The River City and Holiday on the St. Johns

Jacksonville’s unique geography shaped its Christmas traditions. The St. Johns River became a central stage for holiday celebrations. By the 1970s, boat parades featuring illuminated vessels became annual events, blending Florida’s maritime culture with festive flair.

Riverfront decorations, fireworks, and concerts turned downtown into a Christmas hub. The Jacksonville Landing, opened in 1987, hosted some of the city’s most iconic holiday celebrations, including massive light displays and New Year’s Eve fireworks that extended the holiday season.

For many residents, Christmas in Jacksonville became inseparable from the beauty of the river—an element that continues to distinguish the city’s seasonal identity.

African American Churches and Cultural Contributions

Throughout the 20th century, African American communities in Jacksonville shaped Christmas traditions with powerful cultural contributions. Churches such as Bethel Baptist and St. Paul AME organized holiday services, gospel concerts, and charitable events. Nativity plays, candlelight services, and musical programs reinforced Christmas as both spiritual and communal.

Choirs brought national attention to Jacksonville, with recordings of gospel carols influencing broader American traditions. Christmas became not only a moment of faith but also a celebration of cultural identity and resilience in the face of segregation and social challenges. shutdown123