The weather has warmed up, the beaches are open and the Beaches Trolley is making its return.
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority service is rolling back out starting Friday and will be available weekends through Sept. 5.
Hours of operation are 7 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
On holiday weekends — Memorial, Independence and Labor days — hours will be 7 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Saturdays, noon-6 p.m. Sundays and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays.
The route goes along Third Street from the South Beach Parkway Shopping Center to Beach Boulevard; Second Street from Beach Boulevard to Fourth Avenue North; and back onto Third Street from Fourth Avenue North to Atlantic Boulevard.
Single trips are $1.50 with exact change on the trolley. A one-day pass is $4, a three-day pass is $10. Seniors 65 and older who have a valid Senior STAR Card can ride free.
For information, call (904) 630-3100.
Craft beer festival is Friday at arena
The eighth annual Jacksonville Craft & Import Beer Fest is Friday at Veterans Memorial Arena.
This year’s event includes offerings from 40 breweries, 350 beers and more than 20 area restaurants for attendees to sample.
Tickets are available for $45, $55 and $85, with varying levels of perks and access.
Tickets and information are available at beerfestjax.com.
Boy Scouts to celebrate Camp Shands
The Boys Scout of America, North Florida Council, from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday will unveil infrastructure changes to Camp Shands, the first since it opened in 1967.
The changes are the culmination of a six-year campaign that brought in more than $2.5 million for improvements, such as an aquatics training facility. The center has a pool with two 150-foot water slides and a depth that will allow for scuba training.
Other improvements include inclement-weather pavilions in 11 campsites and a climate-controlled dormitory.
The North Florida Council serves 36,500 youth in 17 counties and has 5,100 volunteers.
Car show coming to Anheuser-Busch
The Anheuser-Busch Jacksonville Brewery will host its annual classic car show in partnership with the First Coast Car Council from 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. Saturday at the brewery.
The show will have more than 100 makes and models, including classics, antiques and imports. Admission is free for attendees. It’s $25 for those registering a car for the show.
Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville.
The brewery is at 111 Busch Drive in North Jacksonville.
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Wilson Phillips partner for show
The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra will perform with pop group Wilson Phillips on May 28 at the St. Augustine Amphitheater.
The three-member group consists of Carnie and Wendy Wilson, daughters of Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson, and Chynna Phillips, daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and Papas.
Wilson Phillips debuted in 1990 and reunited in 2004 after a 10-year hiatus.
It is the final performance of the symphony’s 2015-16 season. The 2016-17 schedule starts Sept. 30 at Jacoby Symphony Hall in the Times-Union Center for Performing Arts.
The Wilson Phillips show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $54 to $104. For information, visit staugamphitheatre.com or call (904) 209-0367.
HomeServices of America acquires local Berkshire brand
HomeServices of America on Tuesday announced it had acquired Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty, which has been in the real estate business in Northeast Florida for close to 30 years.
Florida Network Realty has 330 sales associates in eight offices.
The company ranked second in market share by sales and volume in 2015, closing on more than 3,000 units and almost $900 million in volume.
Its founder, Linda Sherrer, and executive vice president, Christy Budnick, will continue to lead day-to-day operations.
The acquisition expands HomeServices’ presence in Florida, which includes Miami-based Esslinger Wooten and Maxwell Realty International.
HomeServices now has almost 27,000 real estate professionals in 500 offices across 27 states.
Smith, McClure join candidates seeking Crenshaw seat
U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw’s decision to not seek re-election this fall has drawn quite the crowd to replace the longtime congressman.
In the past week, two more entries announced they would join the fray.
Eric Smith said he wants to end gridlock in Congress while promoting victims’ rights and ending student loan debt, according to a news release. He is a former Democratic legislator who served three terms in the Florida House and two on City Council.
Bill McClure, a Republican commissioner in St. Johns County, is promoting himself as an outsider and focusing on his career in the private sector, according to the News Service of Florida.
Others who have announced they will run include former Sheriff John Rutherford, state Rep. Lake Ray and former St. Johns River Water Management District director Hans Tanzler III.
The congressional district comprises most of Duval County, all of Nassau County and portions of St. Johns County.
University of North Florida college to recognize business leaders
The Coggin College of Business at the University of North Florida will recognize three people at its 19th annual Prime F. Osborn III Distinguished Business Leaders Award Luncheon.
The awards are 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at The River Club.
The 2016 recipients are George Gabel, Mina Baliamoune-Lutz and Brian Tollberg.
Gabel, a partner with Holland & Knight, is a maritime and First Amendment attorney who will receive the Distinguished Business Leader Award.
Baliamoune-Lutz is a professor of economics at UNF’s Coggin College, where she teaches macroeconomics, international trade, international economics and global economy and policy. She will receive the Distinguished Professor Award.
Tollberg graduated from UNF with a bachelor’s degree and double major in corporate finance and economics in 1996. He played for the San Diego Padres from 2000-03.
After retiring from baseball, he became an Edible Arrangements franchisee in Tampa and remained active with youth sports. He will receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Group dancing for children’s hospitals, programs
The Miracle Board — a young professional group supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals — is hosting its fourth annual citywide Dance Marathon from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at Aloft Hotel on the Southside.
Participants are challenged to stay on their feet for 8.4 hours.
But it won’t be all dancing. There will be games and live entertainment, too.
All funds raised will support Wolfson Children’s Hospital and pediatric programs at UF Health Jacksonville.
Dance Marathon is a philanthropic movement hosted at more than 100 universities and college across the country, including the University of North Florida.
Cost to register is $25 and available until Friday. Visitors are welcome to attend with a $10 donation or $25 family rate.
For more information, visit cmnjax.com/events.
Prince tribute coming to Hemming Park in June
The Friends of Hemming Park plan to honor the musical accomplishments of the late Prince through a tribute concert in the Downtown venue June 2.
Organized by musician Cyrus Quaranta, it will feature local bands performing Prince hits in the park from 5-9 p.m., along with food trucks.
It will be similar in scope to the recent event hosted in honor of David Bowie, who also died this year. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Jazz Foundation of America, an organization Prince supported.
It will be free and open to the public.