Wild Amelia, WWE & a zoo full of art 🦝

Good morning, Jax! I've had my windows open all week and I keep thinking — this is the best time of year to be in this city. The air is right, the calendar is stacked, and Mother's Day weekend is practically knocking on the door. Today's edition is your full weekend guide, plus some genuinely exciting news about what's coming to southeast Jacksonville. Let's get into it. 🧡

— Austin

In today's edition:

🏗️ City Update: The Village at Seven Pines breaks ground
🏕️ Featured Spotlight: Amelia Island Glamping — the perfect staycation
🎉 This Weekend: Festivals, art, fitness, live music, and more
🐾 Jacksonville Zoo — moms get in FREE Sunday
🎤 Tonight: Soulja Boy at FIVE + comedy + live music
🏈 WWE SmackDown hits VyStar Friday night

Construction officially began on The Village at Seven Pines, a 250,000 square-foot mixed-use development coming to southeast Jacksonville near the JTB/Kernan Boulevard corridor. Anchored by Publix, the project is designed around walkability and a curated mix of local dining, specialty shops, retail, and office space — essentially a community-centered destination rather than just another strip mall.

Here's what this means for you:

This one's been on the radar for a while. It's a meaningful investment in a part of town that's been booming — and if the renderings are any indication, it's going to be beautiful. Worth bookmarking.

Take a look at the project →

The Wild Amelia Nature Festival is back for its 17th year, running May 8–17 across Amelia Island and Nassau County — and if you've never been, this is the year to go. Ten days of ecotours, guided kayak adventures, a sunset river cruise, goat yoga, beach cleanups, a photography celebration at Fort Clinch, and the big finale: the Eco-Expo at Main Beach Park on Saturday, May 16 with 70+ exhibitors, food trucks, live music, and live animals. This year's "Critter of the Year" is the raccoon 🦝 (iconic honestly).

General admission is free, with individual events ticketed separately. It's a perfect Mother's Day weekend day trip — or honestly, a great excuse to make a whole thing out of it.

Want to turn it into a full escape? Pair the festival with a night (or two) at Amelia Island Glamping — luxury tents, nature all around you, and the whole island at your doorstep. The ultimate First Coast staycation.

Wild Amelia Nature Festival Full Schedule →

Book Amelia Island Glamping →

St. Augustine Food & Wine Festival | NOW through May 9 / St. Augustine / One of the best excuses to head down the coast. Four days of curated wine, craft cocktails, chef dinners, and tastings in historic downtown St. Augustine. Tonight is your last chance to catch it! / Tickets & Info

Art in the Garden Festival | Saturday & Sunday, May 9–10, 10am–3pm / Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens / 50+ local artisans and makers set up shop inside the zoo's beautiful gardens — handcrafted goods, live music, and all the animals you could want as a backdrop. Admission is included with your regular zoo ticket. Bonus: Moms get in FREE on Sunday, May 10 (Mother's Day!) when accompanied by family. No promo code needed. Buy Tickets

Wild Amelia Nature Festival | May 8–17 / Amelia Island / Ten days of ecotours, wildlife encounters, guided kayak tours, goat yoga, storytime, photography events, and a massive Eco-Expo on May 16. Free general admission; individual events ticketed separately. Full Schedule →

Soulja Boy: The Drip Tour | TONIGHT, Thursday May 7, 8pm / FIVE — Five Points / Doors open at 7pm. If you grew up cranking that Soulja Boy in the early 2000s, you already know. Special guest Lil Xan joins him on this tour stop. / Tickets

First Responders Stand Up Comedy Tour | TONIGHT, Thursday May 7, 7:30pm / Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts — Terry Theater / A comedy show performed by first responders for first responders (and everyone else). A fun night for a great cause. / Tickets

The Blue Jay Round featuring Rambler Kane | TONIGHT, Thursday May 7 / Blue Jay / Country, folk, and blues vibes with Rambler Kane plus Celia Tice, Jackie Stranger, and Pamela Elaine. A rotating singer-songwriter lineup, and it's the kind of low-key Thursday night show you end up talking about. / Tickets

WWE Friday Night SmackDown | Friday, May 8, 7:30pm / VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena / The blue brand is coming to Jax for a live televised SmackDown — championships, rivalries, and all the drama you love. Tickets start around $57. / Tickets

Jax Symphony: Chicken Fried Rock | Friday & Saturday, May 8–9, 7:30pm / Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts — Jacoby Hall / Brooks, Shania, and more — country legends reimagined by a full symphony orchestra. This is a seriously fun Mother's Day weekend show and honestly such a good gift idea. / Tickets

DJ Set: Black Tiger Sex Machine | Saturday, May 10, 10:30pm / Decca Live / Electronic music fans, this one's for you. An unmasked DJ set from the Canadian electronic duo. Late night, high energy. / Tickets

October London, Lalah Hathaway & Eric Benét | Sunday, May 10, 7pm / Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts — Moran Theater / Three incredible R&B voices on one stage on Mother's Day. If your mom loves this music, here is your sign. Tickets available now. / Tickets

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp | Nightly through Sunday / 121 Financial Ballpark / The Shrimp are playing all weekend — it's Nurses and Teachers Week, so keep an eye out for special deals! Baseball in May is genuinely one of the best things about this city. / Tickets & Schedule

The May Mixer at The Block | Saturday, May 9, 8:30–10:30am / A morning community fitness mixer — perfect way to kick off the weekend before your day gets going. / Sign Up

Saturday Run with JRC | Saturday, May 9, 7am / Friendship Fountain / The Jacksonville Run Club's weekly Saturday morning run. Free, friendly, and a great way to start the weekend. / More Info

Jacksonville Sharks vs. Tulsa Oilers | Sunday, May 10, 4pm / VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena / A Mother's Day afternoon arena football game — great for families who want something active and fun. / Tickets

Looking for the perfect Mother's Day plan? Here are my top picks across the board:

For the nature lover 🌿 → Art in the Garden at the Zoo (Mom gets in FREE Sunday!) or a day trip to Wild Amelia on Amelia Island

For the music lover 🎵 → Jax Symphony's Chicken Fried Rock (Brooks & Shania — she will love it), or October London/Lalah Hathaway/Eric Benét Sunday evening

For the adventurous mom 🏕️ → Amelia Island Glamping + Wild Amelia Nature Festival all weekend

For the foodie 🍷 → Last day of the St. Augustine Food & Wine Festival is TONIGHT, May 9

Whatever you choose — make her feel special. This city has the options. 🧡

See you Monday with a full week roundup!

— Austin