis — Thursday, April 24, 8:00 PM — FIVE, 1028 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32204 The Sparkle and Fade 30th Anniversary Tour. Yes, "Santa Monica" will be played. Yes, you will sing along.

🎵 Amplified Avondale — Friday, April 25, 6:00–9:30 PM (Free) — St. Johns Avenue, Riverside Avondale, Jacksonville Live music, local art, and great restaurants along one of Jax's best streets. Happens every last Friday of the month.

🎶 4/25: Taylorville – An Unofficial Live Taylor Swift Tribute Band — Friday, April 25 — Lemon Bar, Jacksonville Beach Because obviously.

🕺 Lemon Bar Silent Disco Glow Party — Friday, April 25 — Lemon Bar, Jacksonville Beach Three channels, wireless headphones, and a glow-up. Check Lemon Bar's social for details.

🎵 Earth Day Concert — River Stage Lineup — Saturday, April 25 10:30 a.m. Scott Jones School of Dance | Noon: Jenni Reid | 1:30 p.m. Tim and Jerry Duo Presented by St. Johns Riverkeeper & North Florida Green Chamber at Celebrate Trails Earth Day

🌎 Celebrate Trails Earth Day with St. Johns Riverkeeper — Saturday, April 25 — Details TBD, Jacksonville area Free outdoor celebration with live music on the River Stage (see lineup above), environmental orgs, and community programming.

🚣 Kayak Tour — Saturday, April 25, 10:00 a.m. — Palmetto Leaves Regional Park, Jacksonville Paddle through local waterways with a guided tour. Check Jacksonville Parks for details and registration.

🌳 Jacksonville Run Club at Friendship Fountain — Friendship Fountain, Southbank, Jacksonville Lace up and head to the river. A great way to start the weekend with community.

🏘️ Neighborhood Block Party — Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. (Free) — Ed Austin Regional Park, Jacksonville Free neighborhood fun — great for families.

🖼️ Spring Market — Saturday, April 25, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. — San Marco Art Center, Jacksonville Food, local goods, handmade crafts, and craft workshops for kids.

🎨 Watercolor Workshop — Saturday, April 25, 1–4 p.m. — Museum of Contemporary Art, 333 N Laura St, Jacksonville Tickets online. A peaceful afternoon activity if you want something a little lower-key.

🎷 Jazz on the Lawn — Saturday, April 25, 3–7 p.m. (Tickets online) — Abyssinia Missionary Baptist Church, Jacksonville Outdoor jazz with community vibes.

⚽ Sporting Jax Doubleheader — Saturday, April 25, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. — Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville Two games in one day. Great excuse to spend the afternoon at the stadium.

🎠 4/25: Fantasy Farms Open House — Saturday, April 25 — Fantasy Farms, Jacksonville area A peek behind the scenes of one of Jax's most beloved event spaces.

💍 4/26: Florida Bridal & Wedding Expo — Sunday, April 26 — Location TBD, Jacksonville area For anyone in planning mode — or who just loves a good venue.

🌿 Anne of Green Gables — This Weekend — Theatre Jacksonville, 2032 San Marco Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207 A classic story brought to life by one of Jacksonville's oldest community theater companies. Perfect for the whole family.

🤠 Handyman Hal — Florida Theatre — This Weekend — Florida Theatre, 128 E Forsyth St, Jacksonville, FL 32202 The beloved children's host is live on stage. If you've got little ones, this one's for them.

🎺 First Coast Wind Symphony: Salute to America 250 — This Weekend — Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, 300 Water St, Jacksonville, FL 32202 A full orchestral wind symphony program celebrating America's 250th. Elegant, free, and distinctly Jax.

🌾 Riverside Arts Market — Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. (Free) — 715 Riverside Ave (under the Fuller Warren Bridge), Jacksonville, FL 32204 150+ vendors, live music, local produce, and the best people-watching in the city. Rain or shine, every Saturday.

🌊 Beaches Green Market — Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. — Penman Park, Jacksonville Beach Farmers market meets local vendors on the beach side. Easy, breezy morning.

🫐 Bostwick Blueberry Festival — Saturday, April 25, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. (Free) — 125 Tillman St, Palatka, FL 32177 As featured above — worth the drive.

🌱 Eartha's Farm & Market — Saturday, April 25 — Location TBD, Jacksonville area Local produce, plants, and community market vibes.

🍷 Sip-in San Marco — Saturday, April 25 — San Marco, Jacksonville (Check-in at Fore Score Golf Tavern, 1407 Atlantic Blvd) The sold-out bar hop and shop is back. Ticketed event with wristbands, exclusive deals, free welcome drinks, and stops at multiple San Marco bars and shops. Get tickets in advance.

That's your weekend, Jacksonville. It's a big one. 🧡

— Austin