The 2021 Jacksonville Beach Deck The Chairs holiday celebration will kick off at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 24. This is a new date. The original kick-off date was four days earlier. The event runs through Jan. 1.
Event organizers are taking additional time to set up a new $40,000 light show installation. Planners also expect a more manageable transition of the public park space following the conclusion of first-time event Super Girl Surf Pro.
“I presented the pavilion park scheduling and light show installation timeline to the DTC Board, and we all felt the best idea was to add time to the installation and sponsor chair-decorating schedules to ensure a safe and successful exhibit installation for opening night,” said Kurtis Loftus, the annual event’s founder.
The new interactive installation, “SeaSongs Musical Light Show” presented by 95.1 WAPE, is a custom-fabricated display of 10 lifeguard chairs featuring large-scale musical instruments in the shape of whimsical sea creatures. The instruments are motion-activated, providing visitors a sound-and-light interaction experience.
The Deck The Chairs Tree will remain the display centerpiece, and Beaches Go Green will again install its Octopus Garden.
Forty-five chairs will be decorated throughout the park, and there will be weekend stage programming and holiday concessions. In addition, there will be moonlight movies, a visit from Santa, A Christmas Eve service, weekly children’s dance programming and a Gator Bowl Pep Rally, which is scheduled for Dec. 30.
Admission to Deck The Chairs is free. The display is handicap accessible and pet friendly. Lights will be on from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. nightly, and musical light shows will be held at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Concessions will be available on weekends and scheduled holiday nights.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available. To learn more, go to info@deckthechairs.org.
Those wanting to volunteer may go to deckthechairs.org.
Deck The Chairs promotes the arts and art education through the nationally recognized holiday display featuring decorated lifeguard chairs. The event is held in Jacksonville Beach’s Latham Plaza at the corner of First Avenue North and Second Street North and in the adjacent Seawalk Pavilion area.
