from Staff
There’s a plethora of action this weekend, and it’s not just happening at the Veterans Memorial Arena. “Just a Jump Shot Away,” organized by the City’s Office of Special Events, will feature three days of revelry at the Riverfront.
The party starts at the Landing Thursday at 3 p.m. with interactive games and activities including Monster Basketball, You Call the Play, Game Day Magazine, Basketball Pop-A-Shot, NCAA and basketball XBox games and deejays.
Local band Sugar Bear will play during the NCAA basketball break. Country artists Tim Rushlow will perform at 8 p.m., followed by Emerson Drive. Restaurants and bars will offer food and drink specials at the Landing.
“The Landing was already offering special events and we feel it was an excellent opportunity to enhance and supplement the experience for basketball fans, citizens and visitors,” said Christina Langston of the City’s Office of Special Events.
Friday, the party starts earlier at 10 a.m. The same games will be around, but there will also be fireworks at 9:45 p.m. Entertainment includes Fats Lewis, Sugar Bear and A1A North. The fun continues until 1 a.m.
For those of you who love the wings, Hooters will host a green bikini contest Friday at 10 p.m. as part of their St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
Saturday offers the same games with a few different bands. Hipp Street starts at 4 p.m. and Go Ask Alice performs at 9 p.m.
The trolleys will run free of charge to and from the Arena, the Jacksonville Landing and downtown hotels on Thursday and Saturday from 10-1 a.m. The trolleys run every 10-12 minutes and will drop off and pick up at Hogan and Water streets (near the Omni Hotel), Newnan Street and Coastline Drive (near the Hyatt), and Lafayette and Adams streets (near the Arena).
Hogan Street will be closed from Water Street to the Riverfront Wednesday-Sunday.
“By creating festivities for citizens and visitors, it makes it easier for fans to enjoy the entire experience. We’ve done this for other events,” said Langston. “We’re dedicated to providing a great experience to basketball fans, citizens and visitors that will be in the area.”