Have you ever had a honey dripper? It’s a frozen treat, made up of fruit and juice (or Kool-Aid, depending on your budget) served up in a cup and eaten with a spoon, sort of like an Icee that’s been left in the freezer. Honey dripper is what they call it on Jacksonville’s Eastside, but other areas might know it as a thrill, a cherry berry or a lilly dilly.
If you don’t think the honey dripper is a big deal, consider this: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp will play two games this weekend as the Jacksonville Honey Drippers, with special uniforms and everything.
Jacksonville will play host to the Norfolk Tides at 7:05 p.m. Friday and 6:35 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at VyStar Ballpark in downtown Jacksonville. They’ll be the Jumbo Shrimp for the Friday game, but switch to the Honey Drippers for Saturday and Sunday. The first 2,000 fans at Saturday’s game will get a free double-sided sunshield for their car, with the Honey Drippers logo on one side, a logo noting the team’s 2025 International League championship on the other. Tickets are $9-$49.
Here’s what else is going on this weekend.
1. Jacksonville Jazz Festival in downtown Jacksonville
4 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Ford on Bay and Riverfront Plaza. Free.
The downtown riverfront will be rocking all weekend with free live music from the likes of Parliament/Funkadelic, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Andra Day, Esperanza Spalding and Sheila E. VIP packages are available if you’re looking for special treatment. Info: jacksonvillejazzfest.com
2. Blue Crab Festival in Palatka
May 23-25 in Palatka. Free.
The fest is one of the biggest events of the year in Palatka, with waterski shows, vendors, food trucks, kids’ games and live music by Confederate Railroad, Nappy Roots and Big Engine. The festival opens at 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Info: palatkabluecrabfestival.com
3. Sam Barber in St. Augustine
7 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $68-$113.
Sam Barber made his way to the top like a true millennial — by posting songs on TikTok until someone took notice (Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” was one of his most popular). He tried his hand at “American Idol” but got voted off in Hollywood Week, so he put his nose to the grindstone and put out a gold-selling EP and a platinum-selling debut album. Now the “Straight and Narrow” singer is headlining a tour, with Michael Marcagi and Bebe Stockwell opening shows. Info: theamp.com
4. Riverfest at Green Cove Springs
10 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Spring Park, Green Cove Springs. Free.
They don’t forget the “memorial” part of Memorial Day at this event, which starts with a Memorial and Veterans Recognition Ceremony and a flyover by retired pilots in the Dreamland Squadron and wraps at dark with fireworks. Info: exploreclay.com
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Top things to do in Jacksonville this Memorial Day weekend
Reporting by Tom Szaroleta, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
