Liza Mitchell
With the holiday season behind us, the 2016 festival season is right around the corner. This year, a new VIP season pass from Jax Beach Festivals offers premium seating and other amenities good for all four music festivals held at the SeaWalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach.
For just $99, festival patrons can get up close and personal with the artists with first rate seating and access to the backstage dining area. Perks also include exclusive restrooms and beverage attendants.
The Community First Seawalk Music Festival kicks off the season Saturday and Sunday, February 27th and 28th with an emphasis on regional music (www.communityfirstseawalkmusicfest.com). Festival founder Sam Veal says the original local footprint was expanded to include all areas of northeast Florida to broaden the spectrum of available artists. “If you have anything to do with Jacksonville or the North Florida in Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, or Clay counties, then you are eligible to perform at the Community First Seawalk Music Festival,” says Veal. “It will be the full spectrum of music.”
On March 19th, the 27th annual Great Atlantic Festival celebrates Bikinis and Boots with a new country music format. The festival was formerly the Great Atlantic Seafood Festival. Official performance lineup and other festival information will be available at www.greatatlanticfestival.com.
The Beaches’ signature event, known this year as the Belk Presents Springing the Blues, is held April 1st-3rd and promises to deliver three days of the best in blues music. Returning artists to the Springing the Blues stage include Selwyn Birchwood, Victor Wainwright, and Samantha Fish. Local musicians Conrad Oberg, Guitar Red, Kim Reteguiz, and Smokestack will also round out the lineup. Go to www.springingtheblues.com for all festival information.
New to the festival circuit is the Salt Life Festival, coming June 19th to the SeaWalk Pavilion. The festival celebrates all aspects of the salt life, including music, sports, food and more (jaxbeachfestivals.com).
Why not experience festival season in style this year? Season passes are available at 270-9301 or email requests to jaxbeachfestivals@gmail.com.
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