Visited The Experience for a day party and really enjoyed the indoor/outdoor space and overall…read morevibe. The only drawback was the shared bathroom area for men and women, but the wait wasn't bad. I'd definitely come back for another event!

I recently held a birthday party at The Experience venue. The event was spectacular. The venue…read morewas perfect, we had a DJ and the acoustic sound was great with no issues of it being too loud. The bar was fully functional and had plenty of space. There is efficient parking and the garage doors add a great feature aesthetically and functionally. I also had a great experience with the owner, who was very accomodating and made sure we had sufficient access to what we needed. We had about 75 in attendance and did not need for more space. I would personally recommend The Experience hands down.

This was our first time at Alhambra. We had an awesome time! My husband and I took our son,…read moredaughter-in-law and two grandkids to see Shrek. We all loved the show!! It was funny, the singing and dancing were excellent. All of the actors did a great job. We absolutely LOVED the donkey!! :) The food was delicious. Several options, as well as a great kids menu. Our server, Andy, was great. He was such a nice young man with a sense of humor. His service was topnotch and nothing was too much trouble for him. All of the staff in the theater were very nice and accommodating. Parking was more than sufficient. Even with a long line for the ladies restroom, there were enough stalls to get everyone through quickly, and the bathrooms were very clean. We just had a great experience all around! Can't wait to go back again!

Alhambra does service food and entertainment first rate…read more Last night was Shrek the musical and the show was fantastic. Drinks ahead of meals and then dinner. I had lightly blackened salmon and candyce had the pork cutlet. The food is usually set up so everyone will have something they will enjoy. Great place great entertainment Alway good.

My friend and I attended last Saturday's show at 7:30 PM. It was titled Spill the Tea. A local…read moreJacksonville comedian told three true stories which none of the improv team had heard prior. After each story the improv team acted out the story. The improv team had the audience laughing, me included, throughout the show. I loved the originality of the show as I expected it would be an audience participation event. But was slightly relieved that it was not;) Amy, the host, and the rest of the team had an infectious energy which spilled over into the audience! If you have never been to an improv I highly recommend checking out Third Space! Bonus, they have a parking lot so you don't have drive around for 30 minutes to find a spot in St Augustine! Another bonus, the ticket prices are reasonable and you will not find a better price for adult and other beverages. They also sell popcorn and other snacks. Laughter is good for the soul, so check out their website and book your next comedy adventure.

Very unique and fun experience! We had audience participation and saw very talented improv staff…read moreperforming! If you want to try something different this is the place! I really enjoyed this experience! Bring a friend or a date, me and my wife were laughing and reminiscing the next morning. They have so much energy and host Amy does a great job making you feel comfortable. Great snacks and adult beverages available here! I am already planning my next visit! Very convenient parking and location!

I moved to Jacksonville recently from California and I am always on the lookout for new places to…read morecheck out. There is a building I pass every day near my home which caught my eye right away. Its stone façade and bright yellow sign flanked by two Medieval Knights, with the words "The Arena" across it in large block lettering stood out in comparison to its neighbors, a church and a discount furniture store. I quickly put on my detective cap and began scouring the internet for any explanation or reviews but information was sparse. I eventually found the website... The Arena | Jacksonville's Premiere Concert Venue... "The Arena is definitely one of Jacksonville's premiere and edgiest night scenes. With four stages, and full audio-surround sound, you will be blown away..." I ear marked it as a place to check out in the future. As Halloween grew closer The Arena began to look more and more like an off-beat community haunted attraction. A giant, ominous, clown face appeared over the door along with some additional lights and carnival décor. A new sign was added, "Carnevil". Of course I got back on the internet and found, "Welcome to Carnevil! The darkest and final act of the circus empire..." From the description it sounded pretty scary, I don't really do scary, but it was Halloween and we had no other plans and it was FREE. Now let me tell you, the free thing immediately set off some red flags, nothing is free but curiosity got the best of us. We invited some friends, put on our costumes and headed to the Arena but it was completely full and they sent us away with priority tickets for the next showing. Sunday night just my fiancé and I went back. Like I said, I don't really do scary well and as I stood in line my heart was racing. They announce that we are about to go in and once we are inside we will not be allowed to leave until the end. Honestly, we were half convinced that this place lures unsuspecting people in and keeps them forever... how else does a "Premiere Concert Venue" have almost no internet presence and NO reviews? The whole experience started off great. Creepy ghosts shambled through the lines, small groups were let into the theatre at a time, entering through a miniature haunted maze with all the scares and screams as a professional haunted house. There were plenty of scares for the audience while we waited for the show to start. The play had a great campy/spooky community theatre feel complete with frightening clowns, quality makeup, sound and lighting effects. Over and over I kept thinking, "How is this free?" and then it started... "drugs", "sex", "rebelling against authority"... "sin". Suddenly I realized I was at church. A preacher dressed as a cop stood center stage asking the audience to raise their hands, come up and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior to avoid a hell worse than the clown camp we just witnessed. I want to be clear... I do not have a problem with this being a church function; I appreciate the local church for pulling together a great community event... I do have a problem with being completely ambushed. Nowhere on TheArenaJax.com does it mention its affiliation with Victory Church. To solicit itself as one of the country's premier, edgy music venue, "showcasing a spectrum of internationally renowned artists" is more than slightly misleading. I have to say, I felt a bit violated to be lured into what appeared to be a fun community theatre, told I could not leave until it was over and then force fed a religious message while adults in scary masks and makeup stood blocking the exit. Here is the TL;DR: The production quality is great for a free event. I really enjoyed the first hour and a half of my experience. I would even encourage people to check out one of their events but be advised... this is a religious venue affiliated with its neighboring church. You will be held inside the building and asked to approach the stage to accept their message.

I have seen the Carnevil show twice now and I absolutely love it. Yes, it wasn't for the faint of…read moreheart, but it was awesome nonetheless. I am not one to like scary things but after seeing the show I had to see it again. The storyline and characters are well-made and very nice people. They put all they had into making this show work and after the show you get to meet them and get to know them personally. The theatrics of it were stunning and very luring and the sound effects blew me away. I loved how well the actors dressed up and scared people. They'd pop out of the dark, they sang along to hit songs from Slipknot and they made it a very good memorable experience. Along with the thrills they made some funny remarks during the show which made it more enjoyable and fun. If they were able to keep the show going on for more days I would go to all of them. For free it was worth it- if I had to pay, it would've been totally worth it. At the end of the show there was a part where a character made a statement about being "lost" and how he was able to come to terms with himself. Yes, they help people to believe but even if you aren't into Christianity or religion at all it didn't matter. They wanted people to remember the show and to tell everyone else back home about it. They wanted to inspire people to not be afraid and to become more than what people think of you. They don't force any part of religion on anyone and they don't force people into a prayer at all. They merely want to help people and for the people who were just there for the show, they got to see how much hard work and dedication the actors put into this to make it fun and memorable and thrilling. I absolutely loved it and would go to many more shows for the rest of my life for the experience. Amazing job well done.

I attended opening night of "Urinetown" last night. Performances are held at The Jacksonville…read moreBallet on Atlantic Blvd. The theatre is small and quaint. Talent is local and volunteer. Jacksonville has talent. This was my 2nd production at this tiny theatre. If you have never been follow them and put a show at the top of your list!

What a great local theater! It is the perfect place for an intimate evening of song and dance…read more Showstoppers was my first show at this theater but it won't be my last. There is not a bad seat in the house. They have a nice lobby with a small art display to match their current running show. The lobby is a nice space to enjoy intermission where you make donations for snacks and drinks. And the local talent we have here in Jacksonville is incredible. I can't wait to see more from the singers and actors in our community.

I attended the Black Rodeo here a few weeks back, and it was honestly a wonderful experience! Now,…read morethis was my first time attending a rodeo as well as visiting this center, so I did not know what to really expect. However, it ended up being a really great experience. Even though it was packed for the Rodeo, there was ample seating, ample areas to eat, and various vendors (food and otherwise). There are elevators if you need them, and the bathrooms are large. There is ample parking, so you don't have to fret too much about that. It is definitely a family-friendly center with enough outdoor areas to set up trailers / RVs. I would say bring a portable fan and some water because it does get pretty toasty in the center. Nonetheless, the views from bleachers - no matter where you sit - are GREAT! The Black Rodeo put on an epic show, and I am looking forward to going back next year to see what they have in store for us.

Went to the Black Rodeo here and had a lot of fun. Re accessibility - there is an elevator to reach…read morethe mezzanine level with stroller and wheelchair parking. Unfortunately, the light was out so we rode in pitch black. A little creepy but it was a quick ride so not a big deal. I was able to bring a stroller into the venue for this event. There was grass in the parking lot, then everything else was paved concrete. Yes the bathrooms do have a changing table.

I have visited the Morocco Shrine Temple on two occasions. The first occasion was a few years back…read morefor the Greek Festival and my last trip was for the Jax Illumination Christmas light show. I fell in love on my first visit when I attended the Greek festival with a friend. There was so much wonderful food, desserts and handmade arts and crafts. If you are a Jacksonville native and you have not attended the Greek Festival shame on you LOL! This year I attended Jax illumination for the first time. I purchased my online ticket for $20 (fee per car). I arrived at 5:45 PM with an entrance time of 6 PM. I suggest arriving early as there were already three rows of cars ahead of me. I was pleasantly surprised as I originally felt $20 with a bit steep to drive through a Christmas light show. But the show took roughly 20 minutes to complete. And I thoroughly enjoyed everything as you can see from my pics;) I would suggest trying the fried Oreos if the vendor is there next year. So good! They are in the parking lot for purchase after you exit the light show.

Great place to come for Christmas lights with the family. Growing every year, it's definitely…read moregetting better and better. Tune into 98.5 FM for Christmas music synchronized with the lights. Stay in the car though! Just ease through for a relaxing night. Watch out for the car in front of you. Everyone is welcome to take pictures and video. The staff are friendly and helpful with directions if you need it. A few lights are out, but the guys are here working on them. It's not Callaway Gardens big, but an enjoyable drive nonetheless. This is our 3rd year and we will be back next year! Merry Christmas!

It's my favorite festival of the year. I love the Blues and was so thankful that the weather…read morecooperated. Friday night Smoke Stack did not disappoint! My schedule unfortunately did not allow for Saturday or Sunday attendance. Two things: If you never been to Springin the Blues - GO If you never have experienced Smoke Stack - you must

2026 festival had only one stage. Instead of the usual 2. They really need to bring back the…read moresecond stage it lessened the experience for sure.