Sunday is Mother’s Day, a day to celebrate the women who raised us and taught us the important things in life, like not forgetting that Sunday is Mother’s Day.
There are several ways to celebrate the day around Jacksonville. You could take Ma to a nice brunch, or maybe a concert (Christian metalcore group Convictions is at the Murray Hill Theatre that night and soul singers October London, Lalah Hathaway and Eric Benet are at the downtown Moran Theater).
Maybe she loves classical music. The First Coast Wind Symphony is playing a free Mother’s Day concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at St. John’s Cathedral, and the San Marco Chamber Orchestra plays Mozart and Brunetti at a free concert at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.
Moms get in free Sunday at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens if they bring their families along. It’s a good weekend for it because the zoo also has its Art in the Gardens Festival going from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with dozens of artists and creators showcasing their works along the zoo’s garden paths.
Here’s some non-Mother’s Day stuff going on around Jacksonville this weekend.
1. WWE Friday Night Smackdown in Jacksonville
7:30 p.m. Friday, May 8, at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. $49-$980.
Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes, Jade Cargill, Tiffany Stratton, Carmelo Hayes, Sami Zayn and Randy Orton are on the card. If you can’t make it to the arena, you can tune in to USA Network at 8 p.m.; they’re televising it nationwide. Info: wwe.com
2. Chicken Fried Rock in Jacksonville
7:30 p.m. Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9, at Jacoby Symphony Hall. $57-$92.
Have you ever found yourself sitting through a long-winded Mahler concerto and wondered what it would sound like if they played “Man, I Feel Like a Woman” instead? The Jacksonville Symphony sets aside the Bach and the Beethoven for a weekend, instead playing classical versions of country songs made famous by Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney and the like, with guest musicians. Assistant conductor Nathaniel Efthimiouleads the symphony. Info: jaxsymphony.org.
3. Riverside Avondale Garden Tour in Jacksonville
10 a.m. Saturday, May 9, in Riverside and Avondale. $20-$30.
Get a peek at some of the lovely backyards and gardens in one of the city’s most historic neighborhoods. Homeowners and Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions. It’s the sixth year for the event, and kids under 12 are admitted for free. The event runs until 4 p.m. Bike tours are also available. Info: riversideavondale.org
4. Railroad Festival in Green Cove Springs
10 a.m. Saturday, May 9, at Historical Triangle, Green Cove Springs. Free.
The Clay County Historical Society celebrates its 60th anniversary with reenactors showing off its buildings and train collection. The society is housed in a 1890 Courthouse Annex, and the railroad collection, with a real caboose and train station, was collected over decades by Bud Hess and acquired by the society in 1992. The old jail building on the site is reported to be haunted. Info: claycountyhistoricalsociety.org
5. “The 5 & Dime Songbook” in Jacksonville
5 p.m. Sunday, May 10, at the Florida Ballet. $60-$125.
Jacksonville’s 5 & Dime Theatre Co. has been around for 15 years and is throwing a party to celebrate. The company started in 2011, doing as few as two shows in some years, as many as 12 in others. The company had its own stage downtown but closed it after the pandemic and now works out of the Florida Ballet building. To celebrate the anniversary, Josh Waller will serve as host, and a half-dozen or so 5 & Dime performers will put on a cabaret and look forward to the next 15 years. Info: the5anddime.org
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: It’s Mother’s Day weekend. Need a good way to celebrate? See our picks
Reporting by Tom Szaroleta, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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