by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
It’ll be a little of the old and a little of the new this year at the Landing for the annual Florida-Georgia football game Oct. 29 at 3:30 p.m..
As usual, there will be live music starting on the Thursday before the game, plenty of food and plenty to drink.
There is, however, a new line up of entertainers — all of whom are local. Landing spokesperson Rachel Kaltenbach said many of the acts have played at the Landing before but never during Florida-Georgia weekend, which kicks off the busiest time of the year for the riverfront mall and entertainment venue.
Like last year, Landing officials plan to charge a once-daily cover charge of $5 to enter Landing property. That fee, Kaltenbach said, helps control the size of the crowd to an extent and also helps a local charity.
“We are making a substantial donation to Angel Aid again this year for running our gates,” said Kaltenbach.
As the popularity of the Landing with the Florida-Georgia crowd has grown over the past several years, so has the number of fans, both local and from out-of-town, that flood the area. One of the big concerns in recent years has been the size of the crowd and the fact it tends to be a drinking crowd.
“For the past few years the Jacksonville Fire Department has been asking about ways to control the number of people on the Landing property,” said Kaltenbach, adding that since the Landing is an indoor-outdoor venue, the maximum occupancy numbers are vague. “We are going to try to spread the crowd out. We are going to take over Hogan Street and set up a small stage with DJ music.”
Two currently empty spaces within the Landing will be open for three days the week of the game. Twisted Martini will open a second bar on the second floor in the space known as the Music Factory. Benny’s Steak & Seafood owner Lorus Wousefzadeh will lease the old Ruby Tuesday space on a temporary basis for three days during the Florida-Georgia week. He also agreed to lease the space for three days during the week of the Atlantic Coast Championship game and for four days during New Year’s and the Toyota Gator Bowl.
ImprovJacksonville recently relocated from Hemming Plaza to the Landing and the comedy troupe has shows planned for the weekend.
The entertainment schedule at the landing during Florida-Georgia week is as follows:
Thursday, Oct. 27 — Irie Bound, 5 p.m.; Aerial Tribe, 10 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 28 — Hipp Street, noon;
Go ask Alice, 5 p.m.; Sugar Bear, 10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 29 — George Aspinall Band, noon;
A1A North, 5 p.m.; Something Different, 10 p.m.