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Veterans Day is next Wednesday, but there's plenty happening around Clay County before then. Food trucks on the river Friday, fall markets and live music Saturday, and a couple of good chances to show up for local veterans. |
Green Cove Springs has City Hall, the Police Department and the welcome sign lit green through Wednesday, Nov. 11 for Operation Green Light. |
🧠Clay County Trivia One Clay County city takes its name from the nickname of the home state of the people who founded it in the 1920s. Which city, and which state? Scroll to the bottom for the answer. |
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Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11. Keystone Heights goes first, 9 to 10 a.m., with the Melrose-Keystone Heights American Legion. The city lists 555 S. Lawrence Blvd.; call (352) 473-4807 for the exact gathering spot.
Orange Park's ceremony starts at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial in Magnolia Cemetery, 1040 Kingsley Ave. Expect a Dreamland Squadron flyover, the First Coast Highlanders, bugles and drums, and guest speaker Dr. Suzette Cudjoe-Hodge Johnson. Park at First Baptist Church and bring your own lawn chair.
Out at the Camp Blanding Museum, the county lists a Veterans Day event from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Call (904) 682-3196 if you're going for a formal ceremony.
At Orange Park Mall, the first 100 veterans get a free lunch. Certificates go out at the Food Court entrance from 10 a.m. Bring a military or VA ID.
Green Cove Springs has City Hall, the Police Department and the welcome sign lit green through Nov. 11 for Operation Green Light.
Same week: a Keystone veterans breakfast Friday, Nov. 6, 10 to 11 a.m. at the Historic Keystone Beach Pavilion, and the Clay County Veterans Day 5K Saturday, Nov. 14, at the mall. Adults pay $40 through Nov. 13, and the Santa's Family Fun Run is free.
Closed on the 11th: Clay schools, all five library branches, county offices, Keystone City Hall and post offices. Many banks close too, so check yours. Trash pickup stays on your normal day. Read More... |
Pancakes before sunrise on Kingsley, all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue and hot pot, and a little Italian for date night.
Our Orange Park guide sorts it all by where you'll be, with the hours worth knowing before you go. Read More... |
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High N Tight Live for Pace Center for Girls |
Thu., Nov. 5, 5:30 to 8 p.m. (band 6 to 8 p.m.) Where: Whitey's Fish Camp, 2032 County Road 220, Fleming Island Tickets: $40 Fall for Pace is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for Pace Center for Girls, Clay. Check-in starts at 5:30, with dinner at 6: a buffet of Whitey's newer dishes and Nothing Bundt Cakes for dessert. There are live and silent auctions, a wine pull and a 50/50 raffle. High N Tight takes the tiki porch at 6. The money goes to family support, career readiness and incentives for the girls at Pace Clay. Details: pacecenter.org |
Matt Fraser Live |
Thu., Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m. Where: Thrasher-Horne Center, 2900 Thrasher Horne Ave., Orange Park Good to know: 18 and older. All sales are final. The psychic medium from E!'s TV series brings his 90-minute live show to Orange Park. He works his way through the audience giving readings, so any seat can get a turn. Tickets: meetmattfraser.com |
Food Truck Friday |
Fri., Nov. 6, 5 to 9:30 p.m. Where: Spring Park, 200 Spring St., Green Cove Springs The last Food Truck Friday of the season. NAPA has a car show on Magnolia Avenue all evening, Duval County Line is on stage, and there's a toy drive for Tad's Toys. Trucks on the official flyer: 904 Gyros, African Love Kitchen, Cafe Key West, Cousins Maine Lobster, Daddy O's, El Chamo Crillo, Emangeos, G's BBQ, Green Leaf Lumpia, Hibashi Hotspot, Jacqui's Java, Jammas Jax, Limp Brizkit, Mango Mike, Mari's Jamaican Cuisine, Millie's homemade icecream, Mo's Dog Gone Good, Pizza Pitt Stop, Sajima Streetfare, Soda Crush Club, Steam Bun Dumpling House, Survival Sips, Tangos R Us, The Tot Spot and Viva Mi Familia. Bring chairs and a cooler. Beer and wine are fine in the area in front of the band. Details: greencovesprings.com |
St. Peter's Holiday Craft Fair |
Sat., Nov. 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 1614 Blanding Blvd., Middleburg The church's annual holiday craft fair, with handmade gifts and baked goods from church members. A good early start on the list. Every dollar goes to the church's seminary student scholarship fund. Questions: (904) 282-8876 |
Fleming Island Saturday Market |
Sat., Nov. 7, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: Village Square, 2245 Plantation Center Dr., Fleming Island (across from Fleming Island High) Admission: Free The first-Saturday market brings local produce, honey, sweets, food, arts and crafts, jewelry and more. There's a bounce house for the kids, too. Parking is behind the buildings. |
Middleburg Fall Fest & Car Show |
Sat., Nov. 7, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: 2102 Palmetto St., Middleburg Admission: Free, with free parking The Middleburg Civic Association and the Middleburg Museum team up for the annual Historic Fall Festival, with a spotlight on Middleburg's history. Clay County Custom Cruzers bring the car show. Food trucks, live music, vendors, a petting zoo and bounce houses fill out the day. Details: event page |
4th Annual VetFest |
Sat., Nov. 7, noon to 6 p.m. Where: Corks & Barrels, 1824 Town Center Blvd., Fleming Island Tickets: $50 general admission, $100 VIP. You'll need one to get in. The fourth VetFest, with live music, food, tastings, vendors, raffles and a live auction. This year the money goes to Clay Veterans Inc., the local nonprofit backing veterans and veteran groups around the county. Details: clayvetfest.com |
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A cupcake truck from Keystone Heights |
Sweet Treats |
Cupcakes and sweet treats out of Keystone Heights. Look for the truck at Food Truck Friday in Green Cove Springs. |
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On Swimming Pen Creek since 1963 |
Whitey’s Fish Camp |
Fried shrimp, catfish and a table by the water. Some places just keep doing the thing. |
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Good local businesses deserve to be found. |
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💡 Answer to Trivia Question: Keystone Heights, named for Pennsylvania, the Keystone State. Its founders came from Pennsylvania. |