Good morning, Southside! 🌴
Another Thursday, another weekend to fill. Same idea as always: Jacksonville is more fun than it gets credit for, and you shouldn't need three tabs and a group text to find something worth doing. Here's the best of the weekend, starting on our side of the river and reaching across the city when it's worth the drive, in about two minutes.
Here's what's worth leaving the house for 👇
🎪 A summer festival at Jax Beach
🖤 An emo night at Decca
🎨 A hands-on art workshop downtown
💪 A Saturday boot camp in San Jose
Let's get to it. -S
🌟 This Week's Pick
Jax Beach Summer Fest 2026
Friday, Jax Beach throws its summer festival right by the ocean: food, music, vendors, and that easy beach-town energy. It's the kind of no-plan-needed evening you can bring anyone to, kids, a date, or just yourself and a funnel cake. Worth the drive to the sand for this one.
Jacksonville Beach (75 1st St N) · Fri Aug 7 · Tickets via Eventbrite
🎉 This Weekend
Fri · 🖤 EMO Night at Decca Live
Black eyeliner optional. A full night of 2000s emo and pop-punk anthems at Decca. If you still know every word to a My Chemical Romance song, this is your Friday.
Details: Decca Live · Friday night
Cost: See ticket link
See More: Link
Sat · 💪 Fitness Boot Camp at Synergy Gym 📍San Jose
Start the weekend sweating. A group boot camp at Synergy Gym in San Jose, right here on the Southside. Bring water and a decent attitude, they'll handle the rest.
Details: Synergy Gym (San Jose) · Saturday morning
Cost: See ticket link
See More: Link
Sat · 🎨 MOCA Studio Practice: Layered Abstraction
A hands-on art workshop at the Museum of Contemporary Art, building layered abstract pieces with artist Lily Kuonen. No experience needed, just show up and make something. A great rainy-or-shine Saturday.
Details: MOCA Jacksonville · Saturday
Cost: See ticket link
See More: Link
Sat · 🎸 Murray Hill Theatre's 31st Anniversary Party
The Murray Hill Theatre turns 31 with a night of local bands (Harry Love, Infiltrate, Marcus Young, and more). All-ages, and a longtime Jax music staple worth celebrating. (Westside, worth the hop.)
Details: Murray Hill Theatre · Saturday night
Cost: See ticket link
See More: Link
Sun · 📖 An Afternoon with H.M. Wolfe
Close the weekend slow: an author afternoon and book signing at Books-A-Million. A quiet, easy Sunday for the readers among us.
Details: Books-A-Million · Sunday afternoon
Cost: See ticket link
See More: Link
📰 In Case You Missed It
A few Jacksonville things worth knowing, minus the doom-scroll:
🏆 A Clay County victim advocate was just named Florida Civilian of the Year. A quiet, well-earned honor for someone who spends their days helping people through the worst of it. (First Coast News)
🚌 Duval school bus drivers voted to strike ahead of the school year. If you've got kids in Duval schools, worth a heads-up before the first day so you can plan a backup ride if it comes to that. (First Coast News)
🌀 The overlooked danger that comes AFTER a hurricane. We're deep in the season, and the storm itself often isn't the most dangerous part. A quick, genuinely useful read. (Jax Today)
🏖️ St. Augustine Beach just banned smoking and vaping on the sand. If a St. Aug beach day is in your plans, leave the vape in the car. Cleaner sand for everyone. (Jax Today)
🤝 Partner With Us
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📥 Two quick things
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If we landed in your Promotions tab, drag us to Primary so you never miss a weekend.
That's the weekend, Southside. Go do one thing off this list, then reply and tell me how it went.
See you next Thursday,
-S
The Southside Brief · San Marco to Mandarin, plus the best of Jax worth the drive · thesouthsidebrief.com