Fun things to do this weekend in Jacksonville, Florida

Jul 29, 2023

August is here, the time of year when Floridians start keeping one eye on the Weather Channel, just in case. There's plenty going on this weekend in the Jacksonville area, with the grand reopening of a local history museum, live blues, bluegrass and folk music and some rock'em, sock'em roller derby action.

Here’s something that should be on everyone’s Jacksonville bucket list: See a Firewater Tent Revival show. The “psychedelic bluegrass” band plays Friday night at Underbelly, along with Jacksonville groove band WIgeon. 8 p.m., $15.

Selwyn Birchwood and his band, who play at 8 p.m. Friday at Café Eleven in St. Augustine ($25-$30), have been road warriors since his 2014 debut, playing the blues on stages from Florida to Belgium. He’s an old-school guy; his new album, “Exorcist,” is being released on purple vinyl.

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Two of Jacksonville’s hometown roller derby teams will be in flat-track action starting at 6 p.m. Saturday at Mandarin Skate Station. The New Jax City Rollers will face off against Atlanta’s Dirty South Derby, followed by the River City Rat Pack against Atlanta’s Rumble Bs. Tickets are $15, with part of the proceeds benefiting V for Victory. Fans are advised to bring their own chairs, since seating is limited.

They’ve been busy at the Mandarin Museum and they’re ready to show what's been done. The newly-expanded museum reopens at 2 p.m. Saturday with a new gallery dedicated to the sidewheel steamer Maple Leaf, which was sunk in the St. Johns River in 1864. The museum is on the grounds of Walter Jones Historical Park.

Willi Carlisle is a born storyteller, which makes him perfect for a Gamble Rogers Folk Festival showcase performance Saturday. Carlisle, a Midwestern troubadour who doesn’t abide with “high falutin' pontificatin',” plays at 7 p.m. at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. Local bands Remedy Tree and Aslyn and the Naysayers open. $23-$28.