JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — This is year 40 for the Jacksonville Light Boat Parade. Whether you have a tradition of seeing the boats sail along the St. John's River every year or this is your first time, First Coast News has some tips on how to navigate Downtown traffic and construction along the Northbank.
Here's the route from the City of Jacksonville and officials recommend sitting on the Southbank.
"There will actually be a little bit more locations on the Southbank because there is some construction going on on the Northbank. But at Shipyards West, it goes up to the Acosta Bridge along the North Bank, and then it takes a turn around to come back along the South Bank, and they do two loops," said COJ Sports Entertainment Executive Director Alex Alston.
If you want to go to the parade, you may be wondering where to park.
The Duval County Public Schools building and Kings Avenue parking garage will be free to park at for anyone attending the parade.
In addition, handicap-accessible parking will be up for grabs by the Friendship Fountain along the Southbank. But if all of these spots are filled, remember that all the parking meters Downtown are free on weekends.
Even if you aren't planning to watch the parade in person, if you plan on driving throughout Downtown, you may want to find an alternate route.
“Stay away from the Main Street Bridge or the Acosta Bridge. Those two bridges from about 6 o'clock in the evening until about 10 o'clock at night are going to be offline because that's where the fireworks are going to shoot off from," Alston said.
There will be detour signs posted around to make it easier for drivers to avoid road closures. Organizers recommend finding a parking spot around 6 p.m. so you can see the start of the parade at 6:30.
For more information on the 40th Annual Jacksonville Light Boat Parade, click here.