I had a lot of fun here for the 2015 event with 311 and Matisyahu as the headliners. My friend won…read moresome ULTRA VIP tickets to the event from 102.9 radio station and asked me to go. Our tickets were limited to only 12 people and included, "band meet and greet, exclusive ON STAGE SEATING for the headline performances, catered food and complimentary drinks, access to all VIP areas including front stage pit, VIP bathrooms, a private beer, liquor and food lounge (for purchase) and table seating under the shaded back stage area. Plus ULTRA VIP Pass includes free entry to the Official Connection Festival After Party at Underbelly feat RUN DMT/DJ LOGIC/LOVESKA." I had a blast and would totally go again next year pending who's playing. I wouldn't pay $1,000 for the Ultra VIp tickets, but winning them for free was pretty awesome. General admission would be just fine as well at $35. I would even pay the $125 for Vip depending on who were the headliners at the next event. The place wasn't packed shoulder to shoulder, but it certainly was not void of people. Good amount of people showed up for 311 and Matisyahu. I hope they keep it the festival going. It'll only get better and bigger each year. Keep attracting top talent for music and people will come to have fun. It was even fun for kids to join in although personally I probably wouldn't bring any to this festival.

I attended this festival cause I like all the food trucks and the arts. I was happy to see what I…read morethought was going to be a big event for downtown. It was big alright. A big flop. We went there Saturday afternoon and returned for the evening shows. I bet we didn't see 750 people both times we were there.The first thing is I want to say that they had some of the best trucks out. From The Fusion Truck, Mama's Food, Gourmet Aviator, to Up In Smoke. There were some of the other smaller vendor like Back Yard Pops and Pete's Mobile Candy Shop. You also had a lot of different venders that attend almost event downtown. Now the music was fair at best. They had some local bands that sounded pretty good. Then a couple of big head liners. Kermit Ruffin (one of my favs) and Naughty by Nature. But all the music and the beer n wine were inside a green fence. To top it all off they were charging 40.00 a day or 65 for two days. First who is going to pay 40 bucks to go inside when you can sit outside and hear just fine. I looked over the fence when Kermit was playing and I saw maybe 30 people inside at best. Then I hear that you couldn't bring any food that you purchased some 10 feet away inside. They also had no alcohol sales outside of the fence. This is how the promoter wanted it for the first time festival. This promoter most have been a pure amateur. I have heard their name before but if he ever has another gig you could bet nobody who came and worked this one will not be back. In fact I bet there aren't many trucks there today cause of all the money that they lost yesterday. This event was not run very good and I bet the promoter has one hell of a bill to pay for everything that it takes to put on one of theses events. The venders that I talked to said that they were told 15-25 thousand people were coming to this event. Let's just say they had the 15-25 part right. So I might have to think again about attending another connection event.

My friend, Susan and I went to see the "Lighting of the Tree" this year. We had a great time…read morelistening to some Beautiful voices and Christmas carols being sung. We heard from Mr. Sleiman and a few others. Then about 9:15, the lighting of this magnificent Christmas tree and then followed by some exciting fireworks. Thanks to all who worked so diligently on putting this night to remember together!

I have attended the lighting of the Christmas tree just about every year ever since it started 31…read moreyears ago and it is a family tradition I now enjoy with my husband and our children. Every year it starts around 7 pm, but I would definitely recommend you arrive early, as it gets extremely crowded as the evening goes on. While you are waiting for the tree to light up and fireworks show, you will enjoy Christmas carols, holiday cheer, and maybe a few overpriced drinks from the vendors. At around 9 pm, they start counting down for the big moment, the lighting of the tree! The tree is a 56-foot-tall energy-efficient Christmas tree with over 78,000 L.E.D. lights and more than 150 ornaments. Once it is lit, then follows a fireworks show that has definitely been scaled back from years prior, hence the four stars. Once the tree is lit, the tree is programmed to perform a 10-minute, synchronized light show set to various selections of holiday music. The light shows begin the night of the Tree Lighting Ceremony and continue nightly until New Year's Eve. If you have never been to see Jacksonville's tree, I would highly recommend you put on your Christmas sweater and head to the landing to get in the holiday spirit!

Best studio around! Amazing staff, great space, tons of opportunities for development and…read morecompetitions.

Nice dance studio that is inside of the Beaver Street Enterprise. The school is training young…read morepeople who have a passion for dancing. I was in a play and we were able to use the studio for practice. The owner is passionate about bringing the best out of his students. He does a great job in supporting others in the industry.

Parking was a breeze if you prepaid. We had VIP tickets and the VIP line moved very fast. Our…read moretickets came with seats up front and blankets. The live musicians were exceptional and the drone choreography to classical music was phenomenal.

I have had an incredible experience singing with the Jacksonville Children's Chorus; this chorus…read morehas helped me to grow not only as a musician, but also as a person. Singing in this chorus has inspired me to pursue music not simply as a casual hobby, but as a lifelong passion. During my years in the chorus I have learned more about music theory and breath control, sung in all parts of my vocal range, gained experience in sightreading and performing a wide variety of choral music, and have seen great improvements in the overall quality of my singing voice. Additionally, I have met some amazing people through the chorus, who come from schools all over Jacksonville to make music together. The children in the chorus are focused and committed, but they also know how to loosen up and have plenty of fun when they aren't rehearsing! Being in this chorus has inspired me to travel abroad more often; we have taken tours to places including Alaska, New York City, Canada, Italy, and Greece. I have had a number of once-in-a-lifetime experiences with the chorus as well, such as performing in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, accompanying the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, and doing concerts with well-known artists such as The Voca People and Amy Grant. Overall, my experience with the Jacksonville Children's Chorus has been an unforgettable one.

For its inaugural event, this was HOT! I remember moving to St. Augustine in 2008 and scouring the…read morenet for hints of this rumored fashion week. Nothing really panned out. Then out of nowhere, I get an announcement that it's actually happening!!! March 23-26th, 2011; I COULD NOT WAIT!!! Founders Tiffany Hager and Cristina Farrell, and their leadership team, turned this thing out. And thank goodness! It was like being in the big city again! It was three nights of fashion, general glamorousness and fun! Many designers, local and emerging, showed over two nights. Three if you include the shopping event at Saks Off Fifth weeks before. My favorites were Chabri and BobbyK. Celebrity hosts included Whitney Thompson and Yoanna House, of America's Next Top Model fame, and Sharon Wilbur, the face of Fox30. DJ Paul Farace, fresh from Miami Fashion Week, pretty much killed it each night. And it wasn't just about vanity and industry, the events benefited three charities: Angelwood, Inc., Jacksonville Public Library Foundation, and Soles4Souls. I had a great time! The shows were great, the drinks were great, the swag bags were great, and we gave back to the community while doing so! I'm definitely going back next year. You go there too, because Jacksonville needs to stay classy.

As a general rule, I despise a craft market that charges to enter and charges vendors & have been…read moreto very few events like this (and i found out vendors have to pay for parking too!!!)- however, a local friend and artist has a non profit called Mini Giving Tree & makes and sells to benefit local Jacksonville kids in the foster care system. Giving a bit of Christmas cheer for our local foster kids. For that reason, I paid for parking & entry. That was almost $40 not being spent with a small business. Moving on, I will admit there were plenty of fantastic vendors. Small business and makers from all over. And we did shop plenty. Glass artworks, jewelry, ceramics, kids toys and games & clothing. Pet stuff galore. Every art form you can imagine, painting, pictures, wood turned, wood carved, metal works, glass, fabric, clay... food. Everything. We got a Whiskey finished Vermont maple syrup. A gorgeous little fused glass tree, a Christmas gift for Riley that's a craft box with a magnet size and a drawing side- customized with his name! I found the little Debbie Christmas tree cakes made into polymer clay earrings as a gift. We bought at Mini Giving Tree, because that was the whole reason to go! I connected with lots of artists, my favorite was a metalsmith that had phenomenal copper bowls, jewelry & more. The husband and wife duo were simply a pleasure to chat with! I had been to another local market last year that made you pay for entrance, but not parking and i was disappointed with the vendors. This market actually surprised me with the amount and quality of vendors. BUT, there are plenty of amazing arts markets that don't charge you to shop. Pick your poison. I'm happy I went, probably won't go again.