A Downtown tradition that began with the Jacksonville Jaguars' inaugural season in 1995 will be renewed at 8 a.m. Saturday when 263 yellow paw prints will be painted along East Bay Street from near the Main Street Bridge to EverBank Field.
The Downtown Council of the JAX Chamber has presented the event since its inception. Each year, volunteers assemble for a short orientation, then wield stencils and paint rollers to complete the job.
This year, the painting party will begin and end at Parking Lot X along Gator Bowl Boulevard under the Hart Bridge ramp near Metropolitan Park.
After the last print is painted, an after-party will feature
the Brazilian Corner, Driftwood BBQ, The Happy Grilled Cheese and La Petite Cheri Cupcakery food trucks.
The Jaguars season ticket-sales team, mascot Jaxson de Ville and members of The Roar also are scheduled to attend.
This year, the Jaguars have donated a couple of hundred tickets to the Aug. 24 preseason game versus the Philadelphia Eagles to be given away after the paw prints are painted, said event coordinator Bonnie Arnold.
The 2013 sponsors are Performance Painting Contractors, Cruise One, Geer Services, Jim Love State Farm Insurance, Florida Commercial Real Estate Service, Kilwin's Ice Cream and Martin Coffee.
"The 19th painting of the paw prints will be the biggest year ever," said Arnold.
For more details, visit downtowncouncil.org.
(904) 356-2466
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