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One Spark is back! Here's what you need to know

After a two-year hiatus, Jacksonville's beloved entrepreneurial festival, One Spark, is making its return to the River City, complete with a whole new, re-imagined experience.

After a two-year hiatus, Jacksonville's beloved entrepreneurial festival, One Spark, is making its return to the River City, complete with a whole new, re-imagined experience.

Next weekend from April 6 to April 7, One Spark 2018 will transform Daily's Place Amphitheatre and will feature new ideas, entertainment, live music, food and all-around fun. It returns after organizers canceled the event twice last year, once in April and again in October due to Hurricane Irma.

A preview event will be held the day before on April 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and it's open to the public, however, registration is required.

"The hiatus was a chance for us to evaluate how the event was staged downtown," Christopher Carter, the President of One Spark Ventures, told First Coast News in early March. "We wanted to take a step back and shrink the cost of the event, but also refocus on the idea and the innovators."

Unlike past festivals, this year, One Spark will feature five Spark* Zones and Idea Zones where you'd be able to experience live demonstrations, interactive learning and VIP lounges. There will also be live voting where the public could ultimately decide the 2018 Creator of the Year. There will also be a Spark Tank competition where entrepreneurs compete to win $25,000.

One Spark will also feature new partnerships including a partnership with Tesla, Seagram's, Red Bull and TedX, or the company known for Ted Talks.

Another highlight: JTA will be using the festival as an opportunity to demo its autonomous (driverless) vehicle, providing rides in their 12-passenger vehicle. Click here to read more.

The festival is no longer free. Tickets now cost $12.50, $5 for students and nothing for children 10 and younger. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

With your ticket, you will not only gain access to the Idea Fest from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., but you'll also get access with the new One Spark After Dark from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. The "after hours" event will feature exclusive live music, food and drinks.

PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION:

  • Folks can park at Lot J at Everbank Field
  • If you don't have a car, One Spark's sponsor, JTA, will be offering a free shuttle service. It will run from the Convention Center to Daily's place from 4 p.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday and noon to 12 a.m. on Saturday.

DISCOUNTS:

  • Intuition Ale Works: $1 off any beer with One Spark ticket
  • Bold City Brewery: 20 percent off beers during festival weekend
  • Myth Nightclub: $5 off entry with One Spark Ticket

SPEAKERS:

  • Thursday:
    • Red Bull Amaphiko Speaker: Jon Dengler, Well Built Bikes
    • Dr. Spring Behrouz, CO-Founder & CEO, Neuroinitiative
      • 2014 One Spark Tech Category winner
      • Developed an algorithm to test molecules to determine their potential to treat Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease
    • Taj Adhav
      • Won a global Techstars competition with more than 2000 entrants.
  • Friday: TBD
  • Saturday: TBD

LIVE MUSIC:

  • Friday:
    • 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. - DJ Japancakes (The One Lounge)
    • 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. - DJ Nick Fresh
    • 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. - LPT (10-piece)
    • 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. - StankSauce (9-piece)
  • Saturday:
    • 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. - DJ Nick Fresh (The One Lounge)
    • 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. - SPARK OFF - People’s Choice voting/DJ Japancakes to help emcee + play music
    • 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. - The Katz Downstairz
    • 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. - Patrick & the Swayzees (singer was on American Idol)

PARTNERSHIPS:

  • Tesla - will be bringing a few vehicles for display and people to engage with and will have their charging station for demos.
  • Seagram’s - will be setting up a fun millennial-focused (21+) area with a branded Airstream-type trailer, tables and chairs and a tasting station.
  • University of North Florida - Will have three groups participating, including Adaptive Toy Project which focuses on modifying toys for use by children with disabilities.
  • TedX: To provide video content from their TedX events and speakers
  • And more!

Click here to learn more about One Spark 2018.

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